Chandigarh Travel Guide: The City Beautiful - Capital Cities of Indian States [Punjab and Haryana]

Recently we were in Chandigarh and had heard that India's first smoke-free city is getting another garden near sector-31. We thought of visiting Japanese Garden, because some of part of is ready. This Photo Journey shares more about Japanese Garden, entry fees, timings etc.We took a shared auto from Mohali to Sector-34, which usually takes 20 rs per person and then took an auto for Japanese garden in sector-31. Shared Auto-rickshaws and AC buses in Chandigarh are good ways to commute. The green autos are usually expensive and now folks prefer uber over autos. But definitely the scenario would change when Uber revises it's charges.We were little disappointed when we entered into the park. It didn't look like other Chandigarh garden, which are much greener, peaceful and decent crowd. All of these things were lacking.We went ahead with our exploration inside the Japanese Park. Just in front of the entry you see a temple with japanese architecture and surrounded by huge water pond, which was empty. I am sure that place would look better with clean water in this pond and few fountains.Japanese park is still under construction and it's on both sides of the road which connects sector-31 with Sector-34. It's going to be another huge park in the beautiful city Chandigarh. Hopefully this will be another chandigarh points of interest.Chandigarh weather was not as good as we wanted it to be :). And hence we didn't want to spend much time at a place which was not very exciting. As we came out of the park, Chandigarh police van was still parked at the gate. One of the policemen asked - 'Changa ni Lagya :)'. He seemed concerned about it. Chandigarh police is one of the most cheerful & effective police force, in my opinion. They this this city more beautiful with great security and peace.There are some specific sections in this park and few sculptures installed in green areas. They are yet to put boards with information about these sculptures, but all these creations looked interesting.I wish the team to finish the work soon and present another beautiful place to tourists & residents of Chandigarh !

Chandigarh, fondly called “The City Beautiful”, is unlike any other city in India. Designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, it is India’s first planned city post-independence. Known for its clean roads, green cover, orderly sectors, and a blend of modern urban design with Punjabi vibrancy, Chandigarh offers a refreshing break from the chaos of many Indian cities.


While often seen as a gateway to Himachal Pradesh or Punjab, Chandigarh itself has plenty to offer — from iconic modernist architecture to serene gardens, lively nightlife, rich Punjabi food, and a growing art scene.

Main Places to Visit in Chandigarh

Recently we again visited Rock Garden of Chandigarh and it was again a delighting experience to see some creative stuff made out of junk or recycled material. Let's take a quick PHOTO JOURNEY to this wonderful place created by Mr. Nek Chand..Here is a photograph of a huge stone carved into a circular shape and looks like a tyre with a whole in middle. The text written over this stone in English and Urdu is saying that the place where this stone is located signifies the location from where Mr. Nek Chand started creating Rock Garden. There is a small hut at this place.There are many things made up of things like Bangels, Electric material, broken crockery etc. But some of them looked plain creations of cement and stone, like the ones shown in above Photograph. This may be something different which is not clear from the appearance of these ladies standing at a high wall in Rock Garden of Chandigarh, Punjab. The background has of course some broken pieces of tilesThe Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a Sculpture garden in Chandigarh, Punjab State of India which is also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden after its founder Nek Chand, a government official who started the garden secretly in his spare time in 1957. Today Rock Garden is spread over an area of forty-acres and Rock Garden is completely built of industrial & home waste and thrown-away items... The very first photograph is my favorite but never able to understand that how these clay-pots can be considered as thrown-away or Home waste. From the structure, they look like placed together in original form.Rock Garden is situated near Sukhna Lake and it comes before Lake when we go from Rose Garden. It consists of man-made interlinked waterfalls and many other sculptures that have been made of scrap & other kinds of wastes (bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, etc) which are placed in walled paths. Inside the Rock Garden there is a dedicated path which takes you through a guided tour till the end point and takes back to exit gate of Rock GardQuietly sitting men at Rock Garden of Chandigarh in Punjab State of India. It's really amazing to see such wonderful masterpieces and not sure who continue the good work till date. Rock Garden is one of the main tourist place of Chandigarh and probably each Tourist try to witness this marvelous piece of Art.Towards the end of Rock Garden, there is a huge ground. This place is one of the popular picnic station for children. Lot of space to play, enjoy Camel ride and much more around the space. There is a huge complex with different types of mirrors installed. These mirrors are some special effect mirrors which make you small, tall, distorted with various angles etc. It's fun to spend some time in front these mirrors and do some laughter-therapy :)There are some water bodies inside the Rock Garden which makes this place more interesting. Apart from two man-made waterfalls, there are some canals around the place and kids love to play around these. This places are also more popular for Photography :)During spare time, Mr. Nek Chand began collecting materials from demolition sites around the city. He recycled these materials into his own vision of the divine kingdom of Sukrani choosing a gorge in a forest near Sukhna Lake for his work. The gorge had been designated as a land conservancy, a forest buffer established in 1902 that nothing could be built on. Chand’s work was illegal, but he was able to hide it for eighteen years before it was discovered by the authorities in 1975. By this time, it had grown into a 12-acre (49,000 m2) complex of interlinked courtyards, each filled with hundreds of pottery-covered concrete sculptures of dancers, musicians, and animals.People of different ages and fro various walks of life come to this place with different expectations. Nowadays Rock Garden has become one of the main place for city couples, but of-course not as good as Rose Garden :) ... I remember one of the visit to Rock Garden, when we had to come back as it was full of young couples and we had started feeling guilty about the fact that we were breaking their privacy. This time, it was completely different and I was happy to see everyone enjoying in their own way, without any problems.Children with their Mom at Rock Garden and their Dad clicking a memorable moment at Chandigarh, Punjab !Whatever Mr. Nek Chand was doing was in serious danger of being demolished but he was able to get public opinion on his side and in 1976 the park was inaugurated as a public space. Nek Chand was given a salary under title 'Sub-Divisional Engineer, Rock Garden' and a workforce of 50 laborers so that he could concentrate full-time on his work. It even appeared on an Indian stamp in 1983. The Rock Garden is still made out of recycled materials, and with the government’s help, Nek Chand was able to set up collection centers around the city for waste, especially rags and broken ceramicsWhen Mr. Nek Chand left the country on a lecture tour in 1996, the city withdrew its funding and vandals attacked the park. The Rock Garden Society took over the administration and upkeep of this unique visionary environment. The garden is visited by over five thousand people daily with a total of more than twelve million visitors since its inception which is incredible.So apart from Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Sector-17, Shanti Kunj, Sector-42 Lake; Rock Garden is one of the main place to visit in Chandigarh and it's a worth a visit.

