Chandigarh

Stone status of women in rock garden.

Chandigarh, which means “Fort of Chandi”, is acclaimed for its extraordinary architecture and its innovative city planning. It is the capital city of both the State of Punjab and the State of Haryana. Chandigarh is a particularly beautiful and wealthy state, making it ideal for tourists and locals alike.

Today, Chandigarh is situated on the slopes of the Himalayan Mountain Range (specifically, of the Shivalik range). In millennia past, this slope used to lead to a huge lake and marsh, in which a variety of plants and animals lived and have left fossilised proof thereof. There are many remnants of such an ancient time still in existence, impressing tourists that take an interest in the archaeological background of the area. Chandigarh came under the rulership of several tribal dynasties and empires through the ages, until the British eventually took over in the 18th century. In 1947, India achieved political independence. At this time, Chandigarh became the capital of Punjab. When Punjab was divided in 1966, Chandigarh automatically became the capital city of the former Punjabi region now known as Haryana.

Because of its awesome positioning on the slopes of the Himalayan Mountains in north-west India, this Union Territory has presented a glorious array of plants and animals. It enjoys a subtropical climate, meaning hot summers (of about 37 degrees Celsius at noon) and cool winters that can occasionally drop below zero degrees Celsius. Rains fall mainly during the monsoon season (mid-June to mid-September) and occasionally in winter. Bird-lovers will delight in the abundance of rather different bird species, including peacocks, parrots and woodpeckers. Several avian species make seasonal migrations to this area. Other animals that reside in Chandigarh are the Barking Deer and the Sambar.

Most of the people in this Union Territory are Hindu, while over 15% are Sikh, 4% are Muslim and less than 1% is Christian. Interestingly, many of the people now living in Chandigarh originally moved there from the surrounding areas (such as Haryana) for governmental work. Today, the government continues to provide many jobs and benefits to the locals.

As the richest area in the subcontinent, Chandigarh relies on industries such as paper manufacture, sanitary wear, alloys, machinery, pharmaceuticals and electrical appliances for its economic security. In addition, it is known for its superior banking resources and market infrastructure. Tourism is also an important industry as visitors from India and abroad flood into this Union Territory in order to experience its modern amenities set against a backdrop of traditional history and culture. Some of the more popular tourist attractions in Chandigarh include (but are not limited to):

• Leisure Valley
• The Capitol Complex (where all of the main administration buildings of Punjab and Haryana are situated, including the High Court and Legislative Assembly)
• The Rock Garden (artists have made use of waste to create stunning sculptures, palaces, temples and statues from stones, glass and china)
• Sukhna Lake
• The Open Hand Monument 
• The Rose Garden (also called the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, this is the home of over 1600 different species of roses and hosts an annual rose festival)

Here is tourism web site: http://chandigarhtourism.gov.in/

and

Here is city web site: http://chandigarh.gov.in/