WHAT TO SEE
“Welcome to Chandigarh. The City Beautiful.” — reads a large, green board upon entering the union territory. The endearing city of Chandigarh is lined with gardens that boast of manicured landscapes, blooming Áowers and well-maintained promenades. With distinctive pleasant weather, a trip to this union territory must involve visiting a few of many lovely gardens here. Begin with Garden of Fragrance (Sector 36A; open 5am-11pm) to take in the whiͿ of fresh Áora as you walk alongside a carpet of greenery. Some of the Áowers that keep you company on your morning walk here are damask rose, plumeria, jasmine and many other fragrant ones. There is also the lovely 20-acre
Bougainvillea Garden (Sector 2; open 8am-5pm) that houses 65 varieties of the plants with carefully laid out walking tracks that allow you to run in the company of nature. The garden also hosts an annual bougainvillea show for Áoral enthusiasts. Hibiscus lovers will enjoy spending an evening at the namesake Hibiscus Garden (Sector 36; open 8am-10pm). This eight-acre expanse prides itself with 40 diͿerent species of the plant. One of the Àrst parks of the union territory, this charming natural haven can be accredited for giving Chandigarh the title of “city of gardens”. Wanderers and photography enthusiasts mustn’t miss Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, that’s lined with 1,600 types of roses, swarming bees and rare birds. This garden conceived in 1967 is a gem in Chandigarh’s crown of natural beauty. Those interested in the rich history of this union territory, must spend a few hours at Le Corbusier
Centre (Old Architect Building, Madhya Marg, Sector 19B; open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm) scrolling through displays and exhibits from the life of the Swedish-French architect that gave Chandigarh its characteristic appearance. The showcase has preserved dated manuscripts, blueprints of the master plan, photos of Le Corbusier along with political letters revealing secrets behind the aspirational project. Head to the Sukhna Lake, located ten minutes from Le Corbusier Centre, where you can rent boats to enjoy a leisurely cruise on its calm waters overlooking an idyllic view of the Shivalik hills. There are enough restaurants and cafes alongside the lake to ensure a hearty meal after some lazy sailing.
An alternative way to experience this city is on bikes. PedalChandigarh oͿers cycles for rent on a per day basis. Beginning at Sector 17, you can even opt for its three-hour long bicycle tour that takes you to the charming locales of Chandigarh including the aforementioned Sukhna Lake and =akir Hussain Rose Garden. Write to pedalchandigarh#gmail.com fore more information.