1. Rock Garden

The Rock Garden of Chandigarh, created by Nek Chand, is the city’s most unique attraction. Spread over 40 acres, it is a fantasy world of sculptures made entirely from recycled materials like broken bangles, tiles, ceramics, and industrial waste. Each section surprises you with waterfalls, pathways, and amphitheaters.

👉 Read more about Nek Chand’s Rock Garden on Travellingcamera.

Hauz Khas Village aka Royal Tank of Delhi is one of the popular place for Birders around the capital City of India. During last weekend, we were at Hauz Khas Village region and thought of visiting the lake near Deer Park. Let's have this Photo Journey with different birds around the lake...After recent visit to Pong Dam, we planned this visit with some of the friends in Delhi. It was mainly a get together for us and thought of visiting Royal Tank, which is now known as Hauz Khas Lake. It was no doubt a wonderful decision to visit the place on weekend. The day was very well spent with these colorful Birds.I am still working on identifying actual names of these birds and will update this blog-post with appropriate details. If you know name of any of these birds, please put a comment with appropriate details here.It's impossible that a you roam around Delhi and don't find see these black pigeons :) ... There were thousands of pigeons around Hauz Khas Lake in Delhi and they looked awesome while flying on top this colorful lake...Curious eyes trying to figure out movements of our group which was standing around the lake boundary. Some of us were standing on top of the boundary wall and she was the one to track our movement, as others were having their lunch on the lake-side.Swans are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus, in addition there is another species known as the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.Here is one of the Birds we also saw in Pong Wetland of Himalayan Ranges in India. Name of this bird is 'Red Wattled Lapwings'. The Red-wattled Lapwing is a lapwing or large plover which is a wader in the family Charadriidae. It has characteristic loud alarm calls which are variously rendered as did he do it or pity to do it leading to colloquial names like the did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water but may form large flocks in the non-breeding season, which is winter. For more about Red Wattled Lapwing check out - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-wattled_LapwingWe are really interested in knowing the name of this bird and there were lots of such colorful duck in Hauz Khas Lake. Not very sure but looked more like Northern Pintails... The Northern Pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season. It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck.Hauz Khas Lake looks amazing and very well maintained. Delhi Development Authority to develop Hauz Khas village, the inlets to the reservoir were blocked and consequently the lake had gone dry for several years. To rectify the situation, a plan was implemented in 2004 to store storm water generated at the southern ridge of Delhi behind an embankment and then diverting it into the lake. An outside source has also been tapped by feeding the water from the treatment plant at Sanjay Van into the lake. With these efforts initiated by The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the lake has been revived. More recently the Hauz Khas lake and the surrounding park has been actively developed e.g. the pavement area where people walk and jog around is being renovated currently...This duck's population is affected by predators, parasites and avian diseases. Human activities, such as agriculture, hunting and fishing, have also had a significant impact on numbers. Nevertheless, this species' huge range and large population mean that it is not threatened globally...We were roaming around the place in a group and place didn't look safe as some of the groups were fearlessly enjoying alcoholic drinks around boundaries of the lake. In fact we noticed some groups of boys chasing some of the couples roaming around the place. Anyways, thought of adding this information for readers to be cautious if they plan for this place.While searching about more information about Hauz Khas Lake, we came across some stunning photographs from the same place. If interested in some of the other photographs of Hauz Khas Lake, check out http://www.thedelhiwalla.com/2011/02/24/photo-essay-%E2%80%93-hauz-khas-lake-near-green-park/Apart