Chandigarh is the best-planned city in India, with architecture which is world-renowned, and a quality of life, which is unparalleled. As the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh it is a prestigious city. The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed.Serenity and a city are two diametrically opposite concepts, which however, get belied in the 'City Beautiful'. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature's preservation.
It is here that the trees and plants are as much a part of the construction plans as the buildings and the roads.
History of Chandigarh
Chandigarh, the dream city of India's first Prime Minister, Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru, was planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier. Picturesquely located at the foothills of Shivaliks, it is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth century in India.Chandigarh derives its name from the temple of "Chandi Mandir" located in the vicinity of the site selected for the city. The deity 'Chandi', the goddess of power and a fort of 'garh' laying beyond the temple gave the city its name "Chandigarh-The City Beautiful".The city has a pre-historic past. The gently sloping plains on which modern Chandigarh exists, was in the ancient past, a wide lake ringed by a marsh. The fossil remains found at the site indicate a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life, which was supported by that environment. About 8000 years ago the area was also known to be a home to the Harappans.Since the medieval through modern era, the area was part of the large and prosperous Punjab Province which was divided into East & West Punjab during partition of the country in 1947. The city was conceived not only to serve as the capital of East Punjab, but also to resettle thousands of refugees who had been uprooted from West Punjab.In March, 1948, the Government of Punjab, in consultation with the Government of India, approved the area of the foothills of the Shivaliks as the site for the new capital. The location of the city site was a part of the erstwhile Ambala district as per the 1892-93 gazetteer of District Ambala. The foundation stone of the city was laid in 1952. Subsequently, at the time of reorganization of the state on 01.11.1966 into Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pardesh, the city assumed the unique distinction of being the capital city of both, Punjab and Haryana while it itself was declared as a Union Territory and under the direct control of the Central Government.
Best Time to Visit in Chandigarh
The best time to visit Chandigarh is between the months of October and March when the weather is enjoyable and is favorable for a city tour. During the day, the temperatures remain in the range of 20-30 degree C. During night, the minimum temperature in winters in January drops to 2 or 1 degrees C.During the summer months, the heat is scorching when the temperature rises above the 40 degree C. The days of May and June are dry with hot winds but the monsoon shower brings some relief in the month of July, bringing down the temperatures though the humidity levels remain high. Nevertheless, Chandigarh can also be explored in August and September.
How to Reach Chandigarh
The National Highway 1 connects Chandigarh with Delhi, which takes around 4 to 5 hours. Located about 8 km away from the city centre, Chandigarh Railway Station has several frequent trains plying from New Delhi. From the railway station, you can take buses, autos or taxis to reach any place of the city
Shopping in Chandigarh
Renowned to be one of the most beautiful cities of India, Chandigarh prides itself on having a lot of other attributes too. Among the varied facilities that this union territory offers, its vivacious crowd and its shopping hubs are quite the high ranking partners. The crowd is the mostly young hardworking type or the retired relaxing type, but as for the shopping options the places has earned quite a name not only within the city but in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana too. To guide you right to these much talked of shopping places in Chandigarh a small list of some of the best shopping hubs of the city has been compiled below.
Best Things To Do in Chandigarh
Chandigarh is full of amazing experiences which employees would love to indulge in. From great food to amazing nature getaways, the green city is full of experiences. Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana. It is a state that has adopted the urban culture really fast. Known as the ‘City Beautiful’ it’s worth the name. Apart from the enchanting and mouth-watering food, there are a lot of places you should pay a visit to. From festivals like Baisakhi to Lohri to the festival of gardens, every single day is a celebration of life.Chandigarh is one of the most well-planned cities in our country. Being the capital of two states it has a beautiful blend of cultures from both the states. It is popular among tourists for an unparalleled architecture and the relaxing activities that it has to offer.