Hey guys!!!
Photo Location: Chandigarh Airport
Photo Location: Chandigarh Rly. Station
Photo Location: Rock Garden
Photo Location: Sukhna Lake
Photo Location: Rose Garden
Photo Location: One of the Rose Bed known as Princess Clauss.
Photo Location: Japanese Garden
Photo Location: Museum and Art Gallery
Photo Location: Open Hand Monument
Photo Location: Elante Mall
Photo Location: Mansa Devi Temple
Photo Location: Pinjore Gardens
Photo Location: Bhima Devi Temple
In Photo: Non-Veg Thali
In Photo: Veg Thali
In Photo: Aloo Tikki
Photo Location: Sector-17 Market Street
Photo Location: Rock Garden
Welcome back to another travel blog.
In today's blog I will take you to a modern gateway experience to Chandigarh City.
Chandigarh is the primary travel stop for all travellers before they head towards their desired destination to the state of Himachal Pradesh.
One has to get down at Chandigarh, if travelling by train, to get to Shimla or Manali.
Most of the tourists spend a day or two in Chandigarh to have a look around city's most famous places, markets and to hog on street food.
Little known facts about Chandigarh:
• Chandigarh is named after the goddess chandi and garh means fortress where the temple was located at foothills of Shivaliks.
• Chandigarh is the first planned city. Swiss-French born Architect Le corbusier planned the city's architectural outlook.
• Chandigarh is an Union Territory and is a shared capital city of both states of, Punjab and Haryana.
Travel Trivia:
Chandigarh has never had a Sector 13 because the city architect Le Corbusier considered the number 13 as unlucky but now after 54 years, Sector 13 has been created by adding eight areas under this new sector.
Best Time To Visit:
The best time to visit Chandigarh is during winter season which starts from the month of November untill February. Tourists can also be seen visiting Chandigarh during summer Season which is around April to July month. Overall you can visit Chandigarh anytime you want as the weather is always pleasant.
How To Reach?
1. Chandigarh via Air
Chandigarh Airport operates its commerical flights to all the major cities of India. Chandigarh airport is 22 kms from the main city.
Airfare from major cities:
1. Mumbai - Chandigarh
Airfare: ₹7k - ₹10k (return fare)
Time Taken: 2 hrs 30 min
2. Kolkata - Chandigarh
Airfare: ₹7k - ₹14k (return fare)
Time Taken: 2 hrs 30 min
3. Banglore - Chandigarh
Airfare: ₹7k - 12k (return fare)
Time Taken: 3 hrs
2. Chandigarh via Train
Chandigarh railway station is well connected to all major rail networks around india.
1. Mumbai to Chandigarh
Distance covered: 1619 kms
Time Taken: 27 hrs - 31 hrs
2. Kolkata to Chandigarh
Distance covered: 1703 kms
Time Taken: 31 hrs
3. Banglore to Chandigarh
Distance covered: 2875 kms
Time Taken: 35 - 40 hrs
To book train tickets, please visit IRCTC website online or their app to check the availability of seats and fares.
3. Chandigarh via Road
Chandigarh is well connected by road to all major road network around nearby cities.
1. Mumbai - Chandigarh
Distance covered: 1660 kms
Time Taken: 28 hrs without any halt
2. Kolkata - Chandigarh
Distance covered: 1762 kms
Time Taken: 31 hrs without any halt
3. Banglore - Chandigarh
Distance covered: 2406 kms
Time Taken: 40 hours without any halt
Where To Stay?
There are many affordable as well as luxurious hotels in and around the city. The architecture of most hotels are bit old but are well maintained by the hotel staff. Most hotels do provide basic necessities and good hospitality but there are some hotels which fails to provide any basic necessities with not so okay hospitality so it is very necessary to book a good descent hotel to enjoy one's stay.
Recommended Hotels:
1. Hotel Maya.
2. Skyview Holiday Home.
3. Lemon Tree Hotel.
4. Hotel Cama.
5. Hotel Treebo.
6. Hotel Central Park
7. Hotel whispering oaks.
8. New Chandigarh Holiday Home.
9. Pride Home.
10. Hometel.
**All the above mentioned hotels are recommended based upon the health, hygiene, location and safety of tourists.
**Please note that, cheaper the hotel less the facilities by hotel management.
You can book your hotels, mentioned above, online from below websites as they offer great deals:
Goibibo: Click here.
Booking.com: Click here.