from these colorful birds around the Hauz Khas Lake, there are some ruins on other side. Some of the Black and White Photographs of Hauz Khas Village Ruins can be checked at http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/2012/03/ruins-of-hauz-khas-village-around-royal.htmlSurprisingly this time we didn't see Peacocks around the place. We have been to Hauz Khas VIllage, Deer Park or Green Park earlier as well and saw Peacocks most of the times. Some of the beautiful Photographs of Peacocks around Green Park can be seen at http://www.greenparkdelhi.com/2010/05/peacocks-are-a-plenty/Various Heritage Walks are organized to Hauz Khas Village. Some of these walks are free and few of them charge very small amount of money which is mainly about facilitating guide and other stuff to make these walks more useful for people who are new to the place.Hauz Khas Village is a very different kind of place in Delhi with lot of Cafes, Restaurants, Art Houses and Travel Cafes etc. After spending some time around these ruins, Lake and Colorful Birds, we also tried some food at Yeti and Begals. Hope to visit Hauz Khas Village again and try some places to eat... We shall be sharing another PHOTO JOURNEY on Hauz Khas Village with more focus on Restaurants, Art Galleries and Cafes in this place.Here are few more Feral pigeons sitting on a tree in the middle of Hauz Khas Village Lake... Feral pigeons also called city doves, city pigeons, or street pigeons, are derived from domestic pigeons that have returned to the wild. The domestic pigeon was originally bred from the wild Rock dove, which naturally inhabits sea-cliffs and mountains. All pigeons are one species (columba livia). Feral pigeons find the ledges of buildings to be a substitute for sea cliffs, and have become adapted to urban life and are abundant in towns and cities throughout much of the world... Check out more about Feral Pigeons at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_Pigeon

2. Sukhna Lake

At the foothills of the Shivaliks, Sukhna Lake is Chandigarh’s most beloved spot for morning walks, boat rides, or simply enjoying sunsets. It’s also a birdwatcher’s delight in winter, with migratory species flocking here.

👉 Travellingcamera’s photo-walk at Sukhna Lake.

While the lake is beautiful throughout the year, there’s something magical about visiting Siliserh on a foggy day. The misty atmosphere, with the lake’s waters blending seamlessly into the haze, creates a mystical ambiance that is both calming and surreal.

3. Capitol Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

A masterpiece by Le Corbusier, the Capitol Complex houses the High Court, Legislative Assembly, and Secretariat. With its massive concrete structures, geometric forms, and the iconic Open Hand Monument, it represents Chandigarh’s modernist legacy.

4. Rose Garden (Zakir Hussain Rose Garden)

Asia’s largest rose garden, it features over 1,600 species of roses along with fountains and landscaped lawns. Every February/March, the Rose Festival attracts thousands with cultural performances, exhibitions, and flower competitions.

👉 Check out Rose Festival through Travellingcamera’s lens.

The National Hispanic Cultural Center is an institution in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is dedicated to Hispanic culture, arts and humanities. When you search for main places to explore in Albuqerque and interesting experiences to explore, National Hispanic Cultural Center, shows up in the list. This blogpost is an attempt to share what to expect and why it's important to be aware of that before planning a visit. Depending upon when you are planning to visit and what exactly are your expectations, the visit may be worth or waste. Let's check out more about National Hispanic Cultural Center, along with how to reach here and some tips to make best of the visit.



5. Sector 17 Plaza

The heart of Chandigarh’s shopping and social scene, Sector 17 is a pedestrian-friendly zone lined with shops, fountains, eateries, and open-air performances.

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh takes pride in offering exceptional dining experiences with its diverse culinary options. The hotel features multiple restaurants and lounges that serve a variety of global cuisines.

6. Elante Mall

For a modern shopping and entertainment experience, Elante Mall is one of North India’s largest malls, with international brands, multiplexes, breweries, and restaurants.

