City Of Beauty: 10 Places To Visit In Chandigarh

Chandigarh“The City of Beauty” was designed in the 1950s by the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. Chandigarh is a young, prosperous and vibrant place whose landscaped gardens and pleasant climate attract visitors year round. Here are the 10 best places to visit in the city.Capitol ComplexThis UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of three buildings and four monuments: the Palace of Assembly, the Secretariat Building, the High Court, the Open Hand Monument, Geometric Hill, the Tower of Shadows and Martyrs Memorial. Don't miss the Government Museum and Art Gallery.Rock GardenThis 16-hectare garden is the creation of artist Nek Chand Saini. Its 2,000 sculptures were made using items such as bangles, ceramic pots, tiles, bottles and electric waste. Visit the nearby Garden of Silence, too.Sukhna LakeThis artificial lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream of the Shivalik Hills. It is a sanctuary for migratory birds like Siberian ducks, storks and cranes during the winter. Festive celebrations like the Mango Festival take place during the monsoon.Sector 17The most happening place in town is Sector 17. Replete with several big brand stores, international outlets, food chains and eateries, this tree-lined pedestrian plaza thrums with liveliness. Don’t miss the evening fountain show.Japanese GardenBuilt in 2014, this garden consists of water bodies, pagodas, waterfalls, a meditation centre, a Buddha idol and golden bamboos to truly give the feeling of being in the “Land of the Rising Sun.” The two phases of the garden are connected by a tunnel decorated with Japanese paintings.International Dolls MuseumEstablished in 1985, this museum has a wide-ranging collection of heritage dolls from 25 countries. Tribal dolls depict the culture of various tribes of India while bridal dolls show off the wedding attire unique to Indian states. There are also dioramas depicting fairy tales and mythological stories.Le Corbusier CentreThis museum was the workplace of Le Corbusier and his team. The modest structure houses photographs, models, sketches, sculptures, furniture and installations pertaining to the architect’s work. Don’t miss out on a visit to its souvenir shop.Garden Of FragranceWalk the winding paths of this garden known for its pleasant assortment of flowering plants like raat ki rani, the Damask rose, motia, champa, harsingar, mehndi and so on. The idyllic place is home to many birds, insects and animals.Inderjit Singh Bindra StadiumPopularly known as Mohali Stadium, it has been hailed by cricketers for its spacious dressing rooms, excellent practice facilities and state-of-the-art gymnasium. It has a seating capacity of 26,000. Zakir Hussain Rose GardenAsia's largest rose garden features over 50,000 rose bushes of 1,600 different species. Take a stroll on pathways lined with blooming roses, arches and lawns. The annual Rose Festival is celebrated sometime in February or March and attracts tourists from all over the world.10 Migratory Birds That Visit India Every WinterRead more