Chandigarh - चंडीगढ़

The city of Gardens

Chandigarh, the first planned modern city of India designed by the French architect, Le Corbusier serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. However, this beautiful 'city of gardens' set against the backdrop of the sreat Shiwalik mountains, does not belong to either of the states. It was constituted as a union territory on 1st November, 1966 and is administered by the government of India.

Chandigarh, derives its name from a temple Chandi Mandir in the vicinity of the site selected for the city (deity Chandi, goddess of power), and a fort or 'garh" beyond the temple, called Chandigarh. Chandigarh was a created to fulfill the need of a permanent capital of Punjab and Haryana, although Shimla was a temporary headquarters in those times. Chandigarh, the capital of both Punjab and Haryana, is the first Indian city to have been designed and planned by a single architect - Le Cobusier. The city, a model of wide roads and spacious residential colonies, is an excellent base for specialized sightseeing. The white domed temple of Goddess Chandi Devi that stands on the slope of a hill, situated in the north-east of Chandigarh, on the edge of the Shivalik hills, is from where the city obtains its name Chandigarh. From here one can travel northwards to the hill resorts of Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Chandigarh is not only the most modern city in the country but has been planned to perfection by the world famous French architect le Cobusier.