If you have ever visited Chandigarh, there is high probability that you also visited Sukhna Lake , Rock Garden and Rose Garden . These are some of the popular places to explore in Chandigarh city. Apart from these options, there is another well maintained garden near Rose Garden and easily approachable from Rock Garden as well as Sukhna Lake. This Photo Journey shares more about Shanti Kunj, it’s timings, things to do etc.When you are walking from Leisure Valley to Rose Garden and takes exit from other side, Shanti Kunj is just in front of the other exit of Rose Garden. All these 3 well maintained green landscapes are close to each other.Inside Shanti Kunj, there is a small canteen where you can find light snacks, juices, tea etc. They have nice place to sit and enjoy your snacks.Shanti Kunj also has clean washrooms and here I would want to highlight this fact that Chandigarh has washrooms located in different parts of the city and most of them are well maintained. It’s not very hard to find washrooms in Chandigarh city as opposed to Delhi. In Delhi, this has been a huge concern, especially for women. With time, Delhi has also tried to improve in this area.Shanti Kunj has few water streams and hence these over-bridges. They look beautiful and we planned to click few photographs around this. Most of the folks crossing through this bridge were also clicking a selfie :). We also tried one, but didn't come good as usual.Chandigarh has lot of such green spaces and recently city is building another Japanese theme park in sector-31 and this one also looks quite promising. Hope to visit the Japanese park again, when it's complete. Chandigarh keeps adding some interesting places in the city. Few years back the city got a new lake in sector-42Shanti Kunj is full of flora and fauna. There are various kinds of flowers all around and well maintained. You can see gardeners doing their job at any time in Shanti Kunj. Most of the lawns in Shanti Kunj has neat grass and you would definitely feel like stepping onto these lawns and sit for some time. Dustbins are installed in different parts of the park, hence it's clean.Shanti Kunj is located at a very peaceful place in Sector-16, which is in middle for Rock Garden and Cricket Stadium. Shanti Kunj also contains a plenty of medicinal plants which are utilized to cure several diseases. Park has one natural stream that runs through this garden divides whole area into five different segmentsLot of folks come to Shanti Kunj for jogging. All nature lovers and fitness freaks love to visit this beautiful place. If you are going there first time, keep 1-2 hrs for exploring this place. There are different kinds of flowers, trees and birds all around. And if needed, catch one of the gardeners to know more about these plants and birds.Sukhna Lake is just 3.9 kilometers from Shanti Kunj and Rock Garden is at 2.9 km in same directions.While sitting under one of the trees at Shanti Kunj, we experienced a beautiful fragrance around us. When looked around, we found a Maulshree tree next to us. The beautiful white flowers were lying all around and the fragrance of these flowers was making the place more lovable.Timings of Shanti Kunj - 8am to 8pm (All Days)

7. Government Museum and Art Gallery

Located in Sector 10, this museum houses Gandhara sculptures, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature paintings, and works of modern Indian artists. Nearby, the International Dolls Museum is a quirky stop.

👉 If you love museums, you might also enjoy Travellingcamera’s feature on Patan Museum in Nepal, which shares a similar artistic vibe.

