The Rock Garden in Chandigarh is one the finest venue for Sightseeing in Chandigarh. This popular sculpture garden covers an area of about 64 acres. This popular garden was constructed by Nekchand using varieties of mutli colored stones. The Rock Garden has attracted thousands of visitors since it was first opened for public viewing in the year 1976.

The Rock Garden in Chandigarh led the visitors through a maze of chambers, paths and canyons. These all presents a glimpse of a fantasy world to its visitors. The first phase of the rock Garden consists of small canyon, rock forms and also blends of broken ceramic fixtures, coal slag and pebbles. The canyon in the Rock Garden of Chandigarh opens into a series of chambers. These chambers are filled with numerous of human and animal forms in solid and broken glass or ceramic. In the second phase of this popular garden the visitors may come across a miniature of mountain village situated on the banks of a stream, with its inhabitants

Rock Garden in Chandigarh is the premier attraction spot for tourists. The waste materials like tin cans bottles, broken plugs, saucers plates were used to create some wonderful sculpture. The Rock Garden in Chandigarh also has an open-air theatre several world-class performances have been performed in this creative and naturalistic open-air theatre of Rock Garden by some eminent artists.

Sukhna Lake  

The Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh is regularly visited by large number of visitors from all over the world. Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh organizes different kinds of festivals all round the year. Locals as well as visitors take park in these celebrations with great zeal and enthusiasm. One of the most popular festivals, which are organized in this venue, is the Mango Festival. This festival is generally organized during the monsoon season. In this festival different varieties of delicious mangoes are put on display for its visitors. Moreover, food festivals along with cultural performances are also organized in this venue from time to time.

Sukhna Lake also has a membership-based Lake Club. This club is equipped with facilities like a gymnasium, lawns, swimming pool and tennis courts .The visitors can enjoy rowing, kayaking, sailing, water skiing and boating all round the year. This popular lake also was the venue for the Asian Rowing Championships. Some other tourist attractions are also located near the popular lake like the Rock Garden and a Golf Course. This lake is also the ideal venue for taking strolls or for arranging picnic with your friends and relatives.

Capitol Complex   Chandigarh capitol complex houses the seat of Government. Initially, it served as the seat only for the Govt of Punjab, but now it has the headquarters of both, the Govt of Punjab and Haryana. The credit for the awesome designing of the Capitol complex goes to Le Corbusier. Located in Sector 1, capitol complex in Chandigarh, India consists of three main edifices, namely, the Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly and the High Court. There was a plan to build a fourth building also, which is going to be the Raj Bhavan, as in the Governor's Palace or a Museum of Knowledge. However, till yet, it has not come into existence. The three buildings of the Capitol complex stand majestically representing themselves as the temples of democracy of free India.

The Open Hand  

The Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh which is one of the finest and significant monuments of the city is regularly visited by large number of visitors. The Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh is located in amidst of the popular Capitol Complex. This Capitol Complex houses three magnificent edifices namely the Secretariat, the High Court and the Legislative Assembly. This architecture of this building is really splendid. Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh was constructed by Le Corbusier. This finest monument in Chandigarh is situated in sector 1 in the Capitol Complex. . The Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh was designed in the form of a huge hand made from metal sheets. The monument rotates like that of a weathercock which wonderfully indicates the direction of wind to its visitors. The Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh which is giant metallic structure is about 14 meters high and it is about 50 tonnes in weight. The monument is located away from the main entrance. The visitors can view this amazing architectural wonder without any entrance fees. No fee is charged from its visitors for viewing it. The ideal time to visit this monument is early morning. The monument looks like a bird which slowly rotates on rusted bearings. This monument is a large, open, metal hand pointing skyward. Some people say that the hand symbolizes the map of Haryana. Open Hand Monument in Chandigarh is the symbol of peace and harmony. It is also the official emblem of Chandigarh.

 International Dolls Mueum   Located in Sector 23, International Dolls Museum in Chandigarh, India is one of the best museums of our country. It houses splendid dolls and puppets gathered from all over the world. International Dolls Museum was established in the year 1985 by Chandigarh administration in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Chandigarh. It was set up for the purpose of entertaining the kids. It serves like an amusement park for children. In the Chandigarh International Dolls Museum, you can find about 250 different kinds of dolls collected from countries like Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Russia and Korea etc. An added attraction for children is the toy train. It is a must visit place of the city.

