 The city of Chandigarh has a unique status among cities in India. It is the capital of two different states - Punjab and Haryana, however it does not belong to either of them. It is a Union Territory, which means it is like a small independent state in itself. It is also one of the newest cities in India and is known for its distinctive architecture, which tourists come to view, from all over India and the world.
The characteristic architectural style of this city has come to be known as the "Chandigarh Architecture" style and consists of buildings built in unfinished concrete, with brise soleil - a louvered screen to provide shade to the inner rooms of buildings and exposed brick construction. The city is built on a grid pattern with wide roads and Terrace Housing - similar houses constructed in linear rows. Designed by the Swiss-born architect Charles Edward Jenneret, better known as Le Corbusier, the pioneer of Functionalist architecture, who advocated the use of reinforced concrete and expounded the concept that the house was a "machine for living."
There are many buildings in Chandigarh that exemplify the architecture of this city - some of these include the Secretariat building, the Legislative Assembly, the High Court, the Governor's mansion, the Government Museum and Art Gallery and Punjab University. Other interesting structures are the Tower of Shadows and Nek Chand's Rock Garden.
Visiting the Rock garden is like entering a fantasy world. The garden has mazes, sunken paths, and partially enclosed spaces which have human and animal figures built out of broken ceramic and glass pieces embedded in concrete. It is a unique site that has to be seen to be believed.
There are many parks and gardens in Chandigarh, which add to the ambience of the city. These include the Bougainvillea Garden, Zakir Rose Garden, Shakti Kunj, Childrens' Traffic ParkTerrace Garden, Rajendra Park, and Smriti Upvana. These are all part of the green belt called Leisure Valley that runs diagonally across the city from Northeast to Southwest.
Chandigarh is also known for its pleasant climate, friendly people and cosmopolitan lifestyle. It is a convenient stopover on the way to the holy gurudwaras of Punjab or for destinations further north in the Himalayas.
A visit to Chandigarh to view its unique architecture is sure to be full of architectural surprises and a refreshing Architectural Tour of India.
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