Chandigarh, the first planned city in India, offers a ton of things to tourists. From unique cactus garden to the alluring rose garden and from trekking in the Shivaliks to boating at the Sukhna Lake, there are several things you can enjoy in Chandigarh. Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating things to explore in Chandigarh.
The capital city of Punjab and Haryana attracts a lot of tourists every day and there are hundreds of things to do in the city. Being an important hub for commerce and trade and considered as the gateway to the hills, the city attracts from visitors from far off destinations. You can find people taking Mumbai to Chandigarh flights or Kolkata to Chandigarh train to reach the city. Here’s a look on the best things that you should do in the city of Chandigarh.
Go on a shopping spree in Sector 17 – Dotted with some of the swankiest hotels, restaurants and brands, the Sector 17 market in Chandigarh is famous for its local boutiques and an array of high-end brands. You can choose from regular garments, shoes, electronic items and more to the traditional handicrafts made by local craftsmen. The only word is to shop till you drop at the most happening market in the city.
Explore the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden – Spread in a sprawling 30 acres, the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is one of the leading attractions in the city. Named after the erstwhile President of India, the garden was the brainchild of Dr. Randhawa, who was also the first commissioner of Chandigarh. If you like roses, then this garden has more than 16,000 varieties of it. Along the rose buds, there are several species of medicinal plants in the garden. Each year in the month of February, the garden hosts a festival named Festival of Gardens where you can enjoy the attractive arrays of roses of all shades.
Boating at Sukhna Lake – Spread in an area of about three square kilometers, the Sukhna Lake is a large reservoir lying at the foothills of the massive Shivalik ranges. The lake was formed in 1958 by building a dam across the Sukhna river, a seasonal stream sprouting from the Shivalik Hills. Today, the Sukhna Lake is a rain-fed lake offering a great view of the mountains as you pedal through the stretches of the water body. Apart from the breathtaking view, birdwatchers are guaranteed to have a great time with sedge of cranes, volery of Siberian ducks and other migratory birds. Boating activities rises to another notch with Asian Rowing Championships wiith rowing and yachting events.
Go on a trek to the Morni Hills – A part of the lower Shivalik ranges, the trek leading to Morni Hills is a meandering one with lots of breathtaking view worth capturing. Located at about three kilometers above sea level, the Morni Hills are comparatively lesser explored area and thus attracts a lot of tourists in search of offbeat destinations. With a lush green cover, the trek towards Morni hills is quite pleasing for adventurers and photographers.
Chandigarh’s proximities to other fabulous destinations in the hills makes it a great pit stop. You can take an Ambala to Chandigarh taxi or bus from Delhi to explore the neighbouring region.
Esme Craig is a freelance writer and a history teacher, she loves to travel and explore different cultures due to the subject that she teaches, she works for Business World Travel as a travel blogger.
Leave a Reply