Chandigarh - The City Beautiful

The city is the capital of two states (Punjab and Haryana) and is a union territory too. Chandigarh city has been built with world-class architecture with a quality lifestyle. The city has a number of visiting places such as Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sector 17 market, Sukhna Lake and Elante Mall (one of the biggest malls in India).

Apart from it, Chandigarh city is also one of the biggest industrial and educational hubs in North India. It has Punjab University, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, DAV College, Indian School of Business and also has IT Park where numerous people work in MNC’s like Tech Mahindra, Airtel, DLF, Spice Jet call center, DT mall, and other IT companies. People come to this city to get job, education and world-class health facilities too.
     

However, to reach the city is not a big deal. It has Interstate State Bus Terminal, International and Domestic airports and a railway station too. People come from around the world come to admire the beauty of this during their holidays and folks from surrounding areas come to the city to spend their leisure time, shopping and to have food of variuos international cuisines.

Besides this, the city provides luxurious staying options for the visitors as per their needs and budget. It has various 5 to 7-star hotels like Hyatt Regency, Sukh villas, JW Marriott, Hotel Emerald and Taj Hotels along with some inexpensive hotel options too.

Also, Chandigarh city is connected with states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. This city is at the distance of almost 2 hours from my hometown. I come to the city for celebrating my important days, to spend my leisure time with friends, during rose festival, to do shopping, during Christmas and also for the New Years Eve.

Furthermore, visitors who want to experience something amazing should come during certain seasons/months such as to celebrate Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Christmas parties and those who love flowers should come at the end of February month to enjoy the beautiful Rose Festival.

Not only tourism, education and IT industry Chandigarh city is also a preferable site for the video and filmmaking to shoot movies. The city has also given many celebrities to India such as Kirron Kher ( Actress and current MP from Chandigarh), Gurbani Judge (VJ), Ranvijay Singha (VJ), Yami Gautam (Actress), Yuvraj Singh (Indian cricket player), Late Shri Nek Chand (Architecture and Sculpture of Rock Garden), Satinder Sartaj (famous folk singer), Kiran Bedi retired IPS (Current Governor of Puducherry) and many more.

In addition to this, Chandigarh city has various international restaurants such as CCD, Mc Donald’s, KFC, Subway, Dominos and Pizza Hut. But if you are fond of enjoying Indian foods as Punjabi, South Indian, Gujarati and Kashmiri food then you have tremendous options for these as well like Sindhi Sweets, Pirates of Grills, Sagar Ratna, and Pal Dhaba are some of the best options for local cuisines.

 If I talk about my experience with locals of the city, they are broad-minded, jovial and most of the people are from Haryana and Punjab so, they have some behavior in their nature related to these certain states. Views of the people of Chandigarh city could be different from various people. Some people say Chandigarhians (people from Chandigarh) are stone hearted; they have no values for their family and relatives. But in my views, the city is swiftly developing and ahead from its various surrounding cities, the life in the city is quite busy and folks are involved in various extra activities such as sports, clubbing, discos and other gaming parlors. It does not mean they do not have time for their family and relatives.

Locals always help visitors of their city in any trouble, whether they need any police, medical and general help. Tourists do not need to be worried if they feel they are lost in Chandigarh; the city has its map structure at every circle, red light crossing, and markets. Police check posts are available at every circle of the city and always prepared to help anybody at any time.

During my last visit to the sector 17 market, an old age person got a heart attack while doing shopping with his wife. Police officers were at their post in the market, they took the matter in their hand and took that old man to the nearest hospital in their ambulance. This quick action by police officers saved the life of that old man. At the very next day, a local newspaper and a news channel were praising those police officers for their quick responsible action.

I believe, Chandigarh city is the beautiful, green and clean city in North India. Mates, who are fond of flowers, should visit the city to experience the beautiful, colorful and sweet fragrance Roses during Rose festival of Chandigarh City.

Chandigarh city also has a beautifully designed garden with home wastes, named Rock Garden. Spending spare time here could be the best option for kids and youngsters. They can view amazing sculptures and cascades designed inside the garden. 

For Shopaholics, sector 17 and Elante mall has an endless option for shopping globally famous branded clothes, shoes, sports equipment, shades, watches, perfumes and electronic equipment.

Alternatively, during evening time of each day, the sector-17 market turns into an open party venue, amazing lightening with fountains, music and some tasty street food options.

Some other facts about Chandigarh city

As I said in the starting of the article, Chandigarh city has international as well as domestic Airport, a railway station, ISBT 43 sector and ISBT 17 sector. It means the city is reachable from all the 3 ways easily by any person.

Nearest big cities to this beautiful cities are Patiala (less than 60km.), A beautiful hill station Shimla (almost 115 km.) and National Capital Delhi (almost 245 km.)

During the visit to the city, tourists can enjoy the beauty of Rose Garden, experiencing the company of people from different regions, cultures, and religions. At the bay of Sukhna Lake folks can enjoy their early morning walks or jog, visitors can enjoy boating at could amaze by the beautiful view of the sunset. Couples also can get a sketch of themselves by the amazing artists of the city and much more things to experience in the city. Here, tourists have multiple options to travel in the city such as hiring private taxis, hiring ola or uber cabs and also can travel through local AC buses in such inexpensive cost.

To sum up, tourists need not worry about taking their kids to the city as the city is safe and clean for the person of every age group. This city also has the options for kids to enjoy at certain places. So, come to the city during your upcoming vacations and experience some gorgeous natural view at various places in the city with world-class staying options!

