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Chandigarh

Pop: 625,000 Area Code: 0172

Chandigarh has been the capital of Punjab and Haryana since Independence. Lahore, the old capital, is now situated in Pakistan. At that time, Punjab consisted of the present state of Punjab, Haryana, and part of Himachal Pradesh. Punjab was divided again in 1966 into the Hindi-speaking Haryana and the Punjabi-speaking State of Punjab.

Chandigarh is a Union Territory and functions as capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
Chandigarh is a planned city, and was built in the 1960s. Le Corbusier, a French architect, designed the city. It has wide roads and gardens. It does not have old tourist sites, but has nice museums and gardens. The city has a fairly relaxed mood, and it is most likely the cleanest city in India.

The bus station, banks, and main shopping area are in Sector 17. The railway station is inconveniently located 8km out of town.

Tourist Offices
The Chandigarh Tourist Office (CITCO) (704614) has an office upstairs in the bus stand. Open Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat 9 am to 1 pm. The Punjab Tourist Information Centre (704-570) is at the bus stand and is open Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm.

The UP (707-649) and Himachal Pradesh (708-569) tourist offices are across the street, next to the Hotel Jullundur in Sector 22. Punjab Tourist Office (704-570), Sector 22. The Haryana Tourist Office (702-955), Sector 17.

Money and Post
The State Bank of India (708-359), Sector 17, changes cash, and American Express and Thomas Cook travelers cheques. Tradewings Ltd (709-666), across from the bus stand, changes cash and travelers cheques (Mon to Sat, 9.30 am to 6 pm). Wall Street Finance, Sector 17, changes most travelers cheques (Mon to Sat 9.30 am to 6 pm). Andhra Bank, Sector 17, accepts Visa cards.

Information
The GPO is in Sector 17.

Visas can be extended at the Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRO) in the Town Hall Building, Sector 12.

Capital Book Depot, Sector 17; and Universal, Main Square, Sector 17, are good bookshops.
You can obtain a temporary membership to use the swimming pool at the Lake Pool Complex, Sector 23.

Weldon (703-024), Sector 17D, is a good, speedy optician.

PG Medical Institute Hospital (54018), Sector 12, and General Hospital, Sector 16, are some of the best hospitals in town. Chandigarh Medical and Research Centre has good doctors.
Aroma Tours and Travel (708-686), in the hotel Aroma, Sector 22, books airline tickets (9 am to 9 pm).

Chandigarh Museum & Art Gallery
Located here is a good collection of sculptures, modern Indian art, and miniature paintings. There are some Buddhist sculptures from the Gandhara period, dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. Along with the Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures, there are original Roerichs and some of AN Tagore’s watercolors.

The museum is located in Sector 10, a 5-minute auto-rickshaw ride from the center of town. Open daily except Mon 10 am to 4.30 pm; admission Rs 1, camera Rs 5.

Rock Gardens
The rock gardens are an interesting place to visit. They were created by Nek Chand, who originally began his rock garden as a hobby. The gardens have waterfalls, hanging gardens, sculptures, and miniature people made of stones or scrap materials. It has giant rope swings and kiddie-boats. Visitors can often meet Mr. Chand, who has since become famous. This can be arranged by asking at the ticket window.

The rock gardens are located in Sector 1 in the north part of the city. They are open from April to September, daily 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 to 7 pm. From October to March, daily 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 to 6 pm; admission Rs 3. Bus #8 comes here from the bus stand.

Other Places
You can go to the top of the 8-storey Secretariat building, in Sector 1, from 10 am to noon for a view of the city. You can also visit the High Court and the Open Hand Monument at the government buildings in Sector 1.

The Rose Garden in Sector 16 has more than 1,000 types of roses.

Where to Stay—Lower
Panchayat Bhavan (780-701) has rooms for Rs 150 and dorm beds are Rs 30.
Hotel Jallundur (706-777), across from the bus station, Sector 22, has rooms with bath with hot water and a TV for Rs 300/400.
City Hotel (708-992), near the Jallundar, has rooms with common bath for Rs 250/300 and with bath for Rs 350/400.
Chandigarh Yatri Niwas (706-038), Sector 24, has rooms for Rs 450 and Rs 650 with A/C. Dorm beds Rs 60. It is often full.
Chandigarh Tourist Bungalow (704-329), Sector 21-A, near the bus stand, has rooms for Rs 400/500.

