Top 9 Things Chandigarh Is Famous For

chandigarh is famous for
Manjiri
Manjiri 
Updated
| 5 min read

Famous as the City of Beauty, Chandigarh is a scenic Indian city and the capital of Haryana and Punjab. Enchanting gardens, impressive architecture, a serene lake, and many attractions help the city live up to its sobriquet ‘The City of Beauty’. Chandigarh is one of the first planned localities in the country, and its infrastructure and various landmarks boast its fantastic development. As it is one of the cleanest cities in India, exploring Chandigarh is sure to delight you. Lush greenery, multi-hued flowers in various spellbinding gardens, pleasant water features such as fountains, and many other natural attractions will help you reconnect with nature. Its pet-friendly hotels and Airbnb vacation rentals provide great accommodations as well. So, if you have Chandigarh on your mind to explore during your upcoming sabbatical, knowing well-known landmarks and features of the city will make your excursion more enjoyable. Scroll down to find some top things Chandigarh is famous for.

1. Rock Garden of Chandigarh

01 Statues at Rock Garden, Chandigarh
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Simbu123 used under CC0

Chandigarh is home to world-acclaimed, unique, and sprawling Rock Garden, which has turned almost into a well-known heritage site. Nek Chand Saini, as per his vision of Sukhrani kingdom, founded this peculiar sculpture garden in 1957. Nestled near the lovely Sukhna Lake, this 40-acre (16 ha) garden features plenty of statues, made by recycling urban and industrial waste. Explore the peculiar open-air exhibition space, miniature maze, and theater trove on the landscape of this noteworthy garden. Several connoisseurs and artists from all corners of the world visit this magnificent garden. For some fun things to do, marvel at various intriguing sculptures that stand here and delight your eyes by watching pleasant artificial waterfalls and other lovely water features.

Rock Garden of Chandigarh

Address: Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001, India

Website: Rock Garden of Chandigarh

Opening hours: 1st April - 30th September: 9am - 7pm (daily); 1st October - 31st March: 9am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 0.5 USD per adult & 0.15 USD per child

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2. Well-Planned Architecture

Tower of shadow
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Nk8595 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Chandigarh is also famous for its well-planned, impressive architecture that you can find throughout the city. Open Hand Monument is one of the most well-known landmarks in the city that speaks volumes about the eye-catching architecture of the city. Le Corbusier designed it as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Tower of Shadows is another famous architectural marvel that you can find in the city. This unique creation of Le Corbusier is effective in manipulating the sun rays and dealing with the light incredibly. Le Corbusier had designed it to study the movements of the sun. Chandigarh Capitol Complex, another creation of Le Corbusier, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and government compound in the city. Take time out of your busy schedule to view these various magnificent architectural feats in Chandigarh.

Open Hand Monument

Address: 31, Uttar Marg, Capitol Complex, Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001, India

Website: Open Hand Monument

Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)

Price: Free

Tower of Shadows

Address: Capitol Complex, Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001

Chandigarh Capitol Complex

Address: Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001

Website: Chandigarh Capitol Complex

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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3. (Zakir Hussain) Rose Garden

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden,Chandigarh in spring 2017 05
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Harvinder Chandigarh used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Chandigarh is also famous for being home to Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, which greets a plethora of nature lovers every year. Being the biggest Rose Garden in Asia, the sprawling 30 acres (12.14 hectares) landscape is home to greater than 1600 varieties of roses and over 50,000 bushes of lovely roses. Stroll through this panoramic garden at your ease and admire beautiful roses. The garden also hosts the Rose Festival in late February or the beginning of March.

(Zakir Hussain) Rose Garden

Address: Jan Marg, 16B, Sector 16, Chandigarh, 160016, India

Website: Zakir Hussain Rose Garden

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

Price: 0.68 USD

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4. Clean City

Chandigarh India outing on a Sunday evening
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Fredericknoronha used under CC BY 4.0

Besides being the capital of two Indian states and one of the major tourist destinations in India, Chandigarh is also well-known for being one of the cleanest cities in the country. Locals here have maintained the City of Beauty clean by practicing proper garbage disposal. Various natural attractions, such as Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, nature trails, Terraced Garden, and many more, have helped maintain the serenity of the city and clean environment. Explore this clean and tranquil city leisurely and reconnect with nature during your excursion here.

