Chandigarh: Exciting Things to Do in India’s ‘City Beautiful’

If you haven’t heard of Chandigarh, now is the perfect time to learn about it. Also known as “City Beautiful,” the hometown of Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu carries a crown of its own. 

Often referred to as one of India’s richest and greenest cities, Chandigarh boasts impressive landscape architecture; and with its dense banyan trees and grand monuments entwined, Chandigarh promises endless possibilities for both city explorers and nature lovers.

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Exciting things to do in Chandigarh

Visit its architectural wonders

Several tourists believe Chandigarh to be an architect’s dream, as striking monuments and well-designed buildings pepper the city. If you’re into architectural wonders, visit the Capitol Complex, a government compound that best captures the Modernist theory. 

Designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who envisaged the city as a human body with a head, torso, and limbs, the Capitol Complex is made up of the three buildings that symbolise “the head” — the Palace of Assembly, the Secretariat, and the High Court.

Today, the Capitol Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from the three buildings, the compound also houses a lake and four monuments: the Open Hand Monument, Geometric Hill, Tower of Shadows, and the Martyrs Monument.

Frolic through its parks and gardens

Chandigarh has the rare charm of maintaining its natural beauty amid modernisation. Its gardens are preserved and kept, now mostly functioning as tourist attractions for nature lovers. 

Speckled with sustainable art pieces and sculptures, Rock Garden is one of the most popular destinations in Chandigarh as it cleverly weaves the manmade and natural. Sukhna Lake is also an embodiment of Indian craftsmanship. Rain refills the artificial lake, which sits on the foothills of the Shivalik Range. Travellers may go boating, cruising, or birdwatching in the area.

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Stay in a luxury resort

If you’re visiting India’s richest and greenest city, make sure to stay in a resort that epitomises the modern paradise. Just half an hour away from Chandigarh, you’ll find Oberoi Sukhvilas, a spa resort known for its remarkable location. Tucked in the Himalayan foothills, the modern oasis is encompassed by over 8,000 acres of protected forest. Its surrounding verdant gardens picturesquely contrasts its traditional Indian architecture, with its villas and luxury tents ready to welcome guests.

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This beautiful city surely deserves more attention. Now, who’s adding Chandigarh to their bucket list? We know we are.

Featured image credit: Andrey Khrobostov via Canva Pro