Since Chandigarh is a newly developed city, it does not have many historic monuments to offer. However, the Chandigarh city boasts of several beautiful and well-maintained gardens that are a treat to the eyes. Amongst the must visit places of Chandigarh are the Rose Garden and the Rock Garden. The Capitol Complex is a must see. Tourists may stroll or enjoy boating at the Sukhna Lake of Chandigarh city.

Capitol Complex

Amongst the must visit places in Chandigarh is the monumental Capitol Complex at Sector 1. The tourist attraction happens to dominate the skyline of Chandigarh. Standing aloof at the foothills of the city of Chandigarh, like the Grecian Acropolis, the geometrical concrete buildings rise from the mounds as giant playful sculptures. The places to be visited in the Capitol complex of Chandigarh are the three major buildings of the Secretariat, the Assembly, and the High Court. All the three are interlocked to one another as part of a subtle visual composition, delicately balanced, and enclosing grandiose spaces. Between the silhouettes of these magnificent edifices is juxtaposed the Chandigarh city's most popular visible symbol: the Open Hand

The Secretariat

The largest building in the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh is the 750-ft-long and 150-ft-high Secretariat designed as a work place for nearly 4,000 people. Le Corbusier, who was very sensitive to nature, as a salute to the majesty of the mountains, placed the Secretariat perpendicular to the nearby Shivalik range, so as not to obliterate their panoramic view.

The Assembly

The Assembly building in Chandigarh happens to be the most sculptural of all architectural forms in the Complex. While at this place you must visit the entrance at the piazza level for ceremonial occasions. The massive 25×25 feet door that Le Corbusier himself painted, as a colorful mural must be seen.

The High Court

The High Court of Chandigarh is also a linear block, with the main façade towards the piazza. It has a rhythmic arcade of a parasol-like double roof, which shades the entire building in summer. Keeping in view the special dignity of the honorable judges, an exclusive entry has been created for them through a high portico resting on three giant pylons. Very much in the tradition of the ceremonial gateway of the Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri, this grand entrance with its awesome scale does manifest the majesty of law to those who enter its portals.

The Open Hand

One of the most significant monuments planned by Le Corbusier in Chandigarh is the Open Hand. The monument is a place to visit in Chandigarh. Rising 85 feet high from a sunken trench, a giant hand in metal sheets is designed to rotate "like a weather ****, not to show the incertitude of ideas, but to indicate symbolically the direction of wind (that is the state of affairs)." It is also meant to convey a message of peace "open to receive."

Amongst the other monumental places to visit in Chandigarh are the Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill, and Martyr's Memorial.

Sector 17

One of the most important places to visit is Sector 17, Chandigarh's sleek shopping area and the city centre. Planned around four pedestrian concourses meeting at a central chowk (intersection), the Sector 17 of Chandigarh is a pedestrian's paradise dotted with fountains, sculptures, and groves of trees. In summers the tourists move from one end of the sector to the other, under the shade of a corridor, and in winter it is nice to be out in the sun-drenched piazzas. In the evenings, when the colorful mosaic of neon signs and the aesthetically illuminated fountains come alive, Sector 17 becomes the Chandigarh city's biggest outdoor club.

Sukhna Lake

Another favorite recreation spot of the nature-loving people of Chandigarh is the Sukhna Lake in Sector 1. Created by building an artificial dam on a seasonal stream, Chandigarh's Sukhna Lake is spread over a large area. A 2-km-long promenade along the lakeshore is a popular place to be visited in Chandigarh by the tourists and localities alike.

The Rock Garden

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. The urban waste material turned into creative patterns and textures, mute rocks turned into art objects attract tourists to Chandigarh. A visit to the Rock Garden is a must for all the tourists travelling to Ch

andigarh.

Leisure Valley

Another place to tourist interest in Chandigarh is its leisure valley, which, like a garland of gardens, ornaments the Chandigarh city from one end to the other. The Rose Garden of Sector 16, which with an area of 25 hectares is one of the largest in Asia. The Rose Garden is a place worth visiting in Chandigarh for being home to thousand varieties of roses. Other prominent and worth visiting parks of the Chandigarh city are the Garden of Tranquillity, Garden of Rare Plants, Garden of Annuals, the Bougainvillea Garden, Botanical Garden, and the Garden of Aromatic Plants.

