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One of the best city of north India is Chandhigadh. It's a good experience to visit the city as tourist to all well known places in the surrounding. Best time to visit is in the month of Nov-Jan. It's one of the best well planned city of India. It's constructed in 1950 by a French Architect. Till now more and more beautification is happening every year. It has 47 sectors within its entire area. Though the city is costly in terms of livelihood but worth spending the money once in a year or lifetime. I was one of the fortunate since I learn about Chandhigadh city since from my college days and always back of my mind thought about the visit. My forcibly selection for office assignment happened to be, bit less interested to leave my home town Mumbai. Since recently I had returned back to Mumbai after past 6 month stay in UK. I
landup to Chandhigadh via Delhi by Deccan Air, a first time experience
of such small scale domestic flights. Since it was day time, I got the
good aerial view of the city in a first glance about the grid system
developed houses, offices etc. I did landup in the afternoon. The
temperature was cold like UK. As soon I landup here on the airport, my
negative filled mindset turned completely and started thinking of using
this opportunity to visit most of the places to utilise most of the
weekends. 24th Dec 2005 We planned a day trip to following places with our entire team of Hexaware office. Even our client also joined us, seeing the enthusiasm of our team. Rock Garden
Sukhna Lake One of the artificial lake constructed and stretched 2kms long lies in the sector 6 of Chandhigadh. Boating facility is available here. As well some of the hotels are there in the area. The lake is well maintained and good for a walk in the surroundings.
It's Asia's biggest rose garden. It has 1000's of variety of Flowers. One can have a pleasure walk in the area. It's good to fill the lungs with rose fragrances. Its in sector 16. Its started in 1967. Every year this place is having Annual Rose Festival. Many people from various part of world visit this place due to the variety of Roses.
A short trip to Terrace garden is also worth especially in the evening but not that great. only difference is its well organised though its a small in comparison with Rose Garden. Its place for localities for evening walk. It is spread across East to West. Shashtri Market: Now the time came to return back home all we decided to have a small visit to Shashtri Market. Its like Fashion Street of Mumbai but once has to have bargaining capacity. not only clothing you get all other items like shoes baggage etc. We
ended our day trip and as usual next weekend planning started of
charting out what's next, supported by my colleague Parag and rest of
the team members. I will keep on updating this article depending upon our next plans. The Yadavindra Gardens (Moghul Gardens) at Pinjore were designed by Fidai Khan, Aurangzeb's foster brother in the 17th century. The Haryana Govt. have recreated the whole complex by adding Colored illuminations to the play of fountain water, providing rest places pinching facilities and mini zoo. Set in a typical blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles the moghul garden popularly known as Pinjore |
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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. Their are
thousands of models of animals, human being etc made in different
different blocks of area. It has waterfall houses etc kind of models.
One can easily find out the broken plates, wash basin used in the
construction for walls etc. It's great idea in reality. One can spend
easily 2 hrs in the garden.
Rose Garden
India's
pride and the mastermind peace of one of the highest strait gravity dam
of height 740ft, 325ft in length and 30ft wide lies on the Satlaj
river. The scenic Govind Sagar behind stressed along the way to
Nainadevi enhances the beauty of entire area. Photography is not
allowed in the area due to security reason. It's 125 km from
Chandhigadh via Rupnagar and further touching to Anantpur. It's really
a one of the good day outing plan. This time the water is far below the
overflow line. It reaches max in the month of August. Their is nothing
much to spend time except travelling. Still vastness of the dam is
unique one can experience only by visiting the dam.
One
can see the shivalik range towards north behind the Govid Sagar lake.
Unfortunately our Travera got damaged on the way. We wasted some time
here in the middle of the journey. We thought it was a good break to
loose our feets as well to our driver to rethink on his driving skills
in the mountains. Any how we managed to reach the Temple Base and spent
another 2 hrs to explore the temple and the surrounding which was
enough time to get the Travera rapired tentatively. This temple has
cable car on the same route 2 kms before the base. It has a hotel
facility too. We opted to walk all 500 odd steps. One of our young team
member Soumya, first time vsiting such place was calculating the time
required to reach the top like in a minute one can approx. cover 20
steps s for 300 steps how many etc. I was listening to his calculation
without any feedback. Anyway one can reach the top in 20 min time max.
The best part of the walk is one can see the Shivalik as well the Lower
Himalayan snow claded mountain range. for us it was good excersize to
climb the steps. Photography is not allowed in the temple.
After
golden Temple, this was my second visit to a Gurudwara might be in my
life span. Its very clean and well decorated by the white marble. We
reached here at 7:45pm. In the night lights the shrine looks more
beautiful. We had a prasad a spent 5 minutes inside the gurudwar. It
gives some kind of peace if you spent more time. That was our last
destination of the day. It was another adventurous/scenic journey.
On
the way to Chandhigadh Patiala road one can see the fortification wall
hidden behind the trees though it looks small from out side but it is
not the case. Actually this was adhoc venture we found on the way to
Patiala. We thought it would be better to visit this fort now turned
into a training ground for police commandos partly. Over all the fort
was not maintened at all. Most of the architetural art work fallen down
and whatever the good part people are using it for the commercial
purpose like film shoot etc. We saw number of chidrens playning on the
damaged wall of the forts like they dont have anything to do with this
old monument. Inside the fort is huge. Their are some residential might
be police colony had been established recently. The fort has a Mosque
that too in not a good state. We found one local boy eager to guide us
about all exits and high point of the fort etc during our exploration
thinking we are part of the film shooting team. Whaile taking the snaps
the group of children were shouting from one point to me to take
picture of their group. They might have thought it will come in the
film. After entire exploration of the fort it seems the fort was one of
complete fort at that time might be serving the territory of Patiala. 
arrangement
for entertenment at that time. Currently the building has converted
into a small bird museum, Art Gallery with ancient painiting and
accessories. The centre of the building has 'Shish Mahal' where the
entire house is well decorated with thousands of small mirrors in very
attractive form. Their is a hanging bridge built in 1897 in the centre
of the entertainment ground. Actually it has spoiled the entire beauty
of the Shish Mahal. It's no where adding any beauty to the monument but
just a small time comfort of crossing from one end to other. In the
surrounding has 8 small guns kept in the open for tiurist attraction.
Their are some british personalities statue kept on the other side of
the monument.
The
Palace is built in 1891 and now under control of Himachal Tourism. One
can see the Kinner Kailash and the Dhuladhar Range of snow claded
mountains. Their is nothing much to see at this location but definetly
one can spent some leasure time. 
gardens
has been renamed as Yadavindra Garden as a mark of respect to the late
Yadavindra Singh Maharaja of the earst while princely state of Patiala.
The main gate of the pinjore garden opens on the highest terrace and
seven terraces descend gradually into the distant boundary of the
garden. In the middle of the first terrace is the shish Mahal in the
Rajasthani Mughal style with small windows and apertures. There is a
lyrical Hawa Mahal Approached by steps on the side of the wall. The
second terrace is uplifted by large arched doorways, above which there
is the Rang Mahal. 
The
beautiful city of Chandigarh is worth visiting in itself and also acts
as a base for further excursions in North India. A visit to Chandigarh
is not complete without a visit to the temple of Goddess Chandi, which
is located in Panchkula, 10 km away from Chandigarh. In fact, the name
Chandigarh is derived from this temple. Nearby is the temple of Mansa
Devi. Both the temples are built in the North Indian style of
architecture. Moreover, there is the Panchkula Cactus and Succulent
Botanical Garden, which houses over 2,500 varieties of cacti and other
succulent plants from all parts of the world. This cactus garden is
Asia's biggest such garden. Photo Link -