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Chandigarh city came into existence in 1952 when its foundation stone was laid. Also known as “The City Beautiful”, Chandigarh is one of the modern cities of India designed by the French architect Le Carbusier. The city got its name from a temple “Chandi Mandir” located near the city. “Chandi” is the deity – the goddess of power; “garh” means dwelling place, which translates into “dwelling place of the goddess Chandi.”
In the ancient past, a wide lake existed where now Chandigarh is with its sloping plains. Eight thousand years ago, Harappan civilization developed in the area. Visit Chandigarh museum to discover more about the historic past of the city.
While previously belonging to the state of Punjab before the city came into existence, the idea to develop a new city was conceived in 1948 by Government of Punjab, which was to become the capital of the state. In 1966, the city became the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana and was declared as a Union Territory.
Chandigarh is home to thousands of migrants from Punjab and other states. Prestigious educational institutions attract students from all over the world who live and study in Chandigarh. The city has the highest per capita income in India, making it one of the most affluent cities. The real estate industry has been constantly booming since the year 2000 with property rates now more expensive than New York. The city restaurants are always filled with people, markets buzzing with consumers, pleasant weather for many months throughout the year, beautiful parks, well maintained roads and almost 24 power supply are some of the reasons why Chandigarh city is thronged by tourists from other parts of India and the rest of the world.
History: The land of celebrations
Chandigarh is a union territory serving as the capital of its neighbouring states; Punjab and Haryana. As opposed to the daily chaos of many cities, Chandigarh is one of the most well-planned and disciplined places in the country. After the partition of India, Punjab was segregated into two parts. While the larger western part became a part of Pakistan with the Punjabi capital of Lahore, the eastern region was handed over to India. However, it was missing a cultural, economic and administrative centre. The new Indian Punjab was without a capital. After having looked at several options such as Phillaur, Shimla, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Karnal and Jalandhar, the Indian government finally chose Chandigarh in 1948. The capital became home to thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees who had fled Muslim dominated Punjab.
Timings: Best time to visit
The most suitable time to visit Chandigarh would be right before and during the onset of the winter season. From late September to early December, the weather is rather pleasant which makes it a treat to sit under the sun at picturesque locations like the Rock Garden. The minimum temperature in October would be 17 C whereas 7 C in December.
How to get to Chandigarh: the land of desi ghee awaits you
By Road: Chandigarh is well connected to all the major cities with a timely availability of State government and private buses.
By Rail: The Chandigarh Railway station has trains running to and from all the major cities.
By Air: Regular flights are available from the Chandigarh Airport easily.
Punjab Tourism famously referred to as ‘The land of five rivers’, is situated in the north western part of India. This fertile land ranks amongst the most ancient civilizations in the world. Punjab is also famous for its religious diversity as it was here many religious movements were initiated. The scenic landscape, rich history and famous religious sites are the most important reasons for increasing number of visits by tourists. Here are the top 10 places to visit in Punjab.
