A trip to North India is incomplete without a visit to the majestic city of Chandigarh. It is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana but belongs to neither state, being a Union Territory unto itself. Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier left his indelible mark as the planner of this city, with beautiful parks, spacious roads and marvellous geometric buildings making it a modern marvel of architecture and planning.
Many Indian cities provoke a sense of excitement in travellers due to their modern facade and structures, but Chandigarh is criminally underrated in this regard. It has been internationally acclaimed as one of the best cities in India and leads the way in many Human Development Indices.
While the city is an enticing place to live in, it also offers plenty for tourists and visitors who wish to explore the marvels that this modern urban landscape has to offer. Located near the foothills of the Sivalik range, the climate here is humid and subtropical throughout most of the year. So the best time to visit would probably during the winters. It is not too far away from the national capital and one can easily get a one way taxi from Delhi to Chandigarh.
Among the places one can visit here, two of the most prominent are the Rock Garden of Chandigarh and the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. With the attractions built entirely of discarded materials and waste, the Rock Garden of Chandigarh offers a breathtaking landscape with waterfalls and monuments. It perfectly showcases how an artist can create beauty from what others would consider waste.
Lovers of roses will find the Rose Garden to be a once in a lifetime experience, with the 30-acre wide botanical garden home to over 1,600 varieties of roses. Other attractions in the city include the Open Hand Monument, Chattbir Zoo and the Capitol Complex, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2016. Sukhna Lake is another soothing sight, with the 3 km artificial lake housing the garden of silence.
However, if one is to truly experience this city, it's best to plan a prolonged visit rather than just a weekend getaway. There are a number of hotels and homestays available which will ensure access to prime amenities in the comfort of a homely environment. Car rental in Chandigarh is also an easy affair, and it is not too difficult to book taxi to different parts of the city.
Apart from the aforementioned attractions, one can also delve into the local culture here, which is a mix of the traditional and modern.
Festivals like the Chandigarh Citco rose festival and Navratri are celebrated with much pomp, amidst the glare of stores, malls and outlets housing Indian and international brands. The Punjabi cuisine here is sure to satiate the palates of those who love North Indian food, with Saffron, 25/7 and Baluchi being some of the popular restaurants in the city.
There is a lot that one can experience in Chandigarh and a 'staycation' provides the perfect opportunity to explore the city at your own leisure.
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