Where to Stay—Middle
In Sector 22, about a half km from the bus station, are some middle class hotels:
Alankar (708-801), Sector 22-A, is a modern place with clean rooms for Rs 550.
Amar (703-608), Udyog Path, Sector 22–A, has rooms for Rs 450 and Rs 600 with air-cooling.
Hotel Divyadeep (705-191), Himalaya Marg, Sector 22, has room for Rs 175/200 and Rs 450/500 with air-cooling.

Where to Stay—Higher
Hotel Pankaj (709-891; fax 706-480), Udyog Path, Sector 22–A, has nice A/C rooms for Rs 650/1250
Aroma Hotel (700-045; fax 700-051), Himalaya Marg, Sector 22–C, has comfortable, clean A/C rooms for Rs 1200/1500. It is a good place.
Hotel Sunbeam (708-100; fax 708-900), near the bus station, has nice A/C rooms for Rs 1200/1600.
Hotel Mount View (740-544; fax 742-220), Sector 10, 2km from the center of town, has A/C rooms for Rs 2100/2500. It has a peaceful garden, a pool, health club, and a restaurant.
Hotel Piccadilly (707-521; fax 705-692), Himalaya Marg, Sector 22–B, has rooms for Rs 1300/1900. It is a popular, central A/C business hotel.
Shivalik View (700-001; fax 701-094), Sector 17, has comfortable A/C rooms for Rs 1100/1600. Breakfast is included. This is a good place. It has a rooftop Chinese restaurant.

Where to Eat
Bhoj Restaurant, in the Hotel Divyadeep, Sector 22–B, has good vegetarian food. It is managed by a Sai Baba devotee and is recommended. It is not cheap.
Tasty Bite, Himalaya Marg, near the bus station, has South Indian and Western food, including veggie-burgers and dosas. Medium priced.
Golden Dragon, near the bus station, has decently priced Chinese food.
Mehfil (544-224), Sector 17, is a high-class A/C place with good Indian, Chinese, and Continental food. You may have to reserve for dinner.
Ghazal, Sector 17-C, serves good Indian, Continental, and Chinese, specializing in Tandoori cuisine.
Wempy, the British chain, serves a decent veggie-burger and chips.
Chopsticks, Himalaya Marg, serves Indian and Chinese food.
Hot Millions, Sector 17, serves good fast foods, both Western and Indian, and ice cream.

Local Travel
There is a prepaid auto-rickshaw stand at the bus station, and rates to different destinations are posted. From the bus station to the railway station should cost about Rs 45. Buses #37 or #85 go from the bus station to the railway station. Bus #1 goes from the bus station to the government buildings in Sector 1.

Travel
Air The airport is 10km south of the downtown. A taxi to the airport costs Rs 250; an auto-rickshaw Rs 75.

Indian Airlines (544-539), in Sector 17, has three flights a week to Delhi ($70), Mumbai, and Amritsar ($60), and one flight a week to Leh ($75). Open 9.30 am to 7 pm. Archana Airlines (546-399) has a daily flight to Delhi.

Train The railway station is 8km from the center of the city. There is a bus into the city every half-hour that departs from outside the station. There is also a prepaid auto-rickshaw and taxi stand.
There is a railway booking office (704-382) upstairs in the bus station (Mon to Sat 8 am to 4 pm). The Shatabdi Express does the trip to and from Delhi twice a day (3 hr). There are several other daily trains to Delhi.

From Kalka, 25km north, you can catch the “Toy Train” to Shimla (6 hr).

Bus The Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) is on the south side of Sector 17, near the business and shopping area. There is a tourist office on the first floor. Many buses go to Delhi every day (5 hr, Rs 80 ordinary, Rs 150 deluxe). There are buses to Amritsar (6 hr), Shimla (4 hr), Manali (10 hr), and Dharamsala (10 hr).

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