Shubhyatra >> Chandigarh Yatra
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CHANDIGARH YATRA

Location : Northern part of India
Famous As : Unique capital of two states - Punjab and Haryana
Major Attractions : Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Morni Hills
Best Time To Visit : September - March

Chandigarh - Beauty of Two States In One Heart

Road To Tribune Chowk In The Planned City of Chandigarh
Road To Tribune Chowk, The Heart of The Planned City of Chandigarh

India is a land of beauty and curious things scattered all over the picturesque canvas of its states. But nowhere would you find such amazing things negotiated in a perfect way save Chandigarh. Mother nature, with her adorable hands has decked the endeavour of humans, and today we applaud the first planned city of India in a bracket called Chandigarh, the congruous capital of Punjab and Haryana. Nestling in the northern part of the country, 238 km from the national capital at Delhi, Chandigarh is a serene place that calls for a holiday round the year. The city got its name from Chandi, the goddess of power, the main deity of Shri Chandika Temple on Chandigarh-Kalka Road.

For decades, Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab, was known as an affluent but quiet, laid back city ideal for retired people that had little to offer beyond its modern town people and its relaxed way of life. However, it is the first city to initiate the concept of town planning in India. Designed by Le Corbusier, Chandigarh is strategically segregated into 61 sectors. The pollution free air, the wide tree-lined boulevards and avenues, the cool ambiance of Sukhna Lake and the plush interiors belying the dull exteriors contribute in making Chandigarh a haven for fun-loving tourists.

The Rocking Rock Garden

Famous Sculpters At Rock Garden
Best out of Waste - Sculpters At Rock Garden, Chandigarh

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Built of industrial waste and thrown-away items of everyday use, the Rock Garden in Chandigarh is perhaps the world's most curious and stupendous imgination of the possibility of caressing beauty in a forlorn domain. Built by Nek Chand, the open air museum lends its hearts to shimmering streams and gurgling streams that embellish the whole topography. Enjoy a leisure walk through the labyrinthine cobbled lanes that pass through fanciful creatures of great interest, incarnated in porcelain, concrete, and stone. You will be amazed to see how damsels, folks, dogs, bears, birds, elephants, mythological and hybrid creatures stare at you with solitary eyes, waiting to be touched by a magical feather that might gift them a life! Stuffed with intellectual themes that caresses many layers of meaning, the alluring Rock Garden offers much reward to the weary eyes of beauty admirers who come here. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is beyond an Indian monument, a world monument which speaks volumes of contemporary global concerns through a poetry in rocks.

Sukhna Lake - Call Me And I'll Be There My Friend

Sukhna Lake - A Boating Paradise
Sukhna Lake - A Boating Paradise

Ever heard of a lake that lures every melancholy soul to dive into its black waters. People can’t eschew such a melody and are known to drown in search of a perfect paradise. Haunting, isn’t it? Nevertheless, Sukhna Lake, situated on the south eastern boundary of the city is a visual delight. This 3 sq km rain-fed lake was created in 1958 by Le Corbusier at Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills. The picturesque lake with its tranquil ambience is famous for its magnificent sunrise and sunset vistas. In the morning, natives hem in for a leisure walk on the promenade and photographers crowd to capture pristine moments of the lake, shimmering amidst the morning mist. In the evening, the whole ambience switches to a colourful extravaganza with holidayers and honeymoon couples wandering around and enjoying spicy fast food stuff. You can also hear the melodious strains of flute or classical songs sung by amateur musicians on its banks. Enjoy a round of boating on its enigmatic waters and listen what it says to you.

Explore The Green Poetry At Morni Hills

Take a left turn off the main highway to Panchkula to enter into the womb of nature, the famous Morni Hills, located at 45 km from Chandigarh downtown. You will be overwhelmed to feel how you have slipped into the tranquil realm of the mountains, far from the chaos of fast-moving trucks, buses and cars. Morni has much to reveal to the nature enthusiast with its fascinating collection of flora and fauna. The curves hold surprises and you might just stumble upon a wild buck crossing the road up ahead! Rise early and with that first cup of ‘palang chai’ (bed-tea), inhale deeply and relish the aroma of pine and wood-smoke, and listen to the hills tell their own stories. Shake off your ennui with a trek down to the picturesque Tikkar Tal, and its twin, close to the tiny Raghunath Mandir. If you are a bird enthusiast, do come to Morni for a date with the blue whistling thrush, the red throated flycatcher, and the golden eagle. A good pair of binoculars and Salim Ali’s ‘Book of Indian Birds’ are worh taking along. Before the day is done, saunter across to the old ruins of the fort near the Mountain Quail resort, standing in mute testimony to a love mystery that never found a record save the hearts of the folks.

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All For Your Stomach

Food Temptations at Local Dhaba - Open Restaurant
Food Temptations at Local Dhaba - Open Restaurant

Chandigarh is an affluent city pulsating with marvellous eating joints that fill both the stomach and the heart of their guests. The new entrants such as Copper Chimney and Moti Mahal Deluxe have found many gourmets but the old and the perennial - Hot Millions, Mehfil, Kwality - still rule the taste buds of the city dwellers. However, if you are interested in true Indian flavour, hem into the numerous ‘dhabas’ (open air restaurants) situated on the highways in the outskirts of the city. Splurge on a delicious bouquet of fine north Indian delicacies like ‘Dal Makhni’, ‘Aloo-ke-Parathe’, ‘Kadhi Chawal’ along with a humoungous glass of chilled ‘lassi’ and believe us, you can’t elude a hypnotic siesta. A sitting arrangement on jute beds along with the euphonic Punjabi music only adds to the delight.

Drive Your Way

Chandigarh, situated in the northern part of the country is well connected to major destinations all across the country and is an easy access from many parts of the world. Indian Airlines connects Chandigarh to Delhi, Amritsar, Leh, Mumbai and Goa. One can also go for Jet Airways, connected to Delhi with regular flights. The airport is situated at 11 km from the city centre and taxis and auto-rickshaws are available to commute to the city. Chandigarh railway station is about 8 km from the city centre (sector 17). Shatabdi Express, Jan Shatabdi and Himalayan Queen provide train connections every day between Chandigarh and Delhi. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking and CITCO buses ply to and fro from the railway station to coincide with the arrival and departure of important trains. There is a pre-paid auto-rickshaw counter just outside the railway station, which has the city rates, printed on a board.

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Chandigarh is very well connected by road to all major centres of the region and Delhi. The NH 21 (Ambala-Shimla) and NH 22 (Chandigarh-Manali) are the main roads linking chandigarh with the rest of the country. From Delhi (245 km), normally the journey takes around 5 hours, with most of the journey being along the NH 1, popularly known as the GT Road. Take a short break for refreshment at Oasis, a multiple facility arena managed by Haryana Tourism. The Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Sector 17 is a modern complex with restrooms, retiring rooms, food outlets and reservation offices of RTCs. The road transport corporations of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh run deluxe coaches (some air-conditioned) to Chandigarh as do some private companies, including Indo Canadian Transport Company's deluxe coach services.

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