A PLACE TO LIVE IN
SITUATED IN THE MEETING POINT OF HARYANA PUNJAB AND HIMACHAL PRADESH THIS IS THE PALCE KNOWN FOR ITS ELEGANCE. THE STYLE AS WELL AS IT BOAST OF BEING THE ONE OF THE MOST PALNNED CITY IN INDIA
Museum of the evolution of life
Open from 10.00 hrs to 16.40 hrs all days except Monday and official holidays.
Opened on August 14, 1973. A large cyclorama gallery is the focus of the museum; it depicts the origin of the earth and the evolution of life. Other galleries introduce the viewer to astronomy, geology and the world of ancient man.
Child Art Gallery
Open from 10.00 hrs to 16.30hrs all days except Monday and official holidays.
This gallery exhibits works by young artists of the city. The museum frequently organises art workshops for children.
National Gallery of Portraits
Open from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs all days except Saturday & Sunday and official holidays.
Opened on September 11, 1977 with photographs and paintings of 125 prominent figures of India’s Independence movement. The exhibits are intended to chronicle the struggle for freedom from 1857 to 1947. T
International dolls museum Open from 10.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs all days except official holidays.
Set up on December 24, 1985 in Bal Bhawan, Sector 23, it contains more than 300 dolls from nearly every country in the world. Ten ceramic murals and a large model train completes the display.
Punjab Kala Kendra
Open from 10.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs all days except Sunday and official holidays.
The Rock Garden
Open from 10.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs all days except Thursday and official holidays.
This unique sculpture garden, the work of the city’s internationally acclaimed artist Nek Chand, spreads over 64 acres.
Leisure Valley
Leisure Valley runs through the entire length of the city, 8 kms long, about 400 metres broad at its widest points, oriented north-east to south-west following the course of an existing seasonal stream.
Sections of Leisure Valley are known by the following separate names.
Bougainvillea Garden
Open on all days. 20 acres, Sector 10
The garden is devoted to hundreds of bougainvillea varieties. The creepers cover a wide assortment of arches, bowers, pavilions and arcades. Fi
Zakir Rose Garden
Open on all days. 30 acres, Sector 16.
The largest Rose Garden in Asia, it is spread over an area of 27 acres and has more than 17, 000 plants representing some 1, 600 varieties of roses as well as several fountains.
Shanti Kunj
Open on all days. 18 acres, sector 16.
The name means "Abode of Peace"; trees, pools and streams crossed by curved bridges and a large number of meditation nooks define this garden. There is also an open air stage.
Children’s Traffic Park
Open on all days.
Concrete paths wander over the gently rolling slopes of this park; they are laid out to form "roads and intersections" and furnished with all sorts of road signs. This place, safe from heavy speeding vehicles is useful for children who are learning to cycle, and designed to teach them to use the road safely.
Terrace Garden
Open on all days. 8 acres in Sector 33
A small valley running the length of the sector has been developed into a terraced flower garden and a garden for walkers with an illuminated musical fountain. The garden is the venue for the annual Chrysanthemum Show.
Rajendra Park
This vast open space has been left in its natural state, resembling the land of a village common. Sporting events such as horse shows are held here from time to time.
Smriti Upavana
This space has been set aside to allow the people to plant trees in memory of the deceased. The resultant forest is intended to be a place of silence and remembrance.
Excursions Around Chandigarh
Pinjore Yadavindra Gardens
20 kms from Chandigarh on the Pinjore Kalka road.
Bhima Devi Temple
22 kms from Chandigarh on the Pinjore Kalka Road.
The shrine, part of the Panchayatan group of temples, dates back to the 11th and 14th centuries. Ancient idols unearthed from this spot are on display.
Chattbir Zoo:
15 kms from Chandigarh on the Chandigarh-Patiala Road.
The zoo spreads over an extensive wooded area on the banks of the Ghaggar river. More than 100 different mammals, birds and reptiles are kept at the zoo.
Cactus Garden:
This unique garden laid out over several acres in the heart of Panchkula contains hundreds of species of cactii and succulents -- some of them extremely rare. It draws not only tourists but botanists.
Mansa Devi & Chandi Mandir
10 kms from Chandigarh in Panchkula.
These two temples were pilgrimage spots long before Chandigarh came into being. The goddess Chandi gave her name to the city.
Bhakra-Nangal
116 km from Chandigarh.
This is the highest dam of its kind in the world; it spans the Satluj river.
Morni Hills
23 kms from Chandigarh.
This high spur of the Shivaliks is a protected forest and a favorite spot for trekkers and nature lovers. One can definitely expect to see peacocks, rhesus monkeys and langoors; take the help of a Forest Ranger to get a glimpse of nilgai and sambhar and leopards.
Kasauli
77 km from Chandigarh.
A hill station popular for its unspoiled charm and quiet trails. At night one gets a lovely view of the lights of Chandigarh from here. Many reputed public schools are located near Kasauli.
Chail
107 kms from Chandigarh.
Built by the Maharaja of Patiala as a summer palace, Chail is now a posh hotel. Chail boasts the world’s highest cricket pitch in addition to superb views of the mountains.
Shimla
107 kms from Chandigarh.
This sprawling hill town, now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, was British India’s summer capital. Excellent bus service makes it easily accessible from Chandigarh or one can travel by a charming meter gauge train.