A planned city by Le Corbusier at the foot of the Shivaliks, known for gardens and a lake.
FamousCityHeritageLake
Chandigarh suits travellers interested in modern architecture, with the UNESCO-listed Capitol Complex and the Le Corbusier Centre. Nek Chand's Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake and the large rose garden make it easy and relaxed for families and older visitors. It also works as a short stopover on the way to the Himachal hills.
Trip planner
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| October to March | The most comfortable months, with days of about 10 to 25 C; winter nights can fall to about 5 C. The Rose Festival is held around February. |
| April to June | Hot; May and June often reach about 40 C, so plan sightseeing for early morning and evening. |
| July to September | Monsoon months with rain and green surroundings; outdoor plans can be interrupted by showers. |
A garden of about 40 acres filled with sculptures that Nek Chand made from industrial and household waste, with walkways and a waterfall.
A man-made lake of about 3 sq km at the base of the Shivalik hills, made in 1958, with a long promenade, boating and birdwatching.
Le Corbusier's UNESCO World Heritage group of the High Court, Secretariat and Assembly buildings, with the Open Hand Monument.
A garden of about 30 acres with roses of around 1,600 varieties and fountains; it hosts the yearly Rose Festival.
A museum with about 13,000 objects, including Indus Valley finds and a dinosaur fossil; a good indoor stop in heat or rain.
The former office of Le Corbusier's team, now a museum of photos, models, sketches and furniture that explain how the city was planned.
A tree-lined pedestrian shopping plaza with shops, cafes and an evening fountain show.
A 17th-century terraced garden of about 100 acres with palaces and a Japanese garden; fountain and light shows run on weekends.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Simple hotels and guesthouses, including in Zirakpur and Mohali | ₹1,000 to ₹2,200 |
| Mid-range | Three-star city hotels such as CITCO's Hotel Shivalikview in Sector 17 | ₹2,500 to ₹4,300 |
| Luxury | Upscale and five-star hotels such as JW Marriott and Hyatt Regency | ₹6,300 to ₹12,000 |
Punjabi food dominates, from dhabas serving kebabs and tandoori dishes to sweet shops for jalebi and samosa. Sector 17 has many cafes. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about Rs 300, and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range place about Rs 1,300.
Vegetarian Punjabi dishes such as chole bhature, dal makhani and saag are standard on menus.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,500 | ₹600 | ₹90 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹3,300 | ₹1,300 | ₹1,000 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹9,000 | ₹2,600 | ₹3,300 per vehicle |
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No permit is needed. Carry photo ID (passport for foreign visitors) for the Capitol Complex tour, where photography is restricted in some areas.
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