Chandigarh

Chandigarh has a cultural diversity and that means people of different religions live here. The main religions that you will find here are Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism. While the majority of the population follows Hinduism, the second popular religion is Sikhism. The other religions are the minority here. There are major religious places here that you can enjoy and admire. The Chandi Devi temple is among the popular temples here with great architecture and peaceful atmosphere. People spend a lot of time here. Amb Sahib Gurudwara is a place, which is huge and full of people. It’s a place where people come with faith and devotion and on visiting you truly find peace and calm. The other religious places are Nada Sahib Gurudwara, Iskcon Sri Radha Madhav, Mansa Devi Mandir, Baoli Sahib Gurudwara and more.

The museums here will provide a deeper understanding of the city and about the culture and tradition. You should visit the city museum that comprises of the events and displays, preserves the development that has gone into building the city. Government museum and art gallery is also a popular museum in the city that comprises of magnificent Gandhara period stone sculptures and beautiful miniature paintings, Hindu scriptures, decorative arts and coins and contemporary art gallery. The other museums are Museums of Evolution of Life, International Dolls Museums, City Museum, National Gallery of Portraits Etc.

Chandigarh is a city of gardens and parks, and they are quite fascinating with beautiful creation and arrangements. One of the beautiful gardens is the Rock garden that has been created with different shaped pebbles and domestic and industrial waste. It is spread over 25 acres which is unique in itself. Zakir Rose garden is another beautiful garden with almost 17,000 plants, and 1600 rose species and various other medicinal and flowering plants. Other significant gardens are Rajendra Park, Bougainvillea Park, Topiary Park, etc.

Chandigarh being a planned city also boasts of excellent accommodation and comfortable stay. Various resorts are a great option here. You can choose the budget range as well. The modern amenities and multi – cuisine restaurants are popular among visitors. There are luxury hotels as well as resorts that are sought after by tourists who arrive in Chandigarh. The Golden Tulip resort is complete with fine ambiance and spa. The resort is comfortably located amidst picturesque atmosphere. The Forest Hill resort is another magnificent resort that is a plush one with hundred acres of beauty and nature to enjoy. Other resorts are Sun Park resort, Lemon Tree resort and more.

Chandigarh is well known, and people from all walks of life visit the city. For a comfortable stay, there are plenty of hotels that one can stay in. The Lalit Chandigarh is a beautiful hotel complete with luxury amenities and is strategically located too. JW Marriott Hotel also is a luxury property with rooftop pool which is exciting and beautiful interiors. Ginger Hotels are another great property for relaxing and in-house multi cuisine restaurant. Budget hotels are the Hotel Victoria Regency, Hotel Absolute Comfort, Hotel Silver Sands and more.

You can have the best of shopping experience due to the world class malls that are built in the city. Malls are fun here as they provide dining options, different outlets, international brands and entertainment as well. Elante Chandigarh is the largest mall and spread over 20 acres and is a mix of the hypermarket, sports bar, departmental stores, etc. TDI mall is a retail-cum-entertainment mall that provides leisure shopping experience and has international brands, modern facilities, entertainment zones, etc. The other high-class malls are the City Emporium shopping Mall, Sector 17, DLF City center, The North Country Mall, etc.

Due to the notable architects in Chandigarh there have been some outstanding monuments and a treat for the eyes. Tourists love to visit the monuments of its significance to the city and the history as well. The Martyr’s Memorial monument is a beautiful structure that is built to honor the soldiers and the martyr’s who have lost their lives during the partition of Punjab. The Capitol Complex is another brilliant monument, which is unique and is created by the famous Le Corbusier. The structure is very grand and is divided into 3 parts. One can enjoy the guided tours here. The other monuments are The Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill, and Punjab University, etc.

There are some elegant as well as modest restaurants in Chandigarh. However, the food in these restaurants is tasty, delicious and found in a good variety as well. Swagath is a well-known restaurant that will provide good seafood dishes from around India. The Virgin Courtyard is another one that serves great Italian food which is too tasty. Visit Oregano, Garlic and Greens, Oko and much more for Indian food.

There are plenty of things to do in Chandigarh, and you will love all of them. Go for bird watching, rowing, boating, yachting, water skiing, etc.
Paragliding – It is one of the fun activities that are thrilling and full of excitement. The sport suits all the age groups and is held at some of the stunning places in Chandigarh.
Hang gliding – This adventure sport is loved by all as one can fly like a bird. There are trainers and coaches who can help you guide in the sport.
Skydiving – Skydiving adventure sport is quite popular here. Jumping off the place free of all obstacles is one of the most thrilling experiences here.
Hot air balloon – It is among the most thrilling adventure where you can enjoy the open blue sky and the earth below. Simply stay in the wicker basket with the balloon attached to it and sail through peacefully.

Chandigarh has excellent infrastructure and a talented pool as well. This makes the city as one among the fastest and popular business hub. The city is known as an IT hub and has various important industries and factories.

Sukhana Lake – This is a picturesque man-made lake at the foothills of Shivalik range. It is a quite place that offers water sports activities as well as other entertainment activities. One can stroll here and take a walk at sunset to get some fresh air.
Cactus garden – Cactus garden is lovingly created on a sprawling landscape spread over 7 acres. Space has been developed to preserve and conserve endangered species of cacti and succulents. The place is filled with over 2,500 species of cactus.
Sukhana wildlife sanctuary – Spread over 2600 hectors, the Sukhana wildlife sanctuary is a part of the Sukhana Lake near the Shivalik hills. The sanctuary is the habitat of various animals that are endangered and very rare. There are various types of wild trees and plants here that are being taken care of. Almost 150 types of birds can be found here. You can see the mammals like Sambar, Jungle cat, Porcupine, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, etc.
Chandigarh is ‘The Beautiful city’ as it is rightly called and one simply loves to come back here for the unique environment and vibrant culture. The city is a modern city that comes with its own tradition and culture. It’s a perfect vacation destination where you can find all the elements of your dream vacation.