About Chandigarh
Chandigarh is the first planned city of modern India. The city was planned and designed by the French architect Le Corbusier. Being located at the foothills of Shivaliks, it has a picturesque view and a brilliant urban infrastructure. The architecture, culture, art, and education make this city famous among the visitors. Now, this city has become a major trading and financial hub. Its major industries are – healthcare, IT, chemicals, food processing, paper, electrical equipment, and more. Also, you shouldn’t miss the famous dishes of Chandigarh, such as butter chicken, Amritsari kulche, and dal makhani.
Places to visit in Chandigarh
You should visit these five places to explore the history of this city and the country as well:
- Chandigarh Architecture Museum: The museum archives rare architectural drawings and documents related to the designing of the city of Chandigarh. The museum has 3 major sections – level 1, level 2, and level 3. Level 1 represents the necessity of making this city after the partition of India in 1947. Level 2 shows the architect Le-Corbusier, his team, and their work. Also, several models and blueprints are exhibited in this section. The level 3 shows the step-by-step growth of the city after the primary construction. The theme is named ‘Chandigarh: Today and Tomorrow’.
- The Open Hand Monument: This monument is the official emblem of this city. It’s a perfect example of avant-garde art. It was built with metal sheets and placed in a trench. The trench is called the Trench of Consideration. The hand has a wide, open palm and contains a weathercock. This hand has a rotating capability in the direction of wind. It symbolises that people should always be open to receiving as well as giving. Moreover, there is another belief that says the monument is a symbol of happiness and peace.
- Government Museum and Art Gallery: The Government Museum and Art Gallery feature the artefacts from ancient India. The art gallery not only exhibits artworks but also inspires the young generation to understand the value of antique cultural resources. The first level of the museum building consists of an exhibition hall, conservation laboratory, auditorium, art gallery, and textile section. The second level exhibits Indian miniature paintings, the Kushan-Gandhara sculptures, sculpture cases, contemporary art, and coins. There is a library on the third level that has more than 4,600 books about architecture, art, and the evolution of art.
- National Gallery of Portraits: The National Gallery has a vast collection of portraits, images, sculptures, photos, busts, printings, and rare documents about the freedom struggle of India. The giant hall of this gallery consists of 41 panels. These panels elaborate on movements and the long history of the independence struggle of the country. The major attractions of the gallery are a portrait of Jhansi’s Rani Laxmi Bai, a painting of the Taj Mahal on cloth, illustrations on Jallianwala Bagh, several newspapers, a photograph of the patriots, a diorama on foreign cloth burning during Swadeshi Movement, and more.
- Natural History Museum: The Natural History Museum reveals the history of India, which starts from the time of Indus Valley civilization. The museum has 5 major galleries. The Evolution of Life gallery shows the step-by-step transformation of the Earth for billions of years and the environmental changes. The Dinosaurs of India gallery represents the evolution of nature through the Mesozoic era, Triassic era, and so on. The Evolution of Non-Gallery shows the dioramas and fossils of the human species. Also, there is the ‘Redefining the Past’ and ‘Our Mother Earth’ gallery.
Chandigarh Airport
Chandigarh Airport (IATA: IXC) is officially known as Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. It is about 13 km from the main city of Chandigarh. The official address of the airport is New Civil Air Terminal Chandigarh International Airport, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, 140306. The available transport options from this airport are bus and taxi to take a trip to the city.