Last weekend I was at my Maternal Grandparents home in Himachal Pradesh. During monsoons it was everywhere green and kitchen garden of my grandmother was in full bloom. This photo Journey shares some of the photographs clicked around our home in small village called Chauntra in Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh.Very first photograph shows Pomegranates in one of the trees on the corner. This was first time, I was seeing large number of Pomegranates on this tree and hope that every piece survives till end. My grandparents avoid to use any pesticides, so many times it's hard to keep these fruits safe. This time we had a long discussion and if this year these fruits don't survive, I need to figure out appropriate ways of using pesticides with minimal impact on the quality of fruits.Apart from Pomegranates & Mangoes, there are various other plants having colorful flowers. Above photograph shows juvenile leaves of one of the plants in kitchen-garden. Orangish leaves looked amazing among all green ones around...Leaves of pumpkin Vine in our kitchen garden. Post monsoons is best time to be there at my grandparents place. Most of the times, they consume vegetables grown in their own gardens or fields. Taste of those vegetables and fruits is always amazing... I really miss the real taste of Cucumber in Delhi... While at Home, I always think of old days when we used to go to vegetable farms to get fresh cucumbers and we used to eat the younger versions with lot of excitement...Bougainvillea flowers were everywhere around the boundary of our house. They were in dark-pink and white color... White colored ones look better to me but pink ones were more photogenic :)Other day I was going to Rajouri Garden from Noida through Inner-circle and we were really happy to see well maintained plants of Bougainvillea flowers on divider, but suddenly we realized that Delhi Government only wants to maintain south side of the city and there was hardly any care of plants in North Delhi...Green Chillies... Apart from just adding taste to our food, green chilies have a lot of health advantages. Therefore, the wisest thing is to feel the burn and enjoy the benefits of green chilies, which can be enjoyed in different ways... Usually Green chillies are consumed fresh and at times pickled version is also preferred. In fact, many times green chillies are mixed with salt to use the mixture with fresh cucumbers...It's not possible that we don't see Coriander in Grandmother's Kitchen Garden. Coriandrum is also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania... Coriander leaves are plucked only when needed for best possible fragrance in food... Above photograph shows one of the isolated plant of Coriande, otherwise it's seen as bunch of plants...It's some form of mushroom which is not consumed but usullay seen in many vegetable farms of Himachal Pradesh. Especially it can be seen around compost store... Some of the local doctors (hakeems) use this in some medicine..Cucumber Tendrils... Cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around supports with thin, spiraling tendrils. Vine has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit. Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits. However, much like tomatoes and squash they are often perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetablesA group of pumpkin tendrils tied strongly with mango tree in the garden...A photograph of Himalayan Herb which can be seen everywhere in Himchal Pradesh and other hilly states of India. It's illegal to grow this but various plants can be seen roadside and not sure if this one is so special as that of Malana or not...Smaller versions of Magoes and this times, they were huge numbers in Himachal Pradesh as well. Ideal process to eat them - Bring a bucket half-filled with water and put all mangoes (30-50) into the water. Have another bucket on other side and after that, it's self service :) ... My cousin sister was also there to give me company... So everyday she used to bring those tasty mangoes for everyone at home... Apart from one tree in Kitchen Garden, we have few more in vegetable farms and variety of every tree is different. So there are some sub-groups in family who like mangoes of particular treesAgain a photograph of pumpkin vine with shining Tendril... A tendril is a specialized stem or leaf with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support and attachment, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They can be formed from modified shoots, modified leaves, or auxiliary branches and are sensitive to airborne chemicals, often determining the direction of growth..Another Tendril having rest on one of the leaves of another vine. I am not sure about the name of vegetable this vine will give... probably will check with my Grandmother and update here..There are various other kinds of flowers including - Dahlia, Bougainvillea, Bird Of Paradise, Gerbera Daisy & Gladiolus etc..There are some Roses, which are usually used for morning pooja(worship) at home. Although my Grandfather doesn't like plucking flowers from garden, but he always fail to convince my grandmother :) ...

8. Leisure Valley

Chandigarh is sometimes called the “City of Gardens,” and Leisure Valley is its green backbone — a series of gardens stretching over 8 km.

Noida Flower Show 2011 - Improved arrangements as compared to 2010 Flower Show in Noida Stadium : Posted by VJ SHARMA on www.travellingcamera.com : Its been three years that I am visiting Noida Flower Show during feb month. This time Noida Flower show happened between 25th Feb and 28th feb, 2011. I went there on saturday which was second last day of the show and Sunidhi Chauhan had a wonderful performance on same evening... This time Flower Show was more colorful and there were lot of colorful tents were installed in the middle of the huge ground... Here are few Photographs I clicked in annual Noida Flower Show 2011.. Check Out !!!Every year lot of new flowers are imported from various parts of the world to showcase in Noida Flower Show... This time the whole area was more colorful.. If you have missed Noida Flower Show 2010, check out http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/2010/05/noida-flower-show-2010-part-04.htmlThere were lot of interesting varieties of cactus and Bonsai @ Noida Flower Show 2011 For last year details about cactus and bonsai, check out http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/2010/03/few-more-photographs-of-noida-flower.htmlFolks standing around colorful cactus which were imported from different parts of the world !!!Bright Yellow flower lost in the darkness of Noida Flower Show 2011... Some of the beautiful plants were located under tents and the conditions inside these tents were really bad.. Lot of water flowing inside the tents and it was difficult to walk... Lovely white flower @ Noida Flower Show 2011... I couldn't click much but there was a huge variety of white flowers this year and one of my friend who just shoot white objects was thrilled to see that :)Check out some special flowers from Noida Flower Show 2010 @ http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/2010/05/noida-flower-show-2010-part-03.htmlThere were folks who were selling clay pots in Noida Flower Show 2011... One part of the show was about exhibitions and other was for selling flower seeds & other stuff... There were lot of grass flowers as well... I don't know the exact terminology for these kind of flowers but one specific area was allocated to team who have been working wit such flowers and there was great variety of such flowers...Purple colored flowers spread over a huge region in the middle of Flower Show ground !!!Apart from Exhibitions and Flower-Market, there was a separate area dedicated for food-stall and other stuff... Here is a photograph of candy packets hanging on a stall !!!Another photograph of candy packets @ Noida Flower Show 2011...Here is a stall owner who is also selling some supari stuff @ Noida Stadium during Flower Show....Flower with an attitude !!!Flowers of various colors adding more value to overall beauty of the place...

