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Chandigarh, is a truly special union territory of India, in that it administers itself while serving as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana, that till 1966 were one state, Punjab. Since there appeared to be proven bias in the administration of the erstwhile Punjab state to Sikhs in particular and Punjabis in general, the Jat population of the southern half of Punjab, often decried as ‘low IQ Hindi-speaking wrestlers’, sought a state of their own. When approved in principle, both Punjab and Haryana wanted Chandigarh, realising its immense worth, and almost came to blows till the wily Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, came up with a compromise solution-Autonomy to Chandigarh as a Union Territory and Capital of both states, sharing a ‘Capitol complex’. |
The name translates to English as "The Fort of Chandi", coined from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Chandi, present in the city's vicinity. Others say that Chandi is Hindi for Silver, hence the name means Fort of Silver. Chandigarh Capital Region including integrated suburbs of Mohali, Panchkula and Zirakpur has a combined population of over 1.5 million citizens, spread over an area of 114 km2. Chandigarh has the distinction of being the first planned city of India, the brainchild of architects Albert Mayer, Matthew Nowicki, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. As it happened, history was to recognize the Swiss Le Corbusier as the father of the city. With an European concept, Chandigarh is divided into 46 rectangular sectors, numbered 1-12 and 14-47 (13 was considered unlucky). Most sectors have an area of over 240 acres and a residential capacity of about 16,000 people. Planned to be self-contained in civic amenities, the sectors are separated by wide well maintained streets for fast-moving traffic.
Chandigarh is the first Indian city to go smoke-free. Smoking at public places was strictly prohibited and considered as a punishable act by Chandigarh Administration but this exemplar ambitious project has failed. Smoking apart, the drug culture has spread into the city, an undesirable fallout of modernisation. A complete ban has been imposed on polythene bags with effect from October 2008.
How to Get There
By Air: Chandigarh has a domestic airport, slated for upgrading to international in the near future. The airport is 11 km from the city centre and is linked to Delhi and Leh by wide-bodied airliners and other destinations in Punjab, including Amritsar by small aircraft.
By Rail: Chandigarh railway station is 7 km from the city centre. It sits at the gateway to Shimla via Kalka and connects to Delhi, Bikaner and Jodhpur, among others.
By Road: Roadways in and around Chandigarh are excellent. Regular and deluxe buses operate from Chandigarh to Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and
Rajasthan.
Where to Stay:
There is no dearth of hotels in Chandigarh for every pocket. There are 29 rated hotels, with another thirty odd budget lodges and guest houses. The Taj Chandigarh, Hotel Mountview and Hotel Shivalikview, Chandigarh are top of the line.
What to See: The famous Rock Garden exhibits artworks made from urban and industrial waste. One can visit the world's highest straight gravity dam- Bhakra Nangal Dam, 116 km away. Other excursions are Chattbir Zoo, Sukhna Lake, Morni Hills, Harappan cemetery, the Rose Garden, Museums, Capitol Complex and Leisure Valley. The best time to visit Chandigarh is after the monsoons, from September to April, though winters are cold (±0° C).
Where to Eat:
There are 60 rated restaurants in Chandigarh, with another 200 eateries. Every sector has its own favourite roadside ‘dhaba’, the favourite dishes being Tandoori Chicken and Fish, Chicken and Lamb ‘Tikkas’ eaten with clay-oven (Tandoor) baked ‘roties’ or Naans. Some bars cum restaurants include Score Pub, Combo, Blue Ice, Kasauli Foods Mohali, Jhullandur Hotel & Restaurant among others. Popular Punjabi vegetarian dishes are Makki di Roti, Sarson ka Saag, Dal Makhni, Kadhi, Punjabi Chhole, Palak Paneer, Stuffed Vegetable Punjabi Parantha and Baingan da Bhurtha, among others.
Miscellaneous: The city tops the list of Indian States and Union Territories with the highest per capita income in the country at Rs.99,300 at current prices and Rs.70,360 at base year 2006-2007 prices.
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