Chandigarh, derives its name from a temple Chandi Mandir
in the vicinity of the site selected for the city (deity Chandi, goddess of
power), and a fort or ‘garh" beyond the temple, called Chandigarh.
Chandigarh was conceived as the capital of Punjab, in lieu of the lost
capital at Lahore. But Punjab was divided a second time in 1966, and
Chandigarh is today the capital of the States of both Punjab and Haryana.
However, the city does not belong to either. Chandigarh is a Union
Territory, administered by the Government of India. Chandigarh belongs to
its people. They love the city, and are proud of the quality of life it
continues to provide.
History of Chandigarh Chandigarh
has become synonymous with a certain kind architecture, alongwith planned
landscaping, not found in other cities of India, and not amenable
to being strait jacketed. And so we begin the story of Chandigarh. Initially
the Government of Punjab approached American town planner Albert Mayer who
along with architect Matthew Nowicki became the key planners for the new
city. The master plan conceived by them had a fan-shaped outline filling the
site between the two seasonal river-beds. At the northern edge of the city
was the capitol complex against the panoramic backdrop of the Shivalik
hills.
The City Centre was sited in the middle, and two linear
parklands ran from the northeast to the southwest. Mayer sought to create
self-sufficient city, restricted in size and surrounded by green belts.
Areas were clearly demarcated for business, industry and cultural
activities.
In August 1950, his co-planner Nowicki died
in a plane crash and Mayer withdrew from the project. This vision
of Chandigarh, contained in the innumerable conceptual maps on the drawing
board together with notes and sketches had to be translated into brick and
mortar. Le Corbusier, eminent architect and urban theorist, was selected to
carry forward this task. He retained many of the seminal ideas of Mayer and
Nowicki, like the basic framework of the master plan and its components: the
Capitol, City Centre, besides the University, Industrial area, and linear
parkland. Even the neighbourhood unit was retained as the basic module of
planning.
However, the curving outline of Mayer and Nowicki was
reorganised into a mesh of rectangles, and the buildings were characterised
by an ‘honesty of materials’. Exposed brick and boulder stone
masonry in its rough form produced unfinished concrete surfaces, in
geometrical structures. This became the architecture form characteristic of
Chandigarh, set amidst landscaped gardens and parks.
| » Major Attractions of Chandigarh |
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Rock Garden : In the city of
Chandigarh , there is a world famous garden called Rock Garden.
Situated in the thick forest area, the garden holds its own charms for the
visitors. It is full of objects built from household and industrial waste.
There are no flowers or plants in this garden.
Sprawling over
several acres of woods in the form of an open-air exhibition hall,
theatre trove and a miniature maze all rolled into one vast fantasyland of
art and landscape. It is without doubt, a tourist spot that is a must on the
itinerary of every visitor to Chandigarh.
The
city's internationally acclaimed artist Nek Chand created this unique
sculpture garden. Here, the visitor is led through a maze of paths, chambers
and canyons, each presenting a glimpse of a fantasy world.
An
unpretentious entrance leads to a magnificent, almost surrealist arrangement
of rocks, boulders, broken chinaware, discarded fluorescent tubes, broken
and cast away glass bangles, building waste, coal and clay-all juxtaposed to
create a dream folk world of palaces, soldiers, monkeys, village life, women
and temples. The open-air sculptures and concealed gateways separating them
are at places enhanced by a waterfall, pools and an open-air theatre with
proper stage setting where several prestigious performances have been
staged.
Sukhna Lake : Sukhna Lake,
the
man made lake is located on the southeastern boundary of the Chandigarh
city. The picturesque Sukhna Lake situated in the foothills of
Shivalik range is an idyllic place for quiet communion with nature and for
offering water sports activities such as boating, yachting, water skiing,
etc.
The creation of Lake was one of the greatest gifts from Le
Corbusier and P. L. Varma, the Chief Engineer. To preserve its tranquility,
Corbusier insisted that it be forbidden to motor boats and the top of the
promenade prohibited to vehicular traffic. The lake is a perfect hangout for
peaceful, romantic walks.
| » Places to Stay in Chandigarh |
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Chandigarh's accommodation options include Govt. hotels,
private hotels, guest houses, which are located in and around the place and
are available at resonable prices.
| » How to Get there |
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Air : Indian Airlines flies regularly to
the city from Delhi, Amritsar and Leh.
Rail :
Chandigarh is fairly easy to reach from any city in North India by rail.
The railway station lies 8km southeast of the city centre and is slightly
inconvenient to reach. Chandigarh is linked by train to Delhi, Kalka and
Shimla.
Road : Buses connect Chandigarh to
cities like Amritsar, Dharamshala, Delhi, Jaipur, Manali and Shimla. The
city's bus station is a large, crowded, messy and noisy place that serves as
a major link for Himachal-bound travellers.
North
India Tour Packages | Hotels
in Chandigarh