9. Cactus Garden (Panchkula)

In the adjoining city of Panchkula, the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden has one of the largest collections of cacti in Asia.

Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India and that's why we also receive lot of queries through form on our blog. Most of the folks commonly ask - Shimla Weather, Shimla Hotels, How to reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh, main places to visit in Shimla, Shimla mall road etc. In past, we have shared some of these details on our blog, but here is an attempt to write a comprehensive post which helps you with details about various ways to reach Shimla from Delhi, Chandigarh or Kalka.

10. Day Trips from Chandigarh

India Habitat Center on Lodhi road in Delhi is a brilliant place which hosts some of the great art shows, photography exhibitions, Art/Literary festivals and lot of interesting events around Art/Culture. I have regularly visiting IHC for last 10 years and it's always refreshing to roam around the campus, see some art shows & have food at 'Eatopia' or 'The all American Diner'. This post shares more about the place, things to do, how to reach and why it's one of the most interesting places in Delhi for Art lovers.Above photograph shows a small part of India Habitat Centre. This is a beautiful piece of architecture. This building has some of the important offices of Delhi. Apart from the beautiful building, it has beautiful landscapes outside. IHC has good number of exhibition halls, auditoriums, open air amphitheater and lawns. Any time you go to IHC, you would find different art shows happening in the campus.Whenever I am in South Delhi and have time, I prefer coming to IHC. Probability is high if it's lunch or dinner time :) . Eatopia is a reasonable place in IHC which offers great food and variety of desserts. There are different counters around seating area. One can get Indian Street food, North Indian delicacies, Thai food, Chinese, Continental and lot more.Last weekend we visited Indian Habitat Center for Poetry Festival Kaafiya and Nishant was accompanying us. We had our lunch at Eatopia and he loved the desserts.Artologue had arranged a brilliant event in the middle of IHC campus. They had spread 25 feet canvas on the floor and everyone was welcome to paint it. Artologue presented 'Art Walle लोग ' and it's on till 31st October. This is a brilliant initiative by a couple who are into Travelling, Art and Media.We also participated in painting this huge canvas. Nishant started by painting flowers, added leaves and finally ensured that all of it is inside a fence. Some of the folks standing there liked the art created by Nishant. I was a little hesitant in trying out anything on this canvas, but Nishant inspired and all of us tried our hands. We could come up with reasonably good art :).Lot of such events keep happening at India Habitat Centre. First Edition of Delhi Photo Festival was also hosted by India Habitat Centre and most of the space was used for exhibiting Photography work by Photographers from different parts of the globe.After spending some time around this huge canvas, we headed towards Open Palm court to see exhibition by one of the friends.It's recommended to check online if something interesting is happening at India Habitat Centre, but you can also go without checking and I am sure you would not be disappointed as an Art lover.Additional tip - If you feel like having ginger tea after roaming around India Habitat Center, go to the back gate where an oldman sells awesome ginger tea.

Art, Craft & Shopping in Chandigarh

  • Handicrafts and Souvenirs: Sector 22 and 17 markets sell phulkari embroidery, Punjabi juttis, and traditional jewelry.

  • Punjab Government Emporiums: Great for authentic handicrafts at fixed rates.

  • Street Markets: Sector 15 market is a student favorite for books, thrifted clothes, and budget shopping.

  • Elante Mall & Sector 17: For branded shopping and lifestyle products.

👉 For shopping inspiration, see Travellingcamera’s Delhi shopping guide.

Nestled in the lush wilderness of Jim Corbett National Park, the RiverView Retreat offers a tranquil and luxurious escape for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Located along the banks of the Kosi River, this resort provides an idyllic setting where guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature while enjoying world-class amenities and services. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, RiverView Retreat in Corbett is the perfect destination.

Culture and Music in Chandigarh

  • Festivals:

    • Rose Festival in February/March.

    • Mango Festival at Pinjore Gardens in summer.

    • Chandigarh Carnival in Leisure Valley.

  • Performing Arts: Tagore Theatre regularly hosts plays, concerts, and cultural events.

  • Music Scene: From bhangra beats to live indie bands in breweries, Chandigarh has a lively music culture.