CHANDIGARH EXCURSIONS Top  Morni Hills   The village of Morni known as Bhoj Jabial rests on the mountain side at a height of 3600 feet above the sea level. Morni Hills are an outgrowth of Shivalik range, which flow in two parallel ranges. Excursions near by Chandigarh takes you to some of the popular hills in India. According to the traditions the name 'Morni' was given to a Queen who ruled the area. The Morni Hills are located in the lower parts of the 'Shivalik' range. You will need five hours to reach to Delhi while Chandigarh is 45 kilometers away from Morni Hills.

Morni is situated in the Panchkula District of Haryana. This fabulous place, combines recreation, fun and adventure. Morni is the place of ideal beauty, where you will enjoy the peaceful natural environment. Rock Climbers and trekkers can come over here to embark on adventure activities like trekking, rock climbing, hiking and others. You will be fascinated to see that myth, history and mystery also plays an important role in Morni Hills. Trees like Sal, Neem, Mango, Ritha, Pipal, Jamun, Shisham, Amaltas and Jacaranda are beautifully distributed on the slopes of the hill giving a panoramic view of the place. Morni is regarded as the paradise for the chain of flora and fauna. The flowering trees add to the color of the scenic beauty, which all together gives a fresh breath taking mind. 

Bhakra Nangal Dam   Located at a distance of about 116 kms from Chandigarh, Bhakra Nangal dam is the world's highest straight gravity dam, constructed across the River Satluj. The hydroelectric station positioned here not just generates power for Chandigarh, but also for Delhi and other cities. The construction work of Bhakra Nangal dam began in 1948 and got completed in 1963. Chandigarh Bhakra Nangal dam led to the creation of Gobind Sagar, a 40 sq km reservoir. It has been named after the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. A major attraction of the place is that there is an adequate provision for accommodation and restaurant over here. For tourists, boating facilities are also available. If you are searching for serenity, then the Gobind Sagar Lake at Bhakra is just the apt place for you. An added attraction is the underground tunnel that lies underneath the bed of river Sutlej.

Pinjore Gardens  

The Pinjore Gardens is situated at a distance of nearly 20 kilometers from the main city of Chandigarh. This beautiful and astounding looking place is situated on the Pinjore-Kalka Road and is also known as the Pinjore Yadvindra Gardens. This ancient garden was built in the 17th century, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Nawab Fidal Khan was the man who designed and constructed this garden. Like other Mughal gardens, this one also has a sloping ground and is decorated with fountains and grand and beautiful pavilions. There is a channel of water in the middle of the garden. The fountains are located inside this channel of water. There are walkways located on both sides of the channel. Lined with huge trees and a stretch of green grass, these walkways add to the beauty, charm and elegance of the Pinjore Garden. If you walk straight down, you will arrive at a huge pavilion, which offers marvelous view of the entire garden. The pavilion also has a terrace with a water body located in the center. The biggest attraction of the Pinjore Gardens is the Jal Mahal. This is currently being used as a restaurant.

The beauty of this grand park will, definitely amaze visitors planning to go for excursions near by Chandigarh. Apart from the fountains, you can also check out the mango orchard and the litchi orchard housed inside this garden. The Pinjore Garden also serves as a popular picnic spot. You can come over here with your families and have great time under the boughs of the shady trees. There is also a small zoo inside this park where you can get to see some birds and animals.

Chattbir Zoo   Chandigarh Chattbir Zoo is a famous zoological park located at a distance of houses hundreds of different mammals, birds and reptiles. One of the major attractions of Chatbir Zoo near Chandigarh is the lion safari. The work on zoo had started long back in the seventies and today it has been developed as a full-fledged zoological park. Royal Bengal tiger is the pride of Chattbir zoo and if you are fortunate enough, you might be able to catch its glimpse. Visitors are taken on the adventurous trips to the tiger reserves, where animals roam about freely. You can also find distinctive species of birds over here. The zoo is open on all days except for Mondays.

Shimla  

Shimla is the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh and is situated in the shimla district. It is situated on an altitude of 2159 metres from sea level. It is well connected by National Highway NH-22 to the nearest city of Chandigarh and to the rest of the country. It is well connected through a network of state highways to the towns of Mandi, Manali and Dharamshala. It also has an airport which is 25 km from the city and connected with the city of New Delhi and other cities.

It is beautifully surrounded by picturesque snow capped peaks and green pastures. It's no doubt that Shimla became the summer capital of the British Raj. Every summer the British civil servants, merchant, soldiers escaped from the heat of the plains to this cool paradise. And that is the reason you will find numerous colonial structures dotting the region and the city.

