Places to Visit Near Chandigarh

Table Of Content

Introduction

Interesting Places To Visit In Chandigarh

Conclusion

Introduction

Quite differently planned from the other cities of India, Chandigarh can be said to be the most organized city in India. This is because, the French architect Le Corbusier, himself planned and structured the architecture of this city. Chandigarh got its name from an ancient temple of Goddess Chandi in the Shivalik Mountain Ranges. This temple can easily be located when one is entering the city. The road trip from the airport to the main city gives you a beautiful way to the start of the city itself. The distance from the airport to the main city of Chandigarh is not more than 5 kilometers. Chandigarh also holds the prestige of having the lowest crime rate among all the cities in India, making it one of the favorite destinations of tourists as they can roam and explore Chandigarh at any hour of the day. Chandigarh, being the capital of two states of Punjab and Haryana alike, is well connected to the other cities in India via air, railways as well as roadways. As a tourist let’s discover a few places you ought to see when you visit Chandigarh.

Interesting Places To Visit In Chandigarh

• Nek Chand Rock Garden

The Nek Chand’s Rock Garden is the perfect example of what we call as upcycling of waste products. All the small figures and statues made in this rock garden are built only with the help of rocks and other waste articles.  You would surely miss out on watching something beautiful, unique, and eco-friendly in case you forget to visit this garden on your tour to Chandigarh. After taking a tour of the Nek Chand’s Rock Garden the artist and the responsible citizen in you is sure to keep you amazed. To start off with a guided tour of Chandigarh, one can easily assure you that Nek Chand Rock Garden is the ultimate place for you to begin the journey.

• Sukhna Lake

Although a manmade lake, Sukhna Lake of Chandigarh is titled the most romantic lake for couples in India. The Sukhna Lake was built in the year 1958 and the experience to watch and feel it is simply breathtaking. The surroundings of the lake make it a serene place to be and the calmness of the lake brings about love in the air. A special thing every couple can do when in Chandigarh is watching the sunrise as well as the sunset being at the Sukhna Lake. The memory etched will remain with them forever. All they have to do is hire a boat and go around Sukhna Lake for quiet private time.

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• Zakir Hussain Rose Garden

Home to more than 1600 types of different roses, the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is spread evenly on a land of 30 acres in sector 16 of Chandigarh. The rose garden gives a feel of a heavenly time to all the nature lovers who drop in here. Every year during the months of February and March an event known as the Rose Festival takes place here. This event is celebrated in the spring months, almost all the species of rose plants are in their blooming phase which attracts a lot of visitors from India as well as abroad.

• Chhatbir Zoo

Also known as the Mahendra Chaudhary National Park, the Chhatbir Zoo is more than 500 acres long and home to various species of animals brought from different parts of India to Chandigarh. As of 2020, the total number of animals living freely in the Chhatbir Zoo is around 1250, which in itself is a huge number. You can easily witness animals like the Indian Gazelle, Royal Bengal Tiger, Lion, Leopard Cats, Black Buck, White Buck, Indian Elephant, and most importantly the White Tiger. You can also get zoomed views of birds like Kalij, Doves, Falcon, Bar-Headed Geese, and lots of other species when in Chhatbir Zoo.

• International Doll Museum

A rarity in today’s advanced technology world, the Doll Museum in Chandigarh keeps the children and the adult enthralled by the museum alike. There are numerous dolls exhibited in this museum from various countries like Russia, South Korea, Spain, Denmark, Germany, etc. Along with dolls, one can also get to see puppets and puppetry shows in this museum, which again makes this place a one of its kind.

• Government Museum and Art Gallery

Considered to be one of the most prominent museums and Art galleries in India, the Chandigarh Government Museum and Art Gallery showcase Indian History, particularly the Partition Period. Like most of the eminent constructions of Chandigarh, even the Government Museum and Art Gallery were designed by the French architect Le Corbusier. The Art Gallery was constructed in the month of August 1947 and has various artifacts, sculptures, and paintings on display. The Museum was inaugurated by Dr. MS Randhawa in the year 1968 when he was the chief commissioner of Lahore. Art lovers and students are the most flocked visitors to this place as it gives out immense knowledge in the field of Pahari and Rajasthani paintings along with Gandharan sculpture work.

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• Japanese Garden

Located centrally in the city of Chandigarh, the Japanese Garden is an exquisite, well-maintained, and beautifully planned garden that hosts various flowering and fruit trees along with the bonsai nature of other trees. Inside the Japanese Garden, there is a park for public usage, a few pagodas for meditation lovers, a separate section for the meditation amateurs, Lord Buddha’s idol, a waterfall, and various other structures which grab the eyes of the visitors. The Garden is majorly divided into two parts and they are connected by an underground canal which is also a place where one can enjoy Japanese art and paintings.

• Nada Sahib Gurudwara

A holy and pilgrimage center for the Sikhs across the globe, the Nada Sahib Gurudwara is the place where it is believed that Guru Gobind Singh used to stay for a brief time in his life. This holy structure has a huge courtyard and an equally huge space to accommodate the pilgrims who come here to attain blessings. Because of the visual beauty, the Nada Sahib Gurudwara is even more densely packed on the full moon day night.

• Fun City Waterpark

Spread over 43 acres of land, the Fun City Waterpark based in Ramgarh is the biggest amusement park in the whole of Northern India. The Fun City Water park is open for people of all age groups and has an activity pool, a wavy pool, various water slides, and pool landings, in which the visitors have a good time with their family, friends, and relatives. There are various other adventure games for adventure lovers, thus making it a complete package for a one-day holiday in Chandigarh.

• Elante Mall

The Elante Mall is a huge structure amassed over 20 acres of land and is considered to be the second-largest mall in Chandigarh. This mall showcases various international shopping brands, multiplex theaters, and not to forget amenities that are of new state of art technology. There is a special place for the kids to have fun and also a huge food court area that serves cuisines from around the world.

• Mansa Devi Temple

Constructed at the foothills of the Shivalik Mountain Range, the Mansa Devi Temple is the most visited shrine of Goddess Mansa Devi (a.k.a. Shakti), who is considered to be the feminine incarnation of Lord Shiva. There is an old tree in the courtyard of the temple where devotees tie threads for their wishes to come true. This temple is highly crowded, especially during the nine days of Navratri. The Mansa Devi Temple is the best place for people who love to go to calm and serene temples to get one with the positive aura that it emits.

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• Open Hand Monument

Situated at the Capitol Complex, the Open Hand Monument is an extraordinary work of art on display in Chandigarh. This monument is designed and gifted to the Chandigarh Government by the French Architect and Designer Le Corbusier. The original meaning of this piece of art as stated by Le Corbusier is that it is the hand of peace and harmony, where one offers a hand and another takes the helping hand. It marks unity in humanity and is built in such a way that it rotates with the wind.

• Butterfly Park

A natural habitat for more than 35 species of butterflies, the Butterfly Park located in sector 26 of Chandigarh is a well-groomed and green park open for everyone to visit and get one with nature. Just be careful while roaming in the Butterfly Park, as there are certain places where one has to observe complete silence as the park is maintained in such a way that it is helpful for the breeding of butterflies.

Conclusion

The city of Chandigarh offers a lot to all its tourists as well as the settled citizens. The beautiful nature-filled states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are well within reach from here, making Chandigarh a halting spot for many tourists before they proceed on their journey towards the famous hill stations in those states. Traveling by road is really a convenient option nowadays by just hiring a cab in Chandigarh. Happy Travelling!

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