The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is perhaps one of the most unique attractions of the city, created by Nek Chand who started his little garden in 1957 illegally until it was discovered in 1975 where it had already grown to about 12 acres of interconnected courtyards filled with hundreds of pottery-covered sculptures. From here, rather than being demolished the garden was turned into a public space and has today grown to encompass 25 acres. The Rock Garden is complete with 2000 statues, waterfalls, and amphitheaters. The sculptures are all made out of scraps and other repurposed materials with objects like bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, broken pipes, and more.
Chandigarh also houses the largest rose garden in Asia, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. This garden spreads over 30 acres of land, with up to 50,000 rose-bushes of about 1600 different species. It is also home to a number of medicinal plants and hosts an annual Rose Festival usually in February or March.
Sukhna Lake, located near the rock garden, is an artificial reservoir created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream that flows down from the Shivalik Hills. It is a popular place for hanging out, jogging, biking, or walking around its banks. There is a walking path, a cafeteria, shops, a mini-amusement park, and paddleboats. The lake also has Asia's longest water channel for rowing and yachting.
Other landmarks include the Open Hand Monument, Panjab University, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Leisure Valley, and the Capitol Complex.
The top activities in Chandigarh mostly involve experiencing the sights mentioned above - the rock garden, rose garden, and Sukhna Lake, amongst others. Visitors can also rent bicycles to explore to their heart's content, or even take a bicycle tour around the city. There are also opportunities to do some boating on the lake, and of course shopping throughout the city. Other activities include the movies or theatre, as well as a few amusement parks located just outside of Chandigarh - Fun City and Thunderzone.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Chandigarh. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Full Day Private Agra Tour from Delhi by Car for $250 details
- Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour from Delhi for $130 details
- Highlights of the Chandigarh (Guided Half Day City Tour) for $80 details