They have good range of sea food and beer. When I was there, some of the beers were out of stock. It was around 4pm when 40% of beers were not available to order. And the one we ordered was not very impressive. With beer we ordered oysters and Crispy Seafood Sampler. This Sampler was impressive and we loved - crispy calamari, BrewCo beer-battered fresh fish and prawns. This sampler is served with fried , housemade tartar & cocktail sauces.

Nightlife in Chandigarh

Chandigarh has one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in North India.

  • Breweries: Hops n Grains, The Great Bear, and Boathouse.

  • Lounges & Clubs: Paara, Kitty Su, Ministry of Bar Exchange.

  • Quiet Nights: Walk at Sukhna Lake with ice-cream in hand.

This Photo Journey shares some of the photographs of Himachal's first BAJAJ KTM DUKE200 and it's proud owner Mr. Aneesh Airborne Awasthi. If you don't know Aneesh, check out following links before proceeding with the latest Journey - CLIMBING, FALLING, STUMBLING & FALLING on the way to Hatu Peak in snow...Motorbike Stunts by Aneesh...This photograph is clicked at Golf-course of Chandigarh Cantonment area at Chandi Mandir... Before actual shoot, it was a warm up session to have a round inside wonderful Cantonment area and see if we find something interesting by keeping security measures in mind... But finally we moved to the new Himalayan Expressway which bypasses Pinjore, Kalka & Parwanoo to save 1.5 Hrs traffic in these main towns. KTM Duke200 looks amazing in above photograph with lush green golf grounds...Aneesh bought the bike KTM DUKE200 in the month of May after getting it 2 months in advance. Have enjoyed riding her more in mountain's because of her responsive engine. He kept on going to Palampur and Shimla frequently with KTM DUKE200. Most capable bike in its segment KTM is world's best dirt bike manufacturer. Duke is a street bike. KTM is more renowned for its dirt bikes, which have made their name across the globe in race/rally.Aneesh wishes to travel throughout the Trans-Himalayas on KTM DUKE200 and upgrade to bigger version soon. Getting sponsored for any kind of such endure is must and this is something that Aneesh is trying for. KTM DUKE200 is a head turner and attention gainer too. People keep on clicking nd asking about KTM DUKE200 from him...Aneesh also love stunting and this was first time that he was trying his stunts on KTM DUKE200. This is how KTm Website describes KTM Bikes - 'Lightness rediscovered. Maximum riding fun, powerful propulsion and optimum user value thanks to thoroughbred motorcycle technology. Featherweight chassis with high-quality components and first-class brakes. And dynamic cornering fun guaranteed with the surprisingly full-bodied and lively power of the cultivated, new four-stroke single-cylinder with injection, six-speed transmission and low fuel consumption. Precisely what you'd expect from a genuine KTM.''HP 37 D7900' - KTM DUKE200 (This is Aneesh's second vehicle registered with number 7900 in Palampur Town of Himachal Pradesh.KTM Duke 200 is very distinctive and attractive sports bike which carries lots of attitude with it. It has a great charismatic effect which spells bounds the riders with its unmatched appearance and racer look. The front portion of the bike has only cowl which has stylish halogen headlight in it which is very well stacked and looks very elegant. The straight handle bars of the new bike KTM Duke 200 is also very sporty and also very comfortable, specially designed for racing purpose. The stylish turn indicators are placed beneath the front cowl and looks very stylish and unadulterated.KTM DUKE200 appears to be very small and the rider feels that he is riding a mini bike. The distinctive center console may comprise of fuel gauge, speedometer, trip meter, turn indicator signal, etc. The stylish and unmatched fuel tank of the new KTM Duke 200 is also very appealing and has a feel of racer bike in it. The foot pegs available in the bike are very stylish and tuck in neatly when unused. The rear portion of the bike is also very impressive with sweeping style side indicators.Above photograph is shot on Himalayan Expressway, while we were going from Chadigarh to Parwanoo through Pinjore....Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen – commonly known as KTM, is one of the brilliant Motorbike Manufacturer. KTM is quite focused on their street line-up and that annihilates whatever competition is left on the road. KTM Bikes are edgy, mad, exceptionally capable, thoroughly engineered and fundamentally awesome. KTM has partnered with Bajaj in India and now folks are getting mad to get this machine. One needs to book in advance, to get it after 2 months of booking. KTM Duke 200 is in great demand. KTM DUKE200 is better known as the most potent streetbike to have ever been manufactured in India.After wonderful evening on Himalayan Expressway, it was time to get some quick clicks in hues of Sunset. Although I wish I had reflectors and extra battery with me :)More details about KTM DUKE200 can be checked on their official website at - http://www.ktm.com/naked-bike/200-duke-eu/#.UBJPpaMS6SoIt was time to have some fun after wonderful ride on KTM DUKE200 on Himalayan Expressway. Aneesh, Kshitiz and I thoroughly enjoyed this evening and more photographs are yet to come... This was first time, I was on a superbike with 120+ speed... It was literally flying on Himalayan Expressway, which were facing huge hills covered with clouds... We also shot some videos, which will be available in few days...Here comes Mr. Aneesh Airborne Awashthi !!! ... with his KTM DUKE200 in background... He loves to be on road and walking around the milestones/boards which help him to always do the things right... Aneesh is all set for his Trans-Himalayan Ride on KTM DUKE200 and we wish him best for the same !!!

