Chandigarh comes lauded as India’s most beautiful city, and it lives up to it - it's delightful. Lying in the valley surrounded by Shiwalik Hills that hem the great Himalayas, the city, apart from being a Union Territory, also serves the capital of two states of India – Punjab and Haryana. A model for urban planners throughout the world, Chandigarh is an appealing, well-functioning clean city featuring wide avenues, grand parks, beautiful lakes, awesome gardens and architectural gems of the great French architect Le Corbusier. The place is also the reference point to visit the famous hill resorts of Shimla Kullu, Manali, Dharmashala and Dalhousie.

Sights to See

Sukhna Lake
Another tourist attraction in Chandigarh is the Sukhna Lake spread over an area of 3 sq. km in sector 6. The waters of a seasonal rivulet that ran through the city were impounded to create the Sukhna Lake. Migratory birds arrive here from Siberia during the winter. A love for the lake draws many volunteers to 'desilt' it just before the monsoon rains set in. While the lake promenade is a place for peace and tranquility, but just at the entrance the area has been developed for children to enjoy themselves.

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
Zakir Gulab Baag is Asia's largest Rose garden, spread out over 30 acres of land, in sector 16. Established in 1967, today around 50,000 Rose trees of 1600 different species bloom here. Apart from roses, the other trees planted have medicinal value and some unique specimen trees were planted to enhance the beauty of the garden. The garden is located next to the city centre.

Rock Garden
The Rock Garden of Chandigarh has been created by putting together the fossils of ancient life forms found in the Shivalik hills and by recycled waste material. Its creator, Nek Chand, was an inspector in the engineering department. Rock fossils have been arranged into an open air sculpture exhibition. Some of the sculptures include a wall made out of discarded fluorescent tubes, an army of clay monkeys and broken chinaware soldiers and shapes of women made out of discarded glass bangles. The garden covers an area of 6 acres. In summers, it is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and again from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. From October to March it is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The Secretariat
The Secretariat is the largest building in the Capitol Complex and is the headquarters of both the Punjab and Haryana governments. It is one of the Capitol buildings and houses all the ministries. The Secretariat and Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) buildings are in Sector 1.

Govt. Museum & Art Gallery & Punjab University Complex
Located in sector 14, the parks and pools around the university building have enhanced the feel of the whole area. The Punjab University was founded in 1882 at Lahore. After partition and initial dislocation, the University shifted to Chandigarh in 1956. It is as famous for its landscaping as for its architecture. Leisure Valley -- During the monsoon, there runs a natural storm-water channel through the middle of the city, locally called a nullah. The nullah, along with the adjoining land has been converted into what is called the leisure valley. Starting from the foot of the hills to the west of the Capitol Complex, the leisure valley extends into sector 3 and crosses over into sector 10. The leisure valley is spread over 6 km and is in accordance with the plan. No vehicular traffic interrupts a pedestrian taking a walk in the park.