Area: 114 sq. km
Population: 750,000
Main Languages: Punjabi and Hindi
Best time to visit: October to March

There are many things that the States of Punjab and Harayana have in common; the most important of these is a common capital, Chandigarh. Since both states have laid claims to the city, it is administered by the Central Government as a Union Territory till a final decision regarding its future is made. However, in the same city reside governors of the two states; in same office buildings but on different floors are their separate secretariats and their respective High Courts.

Chandigarh was conceived and born in the 1950's and was the master plan of the European modern architect Le Corbusier. Covering an area of 114 sq. km, it is the first 'planned' city of India. It lies on the edge of the Shivalik Hills, the outermost edge of the Himalayas. The city is named after Goddess Chandi Devi (a form of Shakti), whose white-domed temple stands on the slope of a hill in the northeast of the city.

Divided into sectors, the city it's separated by broad avenues and has neatly laid out roads and parks, buildings, boulevards and streets lined by endless rows of trees and shrubs.

Places to See -

The Rock Garden - located in Sector 1, this unique sculpture garden is the work of the City's internationally acclaimed artist Nek Chand. Spread over 64 acres, it is a series of interconnected rocky grottos, walkways and landscaped waterfalls. The most powerful aspect of the garden is the thousands of animal and humanoid figures made out of discarded materials, which stand in rigid rows like silent, static armies. Nek Chand was a road inspector of the city Public Works Department when he began to transform a dump of discarded building materials. His unique work has been exhibited in Paris's Museum of Modern Art and in other cities around the world. The visitors are led through a maze of paths, chambers and canyons, each presenting a glimpse of a fantasy world.

Government Museum & Art Gallery - In 1949 the collection of the Central Museum in Lahore was divided between India and Pakistan and India's share forms the core collection of this museum. The present museum (earlier housed in temporary quarters) was opened in 1968 and has a vast collection of sculptures, miniature paintings (mostly from the Punjab Hills), objects in stucco, terracotta, metal, ivory, lacquer, ceramic, enamel and fabric.

National Gallery of Portraits - has a collection of photographs and paintings of some prominent figures of India's Independence movement. The exhibits are intended to chronicle the struggle for freedom from 1857 to 1947. In addition the gallery also has facsimiles of original writings, sculptures, ceramic murals and glass-box tableaux depicting turning points in the independence movement. There is also a library that contains many books on the freedom struggle.

Around Chandigarh -

Pinjore - located 20km away, is known for Yadavindra
gardens that were designed by Fidai Khan, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's foster brother. The gardens have a Rajasthani-Mughal style Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors). Below it are the Rang Mahal (Palace of Colours) and the cubical Jal Mahal (Water Palace). The fountains here are a major attraction. There is also a mini zoo in the gardens.

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