The city of Chandigarh serves as the dual capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. It is also known as the first planned city in the country. With a fantastic city layout and some amazing structures to explore, the city is a fantastic place to explore. Let’s check out some of the attractions in the city you should explore.
Situated at the foothills of the magical Shivalik hills, the city of Chandigarh is a magnificent city to visit. The city got its name from the famous temple called Chandi Mandir, located at the outskirts and devoted to the Goddess of Chandi (the goddess of power). Chandigarh is famous for its breathtaking locales and beautiful gardens at almost every other mile. The city also takes pride in its history, with some significant ruins from the Harappan culture as well. Chandigarh saw several rulers of Punjab controlling the region in the medieval era and it subsequently fell in the hands of the British. After India attained freedom, Chandigarh was re-established as the first planned city of the country in 1952 by the initiative of the first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The city was then declared the capital of the state of Punjab and after Haryana’s creation as a separate state in 1966, it was reinstated as its capital as well. Today, the city boasts of some really amazing places to explore and if you’re coming from other cities, you’d easily find a Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai to Chandigarh flights to reach the city. Let’s take a look at some of the places you should visit in the city.
Sector 17 market – This fabulous market is considered as the heart of Chandigarh. One heaven for shopaholics, the sector 17 markets have been mentioned in several local movies and TV shows as a modern face of the city. The market area consists of several local handicraft shops, boutiques, high end brands and casual and fine dining restaurants offering an array of some of the best local delicacies. From a brand selling a dress worth five thousand to salwar suits worth 200 bucks, you can find all sorts of things in the market. The market also consist of some small parks. Finding a parking spot can be real hectic sometimes so find a good spot before beginning your splurge ride.
Government Museum and Art Gallery – This government museum was one of the first places to be established in the city in 1947. The museum showcases a great collection of sculptures, ancient items, miniature paintings and handicrafts belonging to the region of hilly towns and states like Rajasthan. Before India got its freedom, these collection of items were presented in Lahore’s central museum. The visiting hours in museum lasts from 10 a.m – 6 p.m.
Rock Garden – Located near another popular attraction of Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh’s Rock Garden represents a fantastic innovative artwork composed from industrial and urban wastes like porcelain, iron frames, broken glasses and cutlery, utensils, metal wires etc. These artworks are created on walls and at open areas in the garden, to aware others about the amount of pollutants we’re spreading and how successfully we tackle the clutter around us.
Shankar’s International Doll’s Museum – This amazing museum is perhaps one of the best places to visit in Chandigarh. The museum showcases a breathtaking collection of some amazingly handmade dolls of all sizes, made by the artists from countries like Germany, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, and Korea. The museums is under the administration of the Indian Council of Child Welfare and was started in 1985.