| Chandigarh |
| Banks and Internet There are plenty of ATMs around the centre of town which accept foriegn cards. Money and travellers cheques can be changed in most banks. There are a number of internet cafes in town, most charging around Rs 20 an hour. Transport Trains The train station is 8 km from the town centre. Pre-paid auto rickshaws run between the bus and train stations, costing Rs 55. There is a ticket reservation office upstairs at the bus station as well as at the train station. Chandigarh (CDG) to Delhi (DLI) Train numbers 2006, 2012, 2058, 2312 Chandigarh to Kalka (KLK) Train numbers 2005, 2011, 3008A, 2925 For trains to Shimla (SML), take the 101, 1KS, 241, 251 or 255 from Kalka. Buses Most long distance buses leave from the new Interstate Bus Stand 3km from the Central Bus Station. Pre-paid auto rickshaws do the journey for Rs 50 or you can take one of the frequent local buses for Rs 5. Chandigarh to Delhi Rs 110, 238 km Departs Every hour Journey time 5.5 hours Chandigarh - Ambala - Panipat - Delhi (I.S.B.T. Kashmere Gate) Chandigarh to Amritsar Rs 150, 217 km Departs Frequently Journey time 7 hours Chandigarh - Amritsar Chandigarh to Shimla Rs 100, 117 km Departs Frequently Journey time 4 hours Chandigarh - Kalka - Dharampur - Solan - Kandaghat - Soggi - Shimla |
| Chandigarh, also called "The City Beautiful", is a city in India that serves as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana, and is a union territory of India. The name translates from Hindi to English as "the fort of Chandi", Chandi being a Hindu Goddess. Known internationally for its architecture and urban planning, Chandigarh is home to numerous architectural projects of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Matthew Nowicki, and Albert Mayer. The city boasts a high standard of living with the highest per capita income in the country and tops the list of Indian States and Union Territories with a Human Development Index of 0.987. Sights Nek Chand Rock Garden An embodiment of imagination and novelty, the Rock Garden in Chandigarh is one of its kind. It displays various sculptures made up of broken ken glass bangles, china ware, discarded fluorescent tubes, clay and coal. Walls of terracotta pots and the maze of paths, canyons and chambers offer a glimpse of a dream world. The fantastic 14 chambers with waterfalls, pools and statues of animals, birds this garden helps one to stretch ones imagination. This wonderful artwork is the innovative creation of Nek Chand, a former Road Inspector in Chandigarh.The park is open daily from April to September between 9 am to 1 pm and 3 to 7 pm. Between October and March it is open from 9 am to 1 pm. and 2 to 6 pm. Capitol Complex The architectural grandeur of the planned city of Chandigarh reflects in the Capitol Complex in its zenith. The acclaim for the design of the Capitol complex is accredited to Le Corbusier, the driving force behind he beautification of Chandigharh. The Capitol complex houses the three main organs of administration, namely the Legislative Assembly, the Secretariat, and the High Court. It is the headquarters of both the Punjab and the Haryana governments. Museum and Art Gallery Located in Sector 11, the museum and the combined art gallery is an interesting palce to go to. Artifacts range form the Harrapan Period relics to the paintings and coins from different areas and time periods. There are also fossils of dinosaurs found in the region. The Chandigarh Museum, which is just next door, provides an interesting aspect on how Chandigarh was founded. It explains the principles on which Chandigrh was builtand contains a selection of the architects' designs. Rose Garden The rose garden of Chandigarh, India is the largest of its kind in Asia. The garden contains more than 17,000 plants with nearly 1,600 varieties of roses over there. Sukhna Lake Sukhna Lake is 3 kilometre rain fed lake created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe. It consists of an eating place and children's park. It also has facility for boating and rafting for the adventure seekers. The club management takes care to provide facilities for water sports and recreational activities. The lake, incidentally, has Asia's longest water channel for rowing and yachting. Accommodation Accommodation in Chandigarh is generally quite expensive. Hotel Satyadeep and Hotel Divyadeep Two of the most popular budget hotels in town. Located beside each other in sector 22, a short walk from the bus stand. Room: Rs 500-800 There are cheaper hotels in town but they are generally further from the centre and can be hard to find. The Panchayat Bhawan in sector 18 charges Rs 250 a night. |
| Population 900,635 (in 2001) Altitude 350 m Area 114 square km Languages Hindi, Punjabi and English |