The true nature or characteristic of a city is displayed by what that place has to offer for travellers, which attracts them in the first place and when it comes to “The Beautiful City” Chandigarh offers much more than typical 5 tourist spots.
In these dark times of On and Off lockdown, one deserves to break away from the constant negative news and take a bath in the soothing sunlight of the dawn or feel the pounding of your heart on a jungle run. If this sparks you then you’ve come to the right place. This city offers precisely that much more that you’ll fall in love with it.
So for those people who always want to take the twisty side roads in their endeavours, I’ve compiled this list for you.
1. Ashoka Buddha Vihar temple :
If you are a peace and quiet loving person, this buddhist temple is the perfect place for you. Inside the temple, a huge Buddha statue stands made of brass. There’s a small yet beautiful shrine dedicated to Buddha and a lot of devotees show up here. Former Thai Ambassador and representative of Ministry of Forgein Affairs of Thailand, Mr. Bandhit Sotiphalalit visited this temple on 6th November 2012 for a religious ceremony.
2. Bird Sanctuary sec 21:
Primarily a parrot habitat, which was a dream project of S.K. Sharma. It keeps in the presence of a large number of birds, maily parrots. There are two adjoining parks to this sanctuary. It was registered as a bird sanctuary in 1998 and surprisingly is the only sanctuary to be located in a densely populated city.
3. Dhanas Lake :
Located near Sector-38 in the village Dhanas, it is a mesmerizing and rejuvenating lake. It is quite peaceful and takes one away from the everyday chaos of the city. It is a great spot for relaxing on weekends.
4. Nepli Reserve forest :
A beautiful place surrounded by small hills on either side and a lush forest in between. It serves as a comforting place for a vast variety of animals and plants. Although the entry is governed by the Deputy Conservator of Forest Chandigarh however, they can issue permits as the entry request. Kansal Gate and Nepali Gate are two entry points for this place. It is a part of Sukhna Lake catchment and spreads over 2600 hectares.
5. Choki Dhani Panchkula :
Based on the cultural heritage of Rajasthan, this place is available for various gathering events such as marriages, receptions and other occasions. It is situated in the Amravati Enclave on the Chandigarh and Shimla freeway. One can find a massive array of skills and artists here. Magicians, Claypotter, Blacksmith and of course no heritage place wouldn’t be complete without folk dancers. Camel and horseback rides are also a part of this place.
6. Hidden Valley :
Located near the Mata Jayanti Devi Temple, this valley lies at the Pama Farms which is about 8 Kms Northwest of Chandigarh. This place is for adrenaline junkies to put it bluntly. As it offers, Bungee jumping, mountain biking and rope climbing. But other less demanding activities are available as well such as camel and horse safari, bird watching, cart rides and much more. A fun way to experience nature in its raw form.
7.Geometric hill chandigarh :
This hill is located in Sector-1 and is a government compound designed by the Architect Le Corbusier, he made this structure with the waste material from construction sources. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning over 100 Acres. It comprises three buildings, three monuments and a lake. The rises from the shadows as it depicts the symbol of the 24 hour solar cycle with the help of an opaque mass, it was meant to be inscribed with a large sine curve.
8. Leisure Valley:
As the name suggests it provides a breather among lush greenery to the Chandigarh locals. Not one, not two but twelve different gardens in this theme park can be seen. Most famous amongst them are Rose Garden, Terrace Garden and Botanical Garden. The true purpose behind this valley was to create a stress-free green zone for people to relax and spend time with their loved ones in nature. This idea was proposed by Le Corbusier, who understood that city life is devastating for one’s health.
9. Sukhna Gallery :
This Indian art museum at Sukhna Lake was inaugurated by the Administrator Advisor of Chandigarh by Manoj Parida on 4th December 2019 on the 52nd death anniversary of Pierre Jeanneret. It was proposed by Deepika Gandhi, Director of Le Corbusier Center. It has old sketches and pictures revealing many aspects of Sukhna Lake such as the entrance gate and light fixtures. It houses the book “Moods of Sukhna and Sukhna - Sublime Lake of Chandigarh”.
10. Campa Plantation: CAMPA PLANTATION, U.T. CHANDIGARH
To produce street light at Makhan Majra Daria road, the diversification of 0.0337 hectares of forest land was used in Hallomajra Block, Nepli range and CAMPA plantation done in Sukhna Choe.
It is done by the department in order to increase the forest coverage and quality of habitat for wildlife and diversity of species.
Year of Plantation 2015-16
Total No. of Plants: 21
Total Area: 0.034 Ha. Cost: Rs.13180.00 G.P.S. Reading
N-30'41' 21.90" E-76'48' 36.80"