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5. Greenery

Pinjore Garden Chandigarh India (8)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Shahnoor Habib Mu... used under CC BY 3.0

Home to a variety of spellbinding gardens and green spaces, Chandigarh is also well-known for its serene greenery. Panoramic Leisure Valley, which is a sprawling 8 kilometers (12.87 miles) paradise for nature lovers, is quite famous among the locals as the lungs of Chandigarh. It’s not only known for its verdant space, but also famous for keeping pollution at bay. City of Beauty is also home to many enchanting gardens, such as Rose Garden, Garden of Fragrance, Pinjore Garden, Terraced Garden, Japanese Garden, Garden of Silence, Botanical Garden, Hibiscus Garden and Bougainvillea Garden (to name but a few). Plan your excursion such that you get to visit all these magnificent gardens in the city.

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6. Sukhna Lake

Sukhna Lake Chandigarh, India
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Harvinder Chandigarh used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Sitting at the foothills of the Himalayas, Sukhna Lake is a serene and famous attraction in Chandigarh. It is an artificial lake that features clean and clear water, a laid-back atmosphere, and fresh and rejuvenating air. It infuses a pleasant vibe that attracts several visitors to spend quality time by the lake and get refreshed. People enjoy walking and jogging on the promenade, which is present by the lake. People also enjoy the fun of boating in the serene waters of beautiful Sukhna Lake. So, make sure that you visit this idyllic attraction during your excursion in the City of Beauty.

Sukhna Lake

Address: Sector 6, Chandigarh, 160019, India

Website: Sukhna Lake

Opening hours: 9:30am - 6pm (daily)

Price: Entry is free, but 1.40 USD for boating (up to four people)

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7. Wealthy City of India

Le Corbusier's 'The Open Hand Monument' -- Chandigarh, India (#43)
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ron Cogswell used under CC BY 2.0

In addition to the greenery, cleanliness, and well-planned architecture, Chandigarh is also well-known for being one of the wealthiest cities in India. It not only holds the political significance of being the capital of two states in the country, but also is famous for its rapid growth and development in the IT sector and economy that has contributed to its prestige of being on the richest cities in the country. Great infrastructure, fast transportation services, tourism, high literacy rate of the city, and commercial significance have contributed to its economy.

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8. Capital for two states in India- Punjab and Haryana

Palace of Assembly, Capitol Complex, Chandigarh
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Lillottama used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The City of Beauty also enjoys the unique prestige of ruling two well-known Indian states, namely Haryana and Punjab, by being their capital city. However, it holds a distinct position and is not a part of either of these states. The city is a union territory, and the Union Government of India rules it. If you view the map, you can get to see that the city straddles between Punjab and Haryana. Enrich your travel experience by exploring this beautiful city.

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9. Shopping

Elante Mall, Chandigarh
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Barthateslisa used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Chandigarh is a fantastic destination for shopaholics. It is home to sprawling Elante Mall, which is famous for being the second biggest shopping center in North India. Away from the foot traffic and main road, find Tiny Shop, which is a renowned city treasure. It is open since 1980 and sells a variety of beautiful items, such as artistic locally crafted goods, collectibles, and lovely souvenirs. So, enjoy the fun of shopping when touring through Chandigarh. Try stopping by some of the best spots for biyrani as well.

Elante Mall

Address: 178, Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh, India

Website: Elante Mall

Opening hours: 10am - 11pm (daily)

Price: Free entry

Tiny Shop

Address: Basement SCO 186-88, 17G, 17C, Chandigarh, 160017

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10:30am - 7pm; Sat: 10:30am - 2pm, 4pm - 7pm (closed on Sun)

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Breathe new life into your excursion to Chandigarh

Chandigarh boasts abundant beautiful gardens and green spaces, impressive architecture, and shopping options. So, if you are planning to spend your upcoming holidays in Chandigarh, knowing these top things Chandigarh is famous for will make your sabbatical more enjoyable. Be sure to choose among the vacation rentals or hotels for couples for your accommodation needs as well. So, think no further, pack your bags, and head out for a fun-filled trip to Chandigarh.

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Manjiri Kochrekar is a travel blogger from India. She loves exploring and learning various destinations, their history, culture, and peculiarities. Writing is her passion, which means she enjoys...Read more

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