Local Life in Chandigarh

  • Morning walks & cycling at Sukhna Lake.

  • Evening shopping at Sector 17 Plaza.

It was a hectic day on 24th December, 2011 during JK TYRE OYA Autocross and Motorcross event at Mohali, Punjab. Aneesh, one of the crazy bike rider was accompanying me there. After such an hectic day we planned to have some coffee and relax at Sector-17, Chandigarh. Here is a a quick PHOTO JOURNEY ...Here is Mr. Aneesh, one of the craziest bike rider I have seen far :) ... More about Aneesh can be checked at - http://phototravelings.blogspot.com/search/label/Aneesh%20AwasthiOne of the record rides to Hatu is one of the popular Photo Journey so far...It was one of the wonderful day during my 10 days vacations for Christmas and New Year !!! Full day with adventurous people fro various parts of India, some crazy moments with motorbikes and cars and lot of dust :)Finally it was time for some coffee and Chicken soup @ Barista, Sector-17, Chandigarh.Since my Travelling Camera was also accompanying me and Aneesh, so we also needed to avoid the boredom for Travelling Camera as well. That's why I am able to share this photo journey from the evening...It was a moment, when we discussing some of the big ideas about Motorsports, Photography and some of other pending Adventurous Trips. After MTB Himachal 2011, Raid de Himalaya 2011, India's first F1, Paragliding at Bir Billing & Helicopter ride; Aneesh is now planning to join skiing course in Gulmarg or Narkanda. Apart from this, we also discussed a crazy idea about visiting Leh-Ladakh in winters... Let's see how all this go in future..And now let me share a very useful information about Cafes in Sector-17, Chandigarh. And as a disclaimer, we are not advertising anything here. All information is based on my personal experience. Barista has got huge space and appropriate seating arrangements in Sector-17, Chandigarh. I doubt if any other cafe would have such a huge space in this region. If you know of, please put a comment and we shall update accordinglyA well spent day with Aneesh and Motorsport enthusiasts from Punjab & other arts of India. If you have missed Motorsport action from OYA 2011 event, check out following links Jk Tyre OYA Auto Cross and Motorcross @ Mohali, Punjab Dust Storm at Mohali (Chandigarh), Punjab Old Yadavindrians Association and JK TYRE Auto Cross and Motorcross

  • Vibrant student cafés around Panjab University and Sector 15.

👉 For a peek into local Himachali life near Chandigarh, check Travellingcamera’s Himachal diaries.

Recently we were in Chandigarh and visited some of our friends operating from Mohali. Puneet took us out for lunch and he chose 'The House of Gobind' in phase-5 of Mohali. This Photo Journey shares more about the place, it's food, timings, service, cleanness, cost-range and other relevant stuff.

Food in Chandigarh

  • Street Food: Golgappas and tikki in Sector 23.

  • Punjabi Delights: Butter chicken at Pal Dhaba.

  • Cafés: Backpackers Café, Indian Coffee House.

  • Fine Dining: Whistling Duck, Virgin Courtyard.

👉 Travellingcamera’s Delhi food trails give a broader context to North Indian food culture.

Practical Tips for Travelers

  • Best Time to Visit: Oct–March for pleasant weather.

  • Getting There: 3.5 hrs from Delhi by Shatabdi Express.

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh is a five-star luxury hotel that offers an exquisite blend of comfort, elegance, and world-class hospitality. Located in the heart of the city, it serves as an ideal destination for business travelers, tourists, and locals seeking a refined experience. With its modern architecture, plush accommodations, fine dining options, and top-notch amenities, this hotel is a symbol of sophistication in the vibrant city of Chandigarh.

👉 Many travelers use Chandigarh as a base before heading to the mountains. For that, check Travellingcamera’s guide to Himachal road trips.

Why Visit Chandigarh?

Chandigarh is more than just a planned city — it’s where architecture meets lifestyle, where the order of Le Corbusier’s vision merges with the vibrancy of Punjabi culture. Whether you’re strolling through gardens, sipping craft beer in a brewery, exploring art galleries, or heading to the hills, Chandigarh offers both serenity and excitement.

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