About Chandigarh

The City Beautiful Chandigarh is Indiaʼs first planned city which came into an existence after Indiaʼs first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruʼs request to the worldʼs renowned architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Chandigarh is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth century in India.

There are lot of interesting facts associated with the Chandigarh, letʼs have a look at them.

Official Information
Officials & Bureaucrat
Brief History
Events & Activities
Climatic Conditions
Landscape
Transport Connectivity
Education & Sports
Notable Personalities
Nearby Attractions

Official Information About Chandigarh

Formal Inauguration:
7th October, 1953
Year of Completion:
1960
Area:
114 km²
Nickname:
The City Beautiful
Official Language
English
Literacy Rate:
86.77%
Official Bird:
Indian Grey Hornbill
Official Mammal:
Indian Grey Mongoose
Official Flower:
Dhak
Official Fruit:
Mango
Official Tree:
Mangifera Indica or Mango

Current Officials & Bureaucrat

Administrator:
Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria (28 July 2024 - till date)
M.P:
Sh. Manish Tewari (AAP + Congress)
Adviser to Administrator
Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS
Principal Secretary:
Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta , IAS
MC Commissioner:
Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS
Chief Engineer:
Sh. Sanjay Arora
Mayor:
Sh. Kuldeep Kumar (AAP)

Brief History of Planning

The concept of the modern and planned city was Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehruʼs idea. In March, 1948, the Government of Punjab, in consultation with the Government of India, approved the area of the foothills of the Shivalikʼs as the site for the new capital.

The foundation stone of the city was laid in 1952. the city assumed the unique distinction of being the capital city of both, Punjab and Haryana while it itself was declared as a Union Territory and under the direct control of the Central Government.

In 1949 the American planner and architect Albert Mayer was tasked to design a new city to be called “Chandigarh”. Mayer stopped work after his architectpartner Matthew Nowicki (polish architect) died in a plane crash in 1950. Government officials recruited Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier to succeed Mayer and Nowicki, who enlisted many elements of Mayer’s original plan without attributing them to him.

jawahar lal nehru

Albert Mayer

le corbusier

pierrer jeanneret

Vintage Photos of Chandigarh Under Construction

Bus Stand, Chandigarh, early 1960s. The board on the top of building says "Punjab Roadways Bus Stand".

Sector 22, Chandigarh, mid 1980s. Locals know how much it has changed in last few years.

Panjab Secretariat, Chandigarh, early 1960s

Original Site of Chandigarh. Photo courtesy 'Chandigarh Architectural Museum'.

Neelam Theatre in sector 17, Chandigarh. Once a major crowd puller in Chandigarh now wore deserted look.

The KC Theatre in sector 17 with its unique dome shape was once a rage

Cultural Events & Activities

Chandigarh city is full of the people from different states which brings the great diversity in terms of the cultural events and activities. Some of the prominent activities held in Chandigarh are:-

Rose Festival

It is a three day celebration which is organized in the last week of February. The Rose festival is celebrated in the month of February end or in the month of March. It is named “Festival of Garden” since 1987. On the special day of festival of garden number of colourful events are organized such as the performances of music & dance, flower shows, food courts, exhibitions, events by children & much more. Know More

Chandigarh Carnival

The three-day carnival is held at Open Ground opposite Museum & Art Gallery, Sector 10. Number of cultural events are organized like dancing, singing both folk & cultural events are organized there. The impressive display of live arts workshop by students of the Govt College of Arts attracted many during the event. Carnival is celebrated every year with full enthusiasm.

Navratri Festival Celebration

Navratri is much awaited festival celebrated in Chandigarh with full enthusiasm, it is equally popular among all age groups. Garba and Dandiya nights are the prime attraction on Navratri, you can easily book tickets for such events and experience the great spirit of festivity. Kaali Bari Mandir in Ind Area ph2 is special where anybody can witness the great amalgamation of the devotion and enthusiasm.

Ramlila Event

Ramlila in Chandigarh is one of the most important cultural event. There are around 60 places where Ramlila is being celebrated. Chandigarh Kendriya Ramleela Mahasabha that connects all the city based 60 Ramlila event together by holding a three days competition. Navyug Ramlila and Dussehra Committee sector 7, Garhwal Ramleela Mandal, Bijali Board, Sec-28, Ramleela committee sec-22B are few noted and oldest societies.

Mango Festival

Chandigarh Mango festival is the festival which is celebrated with lots of anxiety & enthusiasm in the Pinjore Garden (Nearby to Chandigarh). Mango festival is the festivity of Mangoes. It gives the opportunity to all the mango growers to display their variety of mangoes. The major attraction of this festival is the Mango eating competition, it is mainly popular among children and youngsters.

Climatic Conditions

Chandigarh is located near the Shivalik foothills, on an average Chandigarh is considered a city with a mix range of the climatic conditions.

Springs It is mainly starts from the February till early April, temperature varies from 14°C – 20°C, some time days can be hot and temperature may cross 30°C mark. This season considered to be the best season of Chandigarh when you can witness the variety of the flowers and plants in the local parks.

Summers The summers time can be very hot in the Chandigarh, The temperature in summer (from mid-April to June-end) may rise to 44 °C. The temperatures might sometime rise to 44 °C in mid-June. Temperatures generally vary between 40 and 42 °C during this season.

Monsoon Chandigaarh receives moderate to heavy rainfall and sometimes heavy to very heavy rainfall during Monsoon season (Late July to September), it can be very humid during this season, the Chandigarh appears to be more green during Monsoon.

Winter Winters (November-end to February-end) are mild but they can sometimes get quite chilly in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is close to the Shimla the winds blown from the Himalayan region after snowfall results in bonenumbing chill. Moderate to heavy woollen clothes are recommended for this season.

Transport Connectivity

CTU (Chandigarh Transport Undertaking) and Autos are considered to be a lifeline of the local transport. CTU offers the AC enabled bus rides in the summers at very nominal prices, one can take buses from any of the bus stops built in sectors according to their convenience. If you need some quick ride then you can hire Auto Rickshaw or private taxi services like OLA and Uber. Inter State Bus Terminus 17 and 43 are two major bus stands which are not only well connected within the city but with other states as well. Chandigarh is also well connected with Railway Station and Airport, one can find private taxis / Buses / Autos from there to reach their destination in Chandigarh.

Education & Sports

The literacy rate in Chandigarh is 86.77%. There are numerous education institutes in Chandigarh which makes it pioneer in the field of the quality education in north India. The education institutes are publicly or privately managed. The prominent education institutes for the higher secondary education are Sacred Heart Convert School (Girls), Carmel Convent ( Girls), St. John (Boys), St. Kabir, Delhi Public School, DAV Public School, all of these are private schools. GMSSS 16, popularly known as 16 Model and GMSSS 35 (35 Model) are top schools run by the government.

Other highly reputed colleges for the higher education are Panjab University, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Punjab Engineering College, Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, and DAV College.