Contributed by  - Harneet

Uccha Pind (Sanghol)

At Ludhiana to Chandigarh highway, there is a village which is predating to the Harappan civilization. The village Sanghol is in the territory of Fatehgarh Sahib District and also this place holds a special position on the archaeological atlas of India. Excavations at the site have yielded coins and seals related to Toramana and Mihirakula belonging to central Asia. A Buddhist Stupa was excavated in 1968, and in February 1985 a rich treasure of 117 beautiful carved stone slabs, which includes 69 pillars, 35 crossbars, figures, and figurines, was excavated by the experts of the Directorate of Archaeology, Punjab.

Tourist attractions in the village

Sanghol is famed for the Sanghol Museum. A large of the number of relics dating from the late Harappan civilization (1720 – 1300 BC) to 6th century AD, was found here.  More than 15000 artifacts were collected from this site and the majority of them are displayed in this museum. Sanghol also was known as Uchha Pind, There are some mythical stories about the destruction of this village. The main village sits very high clearly visible from the surrounding towns. It is also linked to the Kissa "Roop Basant" stories as well. Some people from surrounding villages say that its ancient name was Sangla-deep. There are a Buddhist Stupa and Monastery Complex dating back to 1st and 2nd century AD situated on the main road. A few kilometers towards Ludhiana there is a religious place where huge numbers of people come to pay homage and some miles towards Chandigarh city there is the village of Legendary singer Babbu Maan whose Film studio is also in his village Khantmaan Pur.

About Museum Gallery

The present building of the Sanghol Museum was inaugurated on April 10, 1990, as a unit of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums of the Government of Punjab. Excavations at Sanghol yielded archaeological treasures of great significance indicating a long history of the cultural heritage of Punjab. These treasures needed to be preserved and displayed at a place for public view and appreciation. With this thought in view, the Sanghol Museum was set up by the Government, not only to preserve Punjab' s Cultural treasures, but also to involve the public in the appreciation of the continuous cultural linkage that the land has maintained from the early ancient times and has witnessed large-scale movements and amalgamation of people and their culture.

A vast treasury of about 15000 antiquities has been collected by the department through various archaeological excavations and explorations at Sanghol. It comprises of antiquities of diverse nature like sculptures, terracottas, pottery, seals, sealings, coins, ivory, carvings, precious stones and other art objects.

The ground floor gallery exhibits the most important items of antiquities other than the stone sculptures. The pride of the Sanghol Museum, the stone sculptures, is displayed in the upper gallery.

The antiquities in the ground floor gallery have been arranged chronologically to highlight the development of socio-cultural and religious facts of the regional manifestations of the heritage of Punjab. Apart from the actual objects, a large number of charts, graphs, photographs, maps, and drawings have been displayed to supplement the viewing of the actual objects. Each of the items is given a label disclosing its identification and chronological placement. The methodology has been as per the latest display techniques followed in museums of the type. At the entry point has been displayed a Master Chart containing a brief history and important details of Sanghol as an archaeological site and of the objects obtained from the place.

The art of Punjab is not usually referred to by scholars as a distinctive regional expression in view of the paucity of sufficient materials, to go by the discovery of Sanghol sculptures together with the huge Buddhistic establishment which has opened up a new dimension. Punjab now can verily claim a distinctive contributory role in the cultural creativity in the visual arts even during the early centuries of the Christian era. The glory of the artistic participation of Punjab in the main-stream of Indian cultural efflorescence is evidenced by the archaeological discoveries of Sanghol.

The Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang of the 7th Century AD noticed flourishing Buddhistic establishments at Sanghol. It seems likely that he did see the lingering glory of the artistic achievements of Sanghol, the glimpses of which could still be had by the visitor to the Museum today through the well-preserved specimens of the sculptural art.

The collections on display are only of the selected objects. Scholars and keen lovers of art can have an access to the other art objects preserved in the reserve collection. For this, they will need taking permission of the appropriate authority.

 Some other facts about the village

There are many educational institutes near Sanghol village. The village is almost 40 kilometers away from Chandigarh University and also has big convent schools along with government schools which are equipped with latest educational facilities.

If any visitor is fond of eating roadside food, there is the availability of numerous ferries which provides delicious street food in vegetarian and non-vegetarian eatable items.

Moreover, on the state highway of Sanghol, a huge number of hotels are available. Some are too old and famous all over the Punjab state such as; Mittran da Dhaba, Zimidara Dhaba, Captain Dhaba and Raja Dhaba which gives the chance to taste pure Punjabi delicious food.

Apart from this, currently the village is developing; the lifestyle of locals has also changed. A flyover is also under construction which makes it easy to reach the village quickly from faraway places. A super hit Punjabi movie was also filmed in the village name “Jatt James Bond” starring Gippy Grewal and Zarine Khan.  

The ideal time to visit

The ideal time for visiting the place is from Octobers to March. Summers are extremely hot and temperature rises to 45˚C. There is a heavy rainfall observed in Monsoon season. Therefore, winters should be preferred for visiting here.

How to Reach

Fatehgarh Sahib is well connected through rails, roads and by air as well.

By Air

Fatehgarh Sahib city has no airport. The closest airport is 41 km away in Chandigarh. Chandigarh has a well-connected network of airways from 5 prominent cities of India and most of the domestic airlines reach Chandigarh.

By Train

This city has a well-connected railway network with a railway station running trains from all most of the cities of the country such as Delhi, Una of Himachal Pradesh etc.

By Road

The road network of the city is quite good and connects Fatehgarh Sahib to different cities with great transport facility. The daily bus service can be availed from Delhi, Chandigarh besides the neighboring cities. Taxis may also be hired.

Contributed by - Harneet