Placed at the base of the Shivalik Ranges, Chandigarh is popular for being the first-planned city of the country. This fabulous city is the administrative capital of both Haryana and Punjab and is the perfect option to plan a weekend getaway from Delhi. Chandigarh is known for its urban design and architecture that was done by architects like Le Corbusier (team lead), Maxwell Fry, Pierre Jeanneret and Jane Drew. This clean city is dotted with a number of tourist attractions and receives a decent footfall of tourists, all round the year. The city has been after Goddess Chandi.

ATTRACTIONS IN CHANDIGARH

• Zakir Hussain Rose Garden: Founded in 1967 as Zakir Rose Garden, it is the largest rose garden in Asia.Contrary to its name, it does not only have roses, but there are a number of rare medicinal plants as well including Harar, yellow Gulmohar, Camphor, Bel and more. This well-planned and well-maintained garden is open for public viewing from morning to evening. A major crowd puller, this park plays host to a number of cultural festivals and a rose festival.
• Sukhna Lake: Sukhna Lake is a man-made lake that lies at the base of the Shivalik ranges. This 3 km long artificial lake is quite popular as a picnic spot amongst locals as well as tourists. This lake becomes the venue of a number of activities such as water skiing, boating and yachting.
• Rock Garden: Placed between the Capitol Complex and the Sukhna Lake in Sector 1, Rock Garden is a proof of human imagination and novelty. One of its kind, this garden is known to have sculptures that are made-up of industrial and urban wastes includes coal, clay, china ware, broken glass bangles and discarded fluorescent tubes. Created by Chandigarh’s former Road Inspector, Nek Chand is spread in 64 acres of land.
• Government Museum and Art Gallery: Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh, is a premier museum of North India having collections of Gandharan sculptures, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature paintings. It owes its existence to the partition of India in August, 1947