MakeMyTrip: Click here.
ClearTrip: Click here.
If you are looking for homestays for rental, you should book from Airbnb for more convenient prices.
What To See? Places To Visit
Let's take a look at some famous Tourists places in Chandigarh:
1. Rock Garden
It is located in Uttar marg of sector 1, Chandigarh near sukhna lake also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden. It is a famous sculpture garden built by him from recycled ceramics, waste bottles and glasses, tiles, electronic waste, broken pipes and mosaic courtyard along with paths made of these recycled items. It also has a interlinked man made waterfall inside. There is a canteen at the entrance of the garden.
Time:
9 am - 7 pm (closes by 6 pm in winter season).
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
Adults: ₹30 per person
Children: ₹10 per child.
P.S.: The path is cobbled up and wheelchair or baby stroller is accessible but is limited to certain areas, I advised not to take risk as the path ahead does not have flat surface.
2. Sukhna Lake and Sukhana Wildlife Sanctuary
Sukhna Lake is located adjacent to rock garden of Uttar marg. Sukhna lake is an artificial reservoir at the foothills of Shivalik. Sunset is something to experience as the landscape is very mesmerizing in the evening. You can have a trip around the lake by boating.
Time:
5 am - 7pm (Closes by 6 pm in winter)
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
There is no ticket price for tourists to roam around the lake but if you want to go boating there are charges as below:
You can book a paddle boat for 30 minutes for ₹200 for 2 people and for ₹400 for 4 people with additional refundable security of ₹200 and ₹400 respectively.
Sukhana Wildlife Sanctuary:
This sanctuary has two gate entries one from Kansal gate and another from Nepali gate. The route to Kansal gate is via ‘Khuda Alisher’ village or Kaimbwala village of U.T. Chandigarh. The route to Nepli gate is via Suketri village of Haryana. The entry to the sanctuary is first come first basis. Sanctuary is opened all week long from 6am till sunset.
3. Zakir Rose Garden
It is located at sector 16 of Jan marg. Zakir Rose garden is the largest rose garden in Asia and is spread over an area of 27 acres. The garden itself has 17,000 plants with some 1,600 varities of roses. People come here for photography and picnics with their families. "Rose Festival" event is held in Zakir rose garden every year during February or March month.
Time:
6 am - 10 pm
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
None.
4. Japanese Garden
It is located in sector 31 near dakshin marg. The garden's architecture is inspired by Japanese culture which consists of water falls, pagoda towers, meditation centre, a buddha idol and golden bamboos.
Time:
4:30 am - 11 pm
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
None.
5. Government Museum and Art Gallery
It is located in sector 10, designed by swiss-french architect Le Corbusier, and is famous for its collections of Gandharan sculptures, miniature paintings of Rajasthani and pahadi culture.
Time:
10 am - 4:30 pm
It is open for public from Tuesday to Sunday.
It is closed on Mondays and national holidays.
Entry Fee:
For Adults: ₹10
Children and Senior citizens: Free Entry
Camera equipments: ₹5
6. Open Hand Monument
It is located in sector 1 of Chandigarh, in the heart of the Capital Complex stands the symbolic giant metallic sculpture of The Open Hand which is 26 metres high. It is an official emblem of Chandigarh, signifying the city's belief of "the hand to give and the hand to take; peace and prosperity, and the unity of mankind". It rotates with the wind, resembling like weathercock. The Shadow Tower is in the same vicinity of Capitol Complex and is constructed in such a way that not a single ray of sun enters it from any angle.
Time:
9 am - 8 pm
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
None.
7. Elante Mall
It is located in industrial area of phase 1. It is the seventh largest shopping mall in India. Mall has various brand shops, food court, space for kids zone. The mall is usually crowded. It also has ample parking space. It is open all week between 11 am - 11 pm.
8. Mansa Devi Temple
It is located 10 kms from Chandigarh in bilaspur village near sector 13 of panchkula district. Goddes Mansa is worshipped in this place who is a form of shakti. Many devotees all over India visit the shrine here and offer their prayers. Navratri mela is celebrated here every year.
Time:
5 am - 10 pm
It is open all week.
9. Pinjore Garden:
It is located 22 kms from Chandigarh in the city of pinjore on the Ambala-Shimla road.
