Chandigarh Tourism And Travel Guide

Chandigarh is also famous among local inhabitants as "City Beautiful" thanks to the myriad of gardens spread across its range. In contrast to the messy construction woes of other Indian cities, Chandigarh has garnered attention for its remarkable urban planning. This city showcases state-of-the-art architectural prowess through the numbered sectors, splendid green belts, grid-like structures, and broad avenues spread across its extent.

Distinctively, Chandigarh's status as the capital city of both Haryana and Punjab lends its higher impetus as an administrative and political hub. Tourists who visit Chandigarh are bound to be floored by the vast cultural diversity of the city, not to mention its magnificent monuments and fragrant gardens. Let us glance through this engaging travel guide to check out the tourism prospects of Chandigarh.

By Air:

Getting onboard a flight that travels to Chandigarh International Airport is the quickest way to reach this city. This airport caters to prime airlines such as IndiGo, AirAsia India, Jet Airways, and GoAir. Located around 12 km away from the central hub of Chandigarh, Chandigarh International Airport provides luxurious flights to domestic as well as international hubs such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, London, New York, and Melbourne.

By Rail:

Located approximately 8 km away from Chandigarh's main area, Chandigarh Junction Railway Station allows several express trains to enter into Chandigarh. Some of these scenic options to get into the city from other parts of the country include Chandigarh-Lucknow Express, Kerala Sampark Kranti, Kalka Mail, and Jan Shatabdi Express. Once at the railway station, tourists can conveniently opt for local taxis or autorickshaws to reach their destination.

By Road:

Chandigarh's excellent infrastructure allows Chandigarh Transport Undertaking to run their local buses throughout the city with ease. Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, and Jammu And Kashmir reap the benefits of having excellent connectivity to Chandigarh through sector 17 and 43. Some of the prime transport services that ply their trade in Chandigarh include Maharaja Travels and Guardian Travels.

The best time of the year to explore the vibrant tourist spots of Chandigarh is during winter. The misty and comforting climate proves apt for visitors who wish to beat the heat experienced in other parts of the country. Let us read on to understand how these seasons allure tourists into Chandigarh.

Summer (March to May):

The summer season in Chandigarh witnesses hot and sweltering weather, with temperatures usually ranging between 35°C and 45°C. Those tourists who explore this city during summer would be able to catch a glimpse of the radiant celebrations of the Baisakhi festival. Apart from this festival, visitors can also watch how the harvest season springs into action and how the Khalsa Panth was founded in Northern India.

Monsoon (June to September):

The southwest monsoon winds bring forth heavy rainfall within Chandigarh's territory during the monsoon season. Temperatures usually alternate between 25°C and 30°C at this time of the year, and the city takes the form of a green haven filled with stunning landscapes. The best thing to do in monsoon involves visiting the Rock Garden to witness Punjabi women make merry during the Teej festival.

Winter (October to February):

Winter season is the most appropriate time of the year to discover the unique tourist spots of Chandigarh. The entire city experiences penetrating cold weather, with the temperatures regularly ranging between 3°C and 23°C. Some of the annual festivals that are celebrated, such as Chandigarh Carnival of Leisure Valley and Festival of Gardens, regularly rake in several tourists and local inhabitants.

Tour the Garden City:

The local authorities have been instrumental in giving birth to splendid botanical gardens and nature parks all around Chandigarh's expanse. Some of these refreshing gardens include Garden of Fragrance, Garden of Silence, Pinjore Gardens, and Rose Garden. These parks also act as nature reserves, nurturing several species of flora and fauna across their territory. Few such species of flora include Jasmine, Nightqueen, and Damask Rose.

Artistic Rock Garden:

Rock Garden forms one of the hotspots in Chandigarh, thanks to its incredible collection of stone sculptures. Uniquely, the great Nek Chand himself carved out statues that paint an exciting picture using waste material such as fluorescent tubes, boulders, broken chinaware, construction waste, and discarded glass bangles. Rock Garden contains impressive artifacts within its outdoor exhibition center, tiny maze, and theatre store.

Striking Capitol Complex:

The distinguished architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret has masterminded the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh. The 100-acre extent of Capitol Complex comprises edifices such as Tower of Shadows, Palace of Assembly, the High Court, Geometric Hill, Open Hand Monument, and Secretariat. These constructive masterpieces intriguingly block sunlight from entering through their northern extremities.

The city's diverse cultural heritage has significantly influenced Chandigarh's varied assortment of eateries. Some of the trending restaurants in town include Whistling Duck, Backpackers Cafe, Cafe Nomad, Orchid Lounge, Virgin Courtyard, and Nik Baker's. Punjabi Cuisine, however, fills the menu on these top restaurants as well as all the streets of Chandigarh.

When spending a holiday in Chandigarh, tourists must get their hands on savory local dishes such as Chicken Tikkas, Chole Bhature, Butter Chicken, Lachha Parathas, Amritsari Kulche, Kebabs, and Tandoori fish. To go with these main course food items, visitors can add in delicious desserts like Baalushahi, Jalebi, Roh di Kheer, Kulfi, and Gulab Jamun. Chandigarh's street food manages to give tourists a sneak peek into the city's culture. Some of the prime street cuisines include Golgappa, Rajma or Chole Rice, and Pakodi.

Chandigarh forms one of the fashion centers of North India with its fantastic array of street shops and designer boutiques. Some of the prime shopping hubs in the city include Elante Mall, Sector 17 Shopping Plaza, Furniture Market, Shastri Market, and Patel Market. A boutique named Phulkari offers tourists with garments prepared to adopt the Phulkari style of embroidery. This emporium provides visitors with Phulkari handicrafts, clothes, furniture, and textiles. The Shastri Market, on the other hand, allows tourists to take back home authentic footwear, designer accessories, and trendy attire. One such hip shopping center is the Karma Republic, which provides t-shirts ingrained with intriguing messages that help the social cause.