Having heard quite a bit about this place, I decided to spend a couple of days there and check it out myself recently. What I observed and experienced was nothing out of the ordinary, yet I have to admit the place did have its charm in little doses.
I stayed bang opposite the ISBT, which is one of the few areas in Chd were hotels are concentrated. They qoute crazy rates, and expect you to bargain and bring it down, specially during the off season. The same goes for the auto-drivers and cyle rickshaw drivers, never give them what they ask cos they always ask more, always bargain specially if you are not a Chd resident or dont know the place too well.
- The city might be a refreshing change from the other cities in India due to its ’’planned’’ status, which is really good, but you will have to memorize numbers of sectors to get somewhere than memorize road/street names like in any other place-and that is a pain. But apart from that, things are more or less the same like any other Indian city. I found Chanakyapuri area in New Delhi to be more cleaner, greener and more quieter than any spot in Chandigarh(before 9pm that is)
The Rock Garden is a shame, it really is made out of waste and rocks, and I could hardly comprehend why I paid Rs. 10 to take a tour of this garbage! I mean, first of all its a downright rip-off, secondly they havent even maintained the place well for whatever it is worth! I spent all of 4 minutes inside before rushing out.
Sukhna Lake was a beautiful experience that kind of neutralized the effect of the horrid Rock Gardens. Calm, serene and green place which is very well built and maintained, and has various activities for the public. I wanted to go boating but could not since I was single and could not manage a partner.
The Rose Garden is apparently something not to be missed, but I had to miss it because during the time I went, there were practically no roses to be seen, it was the off season.
Secretariat, Mini Secretariat, Punjab University etc are places you can and should MISS..There is nothing in these places for a tourist, and I learned that the hard way!
Sector 17 is worth a visit, if not to shop, atleast to drool over the Punjabi kudis. It can at best be described as a huge middle class shopping area where every Tom, Sita and Akbar come to flaunt and spend. One can spend a couple of hours roaming the place and checking it out, and a visit to a sweet shop there which is called Sindhi Sweets( I think) is well worth it.
Chandigarh has NO night life..and I dont mean just clubs/bars, but even a grocery or pharmacy right in the city center shuts down by 10pm..gimme a break!
Internet cafes are virtually non-existent in Chandigarh, and I had to hunt high and low even in Sector 17 before coming across one, and they charged 30 bucks an hour..The last time I paid 30 bucks an hour for internet in India was in 1998 when internet was just introduced!
The airport is clean, cute and small, but is a little out of town. If you have an early flight out of Chandigarh, please arrange the previous night itself for a *bargained auto-wallah to pick you up in the morning!