Museums

Government Museum and Art Gallery

The Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10 of Chandigarh has a fine collection of stone sculptures of the Gandhara period. The museum is the place to see the prehistoric fossils and artifacts along with modern art and miniature paintings. The Government Museum and Art Gallery of Chandigarh is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.

Museum of Evolution of Life

The Museum of Evolution of Life in Sector 10 of Chandigarh takes tourists on a trip 5,000 years back from the Indus Valley Civilization to the present day. Chandigarh city's Museum of Evolution of Life is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.

International Dolls Museum

The International Dolls Museum in Sector 23 of Chandigarh has an interesting collection of dolls and puppets from all over the world covering the variant art of more than 25 countries. Chandigarh city's International Dolls museum is closed on Sundays.

Weekend Trips/Excursions

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.

Located on the banks of River Ghaggar, 15 km from Chandigarh city, the Chattbir Zoo is an ideal getaway. The zoo lies on the Chandigarh-Patiala Road. Besides these, Pinjore (now Yadavindra Gardens; 20 km), Morni Hills (45 km), Kasauli (77 km), Chail (107 km), and Shimla (110 km) are some of the interesting places to visit around Chandigarh.

Events And Festivals

Devoid of some of the age-old cultural traditions, Chandigarh has acquired new ones to its calendar of activities. People of Chandigarh celebrate spring festivals, tree plantation festivals, rose and chrysanthemum shows, dog shows and kite flying. Other religious festivals like Diwali and Holi too are celebrated with as much gaiety and zest in Chandigarh.

Baisakhi

Chandigarh celebrates Baisakhi in mid-April every year with great fervour as it marks the first day of the New Year according to the Hindu Vikrami Calendar. Baisakhi also marks the beginning of the harvesting season.

Mango Festival

The Mango Festival is hosted by Chandigarh every year in the month of June. Different varieties of mangoes are displayed at Chandigarh city's Mango festival. As mango is one of the favourite fruits of India, the festival is a big attraction. At the festival, mango products like juice, squash, jams, pickles and aam papad are also displayed.

Teej

The Rock Garden of Chandigarh becomes the centre of activity during Teej (the festival of monsoon celebrated by women) celebrated in the month of August every y

ear. Women accessories like bangles, mehendi (a traditional Indian herbal paint for making designs on hands and arms), and other makeup utilities are displayed at the Rock garden during the festival.

Maha Moorkh Sammelan

On first of April, Chandigarh organizes a humorous, jocular and nonsense poem recitation competition. Aptly christened the Maha Moorkh Sammelan, people take part in this competition to be declared the biggest fool among the lot. The proud winner of the competition then enjoys a donkey ride.

The Plaza Carnival

Every Saturday evening, people of Chandigarh enjoy the three-hour Plaza Carnival held at the piazza in Sector 17. The carnival is free for all, and intends to promote local artists from every field. The attractions vary every Saturday and it could be anything from dance, music, and magic show to painting display, sculpture display, acrobatics, or mimicry.

Festival of Gardens

The Rose Garden of Chandigarh is the venue for the three-day Festival of Gardens, which falls in the last week of February. The people of Chandigarh and tourists are encouraged to take a break and take a view at the various kinds of bloomed roses. The other attractions of the festival are classical dances, folk dances, flower shows, crafts display and other exhibitions and competitions.

Chrysanthemum Show

A flower show is held every year in December in the Terraces Flower Garden in Sector 33 of Chandigarh. The Chrysanthemum Show attracts a lot of visitors as well as participants to Chandigarh.

Chandigarh Carnival

The Chandigarh Carnival held in the month of November encourages students and children to participate in various types of talent competitions.

Indo-Pak Mushaira

Chandigarh hosts the annual event of the Indo-Pak Mushaira that takes place in December. The event brings poets of India and Pakistan on the same stage and is an effort to bring the people of the two countries together.