WHAT TO SEE:There are any number of things to do in Chandigarh. You may choose to visit the monuments and see the renowned architecture, admire the landscaping and explore the Leisure Valley or take the nature trails or view the detailed evolution of Chandigarh in the City Museum, or simply imbibe the serenity of the Sukhna Lake. Should you wish to do any or all of the above, kindly read on for the most interesting details.

Architecture:For all visitors, some buildings are on the "must-see" list. We will walk you through the most distinctive among these.

The Capitol Complex :The Capitol Complex in Sector 1 is the seat of government. It is also the raison d’etre for this city. Today it is the joint headquarters of Punjab and Haryana. The offices of the Union Territory Secretariat are located in Sector 9. Sector 1 was conceived and developed entirely by Le Corbusier. We are told that the three geometrical concrete buildings in the Capitol Complex – the Legislative Assembly, the High Court, and the Secretariat – do not resemble anything that existed before.

The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) :The Legislative Assembly at the south-eastern end of the Capitol piazza is the most arresting of them all. It stands facing the High Court, with an imposing portico that has a cubist mural painted by Le Corbusier himself. The three features emerging from the roof: a powerful cupola housing the main assembly chamber; a pyramidal tower meant for the ‘upper house’ and housing the Haryana Legislature; and a simple cuboid tower providing access to the roof, combine to break the silhouette of the building and lend a certain grace to the structure.

The High Court :The High Court was one of the first architectural monuments to be built in the Capitol Complex. Its extraordinary parasol-like roof floating over the building with a magnificent outward sweep, conveys symbolically that the law is an "umbrella of shelter" for the ordinary citizen. The awesome entrance for the judges through a high portico resting on three giant pylons is intended to manifest the Majesty of the Law to all who enter.

The Secretariat:The Secretariat is the largest of these edifices in the Capitol Complex. It is a huge multi-storeyed linear slab-like structure, intended as a work place for 4000 people. The long line of identical sun breakers is broken by introducing varied heights and projections, together with a roof containing towers, funnels, pavilions and a cafetaria jutting out like an art object placed on a pedestal. In the hands of Corbusier, this basically dull framework has turned out to be something of a sculpture. These three buildings create an extraordinary composition. In particular, their ‘raw’ finish and rough concrete surfaces which Le Corbusier insisted upon was first critiqued vehemently, and then admired the world over. The fourth building in the composition was envisaged as the Governor’s Palace or a Museum of Knowledge. This is yet to be realised.

In the world of architecture, these buildings are perceived as exceptional manifestations of ‘modern’ architecture, reflecting the creativity and care of a lifetime.To further enhance the linear perspective in the Capitol Complex, Le Corbusier planned several monuments along its main piazza extending 1200 feet. These are the monument of the Open hand, the Martyrs Memorial, the Tower of Shadows and the Geometrical Hill. We will dwell upon the Open Hand.

The Open Hand This giant hand in metal sheet rises 26 meters from a sunken french and rotates freely in the wind from a high concrete pedestal, conveying the symbolic message "Open to give, open to receive". Conspicuous by its scale, the Open Hand is the official emblem of the city. The design of this emblem as of the monument was conceived entirely by Le Corbusier. There is probably no city emblem in the world quite like this one. ‘Open to give and open to receive’ presumes an open mind. This notion as also the emblem, celebrates the give and take of ideas, as opposed to commemorating personalities.

Panjab University :The basic layout and many of the buildings in the Panjab University were designed by Pierre Jeanneret and represent some of his finest works, notably the Gandhi Bhavan, the Fine Arts Museum, and the Students Centre. The Gandhi Bhavan is poised atop a large reflecting pool. The architectural grandeur of this building is accentuated by its reflection in the water. The Fine Arts Museum is a modest single storey structure faced with red sand stone, and laid out around a central courtyard. The Students Centre is a unique cylindrical structure with a ramp spiralling up to the cafeteria on the top floor. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, the Colleges of Architecture and Engineering (Sector 12), and those of Boys and Girls Hostels (Sector 11) are very near the Panjab University (Sector 14). These campuses are worth visiting to see the diversity of architectural expressions within the modern idiom.

  The Rock Garden Sector 1 : Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. all days.An unpretentious entrance leads to a magnificent, almot surrealist arrangement of rock fossils, broken chinaware, discarded fluorescent tubes, broken and cast away glass bangles, building waste, coal and clay – all juxtaposed to create a dream folk world of palaces, soldiers, monkeys, village life, women and temples. These are open air sculptures, one display separated from the other by a clever use of tunnels, twists, turns and concealed gateways such that this magical world unfolds in phases. You have to see it to believe it, and will then not forget it. All of this is enhanced by a waterfall, pool and an open air theatre with proper stage setting.

Botanical Garden Sector 1:Between the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, the Botanical garden is spread over 88 acres. Its rockeries, lily-pools, and the rare species covered in green houses draw garden lovers as well as botanists.

