When we hear the name Chandigarh, the first thing which comes to our mind is the well-planned City Beautiful that has clean Roads, beautiful gardens, amazing places to shop, and great nightlife. It is right even the city is all about that and even more. It is the first planned city after independence, designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s.
Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab & Haryana state, is located 260 km (162 miles) north of New Delhi and 229 km (143 miles) southeast of Amritsar. The name Chandigarh is a fusion of Chandi and Garh. Chandi refers to the Hindu goddess Chandi and Garh means fortress. It is derived from Chandi Mandir, an ancient temple devoted to the Hindu Goddess Chandi (Parvati) in Panchkula District.
Due to the high-altitude place, the atmosphere of Chandigarh stays pleasant all year round. Due to its profoundly urban planning and low crime rate remains a preferred tourist attraction as it serves as a home away from home for most foreigners who visit India. The top 5 best tourist places to visit in Chandigarh that you can add to your Chandigarh itinerary are Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sukhna Lake, Sector-17 Market Complex, and Capital Complex. Let’s me share more knowledge about these places that will make your day beautiful.
Top 5 Best Places to visit in Chandigarh
Rock Garden: Beautiful sculptures created out of waste
The Rock Garden is undoubtedly the most unique of all the places to visit in Chandigarh. The Founder Nek Chand’s land is a maze of walkways that connect multilevel arrangements of capricious sculpture created out of scraps, and ceramic waste. It is in Sector-1 of Chandigarh, and this is the classic example of best out of waste. Rock Garden has 3,000 sculptures that have been spread on 40 acres of land, making this site unique and a lesson in recycling.
Founded in 1957 and the Rock Garden has now become one of the best tourist places to visit in Chandigarh. The Garden has three parts or sections, each with a distinct collection of sculptures. No matter who you are going to Chandigarh with, be it family, friends, or your loved one, make sure you include this in the list of your places to visit in Chandigarh. The reasonable time you can spend here is a minimum of 3 hours. Avoid public holidays and carry sunscreen and water with you.
Great for: Sightseeing, hangout
Entry Fee: INR 30/Adult, INR10/Child
Timing: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM all days of the week.
Best Time to Visit: September To April
Time Required: 3-5 hours
Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is a sight to view when the flowers are in their full blossom in February and March. Located in sector 16 of Chandigarh, Rose Garden is a flourishing exhibit that showcases around 1000 varieties of flowers and 30,000 varieties of trees and medicinal shrubs. It is also known as Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, It is spread over 30 acres and decked up with an exquisite variety of flowers making it quite popular among tourists and nature enthusiasts. It’s a mesmerizing sight to see so many flowers at once and is one of the popular places for couples. The Rose Festival also held between February & March months, making it the best time to visit.
Apart from roses, the place also homes a collection of graceful trees including plants of a bel, camphor, bakers, Harar, and others. Neatly planted systematically by expert gardeners, it serves as a perfect place to peacefully stroll about and relax. The beauty of this garden is increased by the presence of the misty mountains in the background and a beautiful fountain that glows with colorful lights in the evening. With its relaxing surroundings and grassy beauty, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is one of the best tourist places to visit in Chandigarh.
Great For: Sightseeing
Timings: 6:00 AM to 10 PM (All days of the week)
Entry Fee: INR 50 per person
Best Time to Visit: February to March & In Summer (mornings & evenings)
Time Required: 1-2 hours
Sukhna Lake: Admire the views while boating
Sukhna Lake is the most scenic location in Chandigarh. An artificial lake made across 3 km and a perfect place for lovers, joggers, and walkers. Morning and evening walkers head to its good-looking paths, and families stumble upon it in the evenings for the varied performance the complex offers. Apart from all this, the lake acts as the perfect spot for picnics. This place must be on the top of your list for places to visit in Chandigarh.
You can do activities like boat rides across the lake, water skiing, and enjoying the beautiful sunset are much relished by many who visit the lake. It also serves as a home for several birds includes the Siberian duck and the crane. The lake is very often a venue for large scale events.
Great For: Sightseeing, boating, skiing, bird watching, sunset, jogging
Entry Fee: No Fee
Boat Timing: 9:00 AM To 5:00 PM All days
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year except monsoon.
Time Required: It depends on you, but 2 hours are sufficient
Sector 17 market complex: Best Place to hangout
The Sector 17 market is designed along with the city as an open-air shopping complex, equally popular among adults and kids. From big brands to food joints, kids’ wear to bridal stores, fountain displays, an open stage, and street vendors, this spot is one of the best tourist places in Chandigarh for the ones who love to shop. You can find anything you have been eyeing or visit this and decide to buy something on impulse. An evening here should take care of all your shopping and entertainment needs.
Great For: hangout, Window Shopping, Evening Fountain show
Best Time to Go: 11:00 AM- 10 PM (Evening is much better)
Entry Fee: No Fee
Time Required: 2-3 hours
Chandigarh Capitol Complex: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex is an open-air museum dedicated to the vision of its creator, Le Corbusier. Its prosperous historical value has also helped it gain a title in UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Chandigarh Capitol Complex is a reflection of the rich architectural mastery the city has to offer. The Capitol Complex comprises the High Court, the Secretariat, the Palace of Assembly, and the iconic Open Hand sculpture. The three pillars of democracy – legislature, executive, and judiciary – stand unitedly at the Complex, forming a major portion of Sector 1.
Today Chandigarh has a global appeal because of its association with Corbusier and is considered a paradise for architects from all over the world. The Capitol Complex was the head, the sectors formed the trunk, the city center was the heart, with education as the left arm and industry as the right arm.
Great For: Sightseeing
Entry Fee: No Fee
Timing: 9:00 AM To 5:00 PM
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year (Avoid public holidays)
Time Required: 1-2 hours
Time required to Explore Chandigarh
Apart from the above top 5 tourist places, there are many other places which you can include in your itinerary like Chandigarh University tour, Elante Mall, Leisure Valley, Japanese Garden, Government Museum & Art Gallery, Iskon Temple, or visit any club in Sector 7 & 26 Complex. Chandigarh is also famous for Punjabi food. You can try other famous food options such as Chhole Bhathure, Stuffed Naan, Sarso Ka Saag, Makki Ki Roti, etc.
You can explore most of the things in 2-3 days and I am not including any nearby places of Chandigarh like Shimla, Chail, Kufri, Kasauli. I hope you will enjoy reading this post and it helps you to plan your Chandigarh trip.