RELIGIOUS PLACES IN CHANDIGARH Top  Chandi Devi Temple  

Chandi Mandir in Chandigarh is located at a distance of 15 kilometers from the city of Chandigarh on the popular Chandigarh - Kalka road. The city of Chandigarh is said to get its name from the Chandi Mandir. Chandi Mandir is the temple, which is devoted to the goddess of power. This popular temple is regularly visited by large number of visitors from all over the world. This wonderful temple is believed to be ancient and has great importance for the Hindus. People travel from far off places to offer prayers in this Chandi Mandir.

The Chandi Mandir in Chandigarh is positioned amid stunning surroundings. The view of the Shivalik hills really looks amazing from this temple. Large number of people from far and wide visits the Chandi Mandir in Chandigarh to pay homage to the goddess. It is said that wishes come true in this popular temple. During some special occasions like Navratras, thousands of devotees visit this temple with friends and relatives. Another tourist attraction located near the Chandi Mandir in Chandigarh is the Mansa Devi Shrine. This temple is situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from the Chandi Mandir in Chandigarh.

Mansa Devi Temple   Chandigarh Mansa Devi temple is a very famous shrine located at Panchkula, which is about 8 kms away from the city. This holy Siddh Peeth is dedicated to Mata Mansa Devi. According to the Hindu mythology, the head of Devi Sati had fallen over here. Mansa Devi Temple near Chandigarh basically houses two temples. The temple that is located near the parking lot is said to be the main temple. It was established in the year 1815 A.D by the ruler of Mani Majra. The credit for setting up the relatively new temple goes to the Maharaja of Patiala. Adjoining to the Chandigarh Mansa Devi mandir, there is a beautiful garden consisting of sacred plants. People come from all over the world to pay homage to the goddess. During Navratras, fairs take place in the surrounding areas of Mansa Devi temple.

Nada Sahib Gurdwara  

Nada Sahib in Chandigarh is situated at a distance of 15 kilometers from the main city. It is located in the Panchkula District on the banks of the Ghagar River. In fact, the temple is located at the foot of the Shivalik Mountains. It is said that Guru Gobind Singh, after winning the battle against the Mughals, came over here with his followers and rested in this place for some days. While he was staying here, a person named Baba Nadu Shah, influenced and inspired by the holiness of the guru, offered milk to the guru and his army. Guru Gobind Singh was so pleased with his services that he blessed the baba and told him that in future thousands of people will come to this very place and pay their respects to the baba.

It was also in this very place that the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur was kept here while it was being taken by his followers for cremation to Anandpur Sahib. People from far and near come to the Nada Sahib in Chandigarh to pay their respects in memory of the great guru. Located close to the Gurudwara is the tomb of Dargahi Shah Faqir. This is also a major religious attraction that is worth visiting.

The Gurudwara serves as venue for a fair called the Jor Mela. This fair is held in memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, Dargahi Shah Faqir and Banda Bahadur. The festival is held during the month of September and is an annual event, which is attended by a large number of devotees. Nada Sahib in Chandigarh is visited by a large number of people during the full moon day, who come to pay their respect to the great Sikh gurus.

Nabha Sahib Gurdwara  

Nabha Sahib Gurudwara in Chandigarh is located about 15 km from the city on the road to Patiala, near Zirakpur. This magnificent shrine reminds the Sikhs of their turbulent history dating back to as early as 1695. After Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution in Delhi, his body was picked up by Bhai Jaita for cremation at Anandpur Sahib. At the request of an aged Muslim saint Dargahi Shah Fakir, a disciple of the Guru, Bhai Jaita kept the body at this place. People from the surrounding areas began rushing to this place to pay their respects. Dargahi Shah Fakir sent a message to Guru Gobind Singh through Bhai Jaita with a request for visit, as the fakir was too old and ill to travel all the way to Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh visited Nabha Sahib after the battle of bhangani against the Mughals. Guru Gobind Singh, after paying homage to his father, visited the fakir, who died soon after. The smadh of the fakir in the vicinity of the shrine is also visited by devotees for his association with Guru Tegh Bahadur. Later in 1709, this place saw Banda Bahadur paying homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur and Dargahi Shah Fakir on his way to Sirhind. Each year on 21-22 Assuj (September) a grand fair called Jor Mela is organized at Nabha Sahib Gurudwara in Chandigarh in memory of the Gurus, the fakir and Banda Bahadur.