About the Chandigarh in Punjab :

Chandigarh is also known as the City beautiful, is a city in Northern India that serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. The city is administered by the Government of India and hence classified as a Union territory. Chandigarh is known for its high standard of living and tops the list of Indian states with a human development index of 0.674. There are numerous tourist attractions in and around Chandigarh city.

Sightseeing in Chandigarh is really worth spending time.Tourist attractions in Chandigarh include Leisure valley which is the most beautiful and popular tourist destination. This garden beautifies the entire city. Rock garden is another attraction for pleasure. The most unique aspect of the gardens is that, thousands of animal or humanlike figures made of discarded materials which stand in rigid rows like mute stationary armies. This garden was created in 1958. Open hand in Chandigarh is one of the most beautiful monuments of the city. This is the city's official symbol. Capitol complex is the seat of Government. Le Corbusier designed this marvelous building. This building consists of governor's office and museum of knowledge other than many other government offices.

Chandi mandir is located 15 kms away from the city and this temple is dedicated to the goddess of Chandi.The city of Chandigarh was named after this temple. There is a number of Museums in Chandigarh. The City Museum was established in 1997 which showcases the city's development through the years. The government museum and art gallery has a good collection of paintings, sculptures and other works by famous Indian artists. International dolls museum has a good collection of dolls from all over the world and is one of the best museums in India. It serves like an amusement park for the children.

Some Tourist Attractions In Chandigarh :

Capitol Complex - Amongst the must visit places in Chandigarh is the monumental Capitol Complex at Sector 1. The tourist attraction happens to dominate the skyline of Chandigarh. Standing aloof at the foothills of the city of Chandigarh, like the Grecian Acropolis, the geometrical concrete buildings rise from the mounds as giant playful sculptures. The places to be visited in the Capitol complex of Chandigarh are the three major buildings of the Secretariat, the Assembly, and the High Court. All the three are interlocked to one another as part of a subtle visual composition, delicately balanced, and enclosing grandiose spaces. Between the silhouettes of these magnificent edifices is juxtaposed the Chandigarh city's most popular visible symbol: the Open Hand

The Open Hand - One of the most significant monuments planned by Le Corbusier in Chandigarh is the Open Hand. The monument is a place to visit in Chandigarh. Rising 85 feet high from a sunken trench, a giant hand in metal sheets is designed to rotate "like a weather cock, not to show the incertitude of ideas, but to indicate symbolically the direction of wind (that is the state of affairs)." It is also meant to convey a message of peace "open to receive."

Amongst the other monumental places to visit in Chandigarh are the Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill, and Martyr's Memorial.

One of the most important places to visit is Sector 17, Chandigarh's sleek shopping area and the city center. Planned around four pedestrian concourses meeting at a central chowk (intersection), the Sector 17 of Chandigarh is a pedestrian's paradise dotted with fountains, sculptures, and groves of trees. In summers the tourists move from one end of the sector to the other, under the shade of a corridor, and in winter it is nice to be out in the sun-drenched piazzas. In the evenings, when the colorful mosaic of neon signs and the aesthetically illuminated fountains come alive, Sector 17 becomes the Chandigarh city's biggest outdoor club.

Sukhna Lake -  Another favorite recreation spot of the nature-loving people of Chandigarh is the Sukhna Lake in Sector 1. Created by building an artificial dam on a seasonal stream, Chandigarh's Sukhna Lake is spread over a large area. A 2-km-long promenade along the lakeshore is a popular place to be visited in Chandigarh by the tourists and localities alike.

The Rock Garden -  No description of Chandigarh city can be complete without a mention of its most celebrated creations-the Rock Garden. Spread over 12 acres of wooded land near the Capitol Complex the Rock Garden of Chandigarh is the creation of a humble road inspector called Nek Chand. The urban waste material turned into creative patterns and textures, mute rocks turned into art objects attract tourists to Chandigarh. A visit to the Rock Garden is a must for all the tourists travelling to Chandigarh.

Leisure Valley -  Another place to tourist interest in Chandigarh is its leisure valley, which, like a garland of gardens, ornaments the Chandigarh city from one end to the other. The Rose Garden of Sector 16, which with an area of 25 hectares is one of the largest in Asia. The Rose Garden is a place worth visiting in Chandigarh for being home to thousand varieties of roses. Other prominent and worth visiting parks of the Chandigarh city are the Garden of Tranquillity, Garden of Rare Plants, Garden of Annuals, the Bougainvillea Garden, Botanical Garden, and the Garden of Aromatic Plants.

Rose Garden- Asia's largest rose garden is located in Chandigarh spreading over 30 acres of land. It has nearly 1600 varieties of roses. During the rose festival it is a splendid sight.

Temple of Goddess Chandi - The temple of Goddess Chandi (the goddess of Power) adorns the north border of city. It is considered one of the 12 Shakti Peethas for Hindus. The snow-white dome of the Temple is visible from across the lake. 

How to Reach Chandigarh :

by Air - Chandigarh has an airport just 11kms away from the City Centre. Indian Airlines connect the city with other major cities like Mumbai,Delhi,Jummu and Amritsar .

by Road - The city can boast of an excellent road-network. It is also conveniently located within motor-able distance from a number of major cities of North India. National Highways 21 and 22 run through the city. Near perfect road condition and breathtaking views on either side of the road offers a pleasant drive.

by Rail - The rail network serves the city conveniently. Chandigarh Railway Station is about 8kms from the City Centre. Important trains like theShatabdi Express and the Himalayan Queen (link to www.indianrail.gov.in) service the e city on a regular basis.