Pinjore Garden is also known as Yadavindra Gardens. The architecture of garden is inspired by Mughals art of work, Shalimar bagh. Pinjore Gardens is the venue for an annual mango festival. The garden has a mini zoo, Japanese garden, nursery and a number of picnic spots. Pinjore garden is famous for mahals inside it, where main gate opens into Rajasthani-Mughal style palace called as "Shish Mahal", adjacent to this is "Hawa Mahal" when you walk down the stairs you will see "Rang Mahal" which has arched doorways. "Jal Mahal" and "Rani Mahal" is surrounded by fountains around it. One can relax here as the landscape around is beautiful and greenery. Garden is surrounded by cypress trees, flowerbeds and water fountains making it more beautiful. There is a dense fruit tree garden mainly of sapota and mango trees. There is an open air theatre at the lowest part of the garden. According to Hindu Theology, the Pandava brothers rested in pinjore during their exile.
Time:
9am - 7pm
It is open all week.
Entry Fee:
For Adults: ₹30
For Children: ₹10
Wheelchair accessible garden.
10. Bhima Devi Temple:
It is located adjacent to pinjore garden also known as Khajuraho of North India. It is an open air museum known for its erotic sculptures, comprises the restored ruins of an ancient Hindu temple dating from between 8th and 11th century AD.
Other Tourists Places to visit:
1. Hibiscus Garden
It is located in sector 36, which covers an area of 8 acres and about 40 different varieties of Hibiscus shrubs have been planted to provide colour throughout the year.
2. Garden Of Fragrance
It is Situated to the south of the Hibiscus Garden, very popular for different varieties of aromatic and fragrant plants like Raat ki Rani, Motia, varieties of Jasmine, Demask Rose, Mehndi, Champa, Haar Shingar and many others are the part of the Leisure Valley.
3. Topiary Garden
It is located in sector 35, many animal shapes created out of creepers and bushes attract children to this park. A large variety of ornamental plants add to the park’s charm. Terrace garden is another main attraction in sector 35 and Shanti Kunj in sector 16.
4. Fateh Burj
It is located 14 kms from Chandigarh in historical village of chappar chiri, Mohali, Punjab. It is the tallest religious minar in india.
Transport Facility In Chandigarh:
Tourists need not have to worry about transport facility in Chandigarh as Auto-rickshaws ply throughout the city as well as local buses (CTU) are connected to almost all major nearby cities. You can also book Ola or Uber if you wish to.
Travel Trivia:
Chandigarh is a part of tri-city which includes other two cities, Mohali and Panchkula which are not far to main city of Chandigarh.
You can visit this places to experience food and shopping centres and local markets.
Where To Eat?
Chandigarh is a city of non veg lovers, you would see many dhaba style restaurants open past midnight, there are many restaurants around the city also if you are craving for gol gappas, you should visit sector 17 market to enjoy delicious street food.
Recommended restaurants and street food area:
1. Amritsari Kulcha Hub - Sector-9
2. Tech Market - Sector-22
3. Sagar Ratna Restaurant - Sector-17
4. Sector-17 market for street food
5. Indian Coffee House - Sector-17
6. Bawa Juice center - Sector-21
7. Garg Chat
8. Diwan Khana - Sector-20, Panchkula
9. Deepak non veg dhaba - Sector-38
10. Rehri Bazaar - Sector-15
Don't forget to try on some mouth watering chat corners, tandoori chicken corners around the city as they serve delicious aloo tikki, gol gappas and fried chicken delicacies.
Where To Shop?
Whenever you are in Chandigarh and want to shop, everyone will direct you to sector-17 market as it is the biggest shopping hub of the city.
You will come across many high end showrooms and street shops in the vicinity. It also has parking space for visitors.
The best part about Sector-17 is the laser and musical fountain show which is held every day in the evening.
Sector-22 market also know as shastri market is famous for street shopping and is quite popular among young crowd.
Rehri market which is located in Sector-15 is one of the oldest markets in Chandigarh and is known for basic shopping supplies and is usually crowded.
Patel market of Sector-15 and Sadar Bazaar of Sector-19 are both famous for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse range of shopping items like shoes, clothes, jewelery and many more.
Elante mall is the new shopping destination for shopaholics.
Chandigarh city has beautifully landscaped roundabouts and wherever you may be in the city, you are surrounded by natures greenery, clean roads, peaceful environment and freshness.
So don't forget to explore the city of Chandigarh whenever you are in North India.
I hope you liked today's travel blog!
See you in the next blog.
Keep Dreamin'
Ciao!
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