The Sukhna Lake Open all days.This 3-square-kilometre rainfed lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills. The roof of the ‘bund’ or dam, elegantly landscaped has become a favourite promenade. Serious ‘walkers’ pursue an exercise regime, families enjoy an evening stroll, painters and photographers mingle with children on roller skates – to partake of this extraordinary amenity. Photographers and painters never tire of capturing the setting sun, or the heavily clouded monsoon sky, or the early morning mist captured with the rising winter sun against the tranquillity of the lake. Even anglers do not leave unrewarded.The Sukhna Lake attracts migratory birds from places/lands as far as Siberia and elsewhere.

Smriti Upavan Sector 1 Open all days:Smriti means "remembrance" and Upavan means "forest". This is a forest where every tree commemorates someone who is no more.

Terraced Garden Sector 33:Open all daysThis colourful 10-acre garden is the venue of the annual Chrysanthemum Show in December.

Topiary Park:Sector 35Open all days Wire frames and the deft use of pruning shears has transformed creepers and bushes into animal & bird figures.Chandigarh celebrates its gardens and their myriad varieties of flowers with a Festival of Gardens in late-February or early-March.

Government Museum Open from 10 a.m. to 4.40 p.m. All days except Mondays & official holidaysThe museum has a rich collection of miniature paintings of the Gandhara and Pahari schools as also master pieces of contemorary artists of India, including graphics.The building, erected on columns, is itself a work of art providing a natural canopy roof for the ground space. This space serves as display area for large antique sculptures, besides providing a useful semi-open area for accommodating large numbers during exhibitions, inaugurations and lectures.

Art Gallery Across the large expanse of paved space and not far from the Museum was the Art Gallery, referred to as the "Pavillion of Temporary Exhibitions". The buildings of both the museum and the art gallery were realised after the death of Le Corbusier, but strictly according to his designs. This Pavillion was intended as a facility for exhibitions of individual artists. However, since this function was being more than adequately looked after by the Art Gallery within the Government Museum, supplemented by the Art Gallery in the College of Arts, this building, became somewhat neglected. Its design and location made it an obvious choice for the City Museum.  

City Museum Open from 10.a.m. to 4.30 p.m. All days except Monday & official holidaysThe creation of the City museum Chandigarh is one of the several activities pursued by the UT Administration during the fiftieth anniversary of India’s independence. The objective was to document and display the sequential planning that went into this unique urban experiment, and to bring out the distinctive and significant aspects of its lay-out and design.The history, planning and architecture of Chandigarh is brought together in this display of valuable archival material containing original documents, notes and sketches together with maps, photographs, plans and models of important buildings. Audio-visual techniques and music are employed to provide more effective participation for the viewer. Students, professionals, visitors, tourists as well as residents continue to enjoy as well as be educated by their journey through the City Museum. Free guided tours as well as special guided tours on nominal charges are provided on the 1^st & 3^rd Sunday of the month.  

Science Museum :This has a cyclorama display presenting the evolution of life from the unicellular organism to its present state of biological diversity.

Theatres and Art Galleries Chandigarh does not lack in theatres either. In Sector 1 alone, the Rock Garden has three open air theatres. The monument of the Open Hand rises from an amphitheatre which provides a dramatic setting for exclusive performances. The Government Museum in the Cultural Complex has an auditorium. The open air auditorium of the Punjab Kala Bhawan in the Rose Garden is a popular venue for music, dance and drama performances. The Tagore Theatre of Performing Arts in Sector 18 is extremely well-equipped with excellent accoustics, and dramatically designed interiors. The large PGI auditorium is sought after for theatrical performances. Bal Bhawan has a well equipped, reasonably large open air theatre, and also a covered auditorium.  

National Gallery of Portraits :Sector 17-B Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.All days except Saturday & Sunday and official holidays Portraits of Indian freedom fighters, rare documents and recordings of the voices of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are exhibited and preserved. Chandigarh is the cultural capital of the region. Many artists and writers live in the city. The frequently held exhibitions, and performances by singers, dancers, musicians and actors have inculcated among city residents a taste for the best in the performing and graphic arts. Chandigarh has many institutions dedicated to the teaching and promotion of fine arts and performing arts. Their programmes often draw large crowds.

Lalit Kala, Sangeet Natak & Sahitya Academi Sector 34 These three bodies devoted to art, music and dance/drama respectively function in co-ordination with the UT Administration and have their offices in the State Library Building, Sector 34. They conduct numerous lectures, exhibitions, performances and festivals throughout the year.

Pracheen Kala Kendra Sector 35 B Tel: 661171 This is private teaching institution offering degree courses in Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, Kathak and Bharatanatyam among the Indian Classical dance as well as the folk dances & song. The Pracheen Kala Kendra organises a week-long festival of music and dance every year in March as well as smaller programmes – baithaks – on the 11^th of every month. No tickets are required for these programmes. Anyone may attend.