Chandigarh

Location of Chandigarh

Chandigarh is India's first planned city, quite distinct from the rest of the country and considerably better organized. It is the capital of both Haryana and Punjab, but the city itself is not part of either state, being a union territory, i.e. administered directly by the central government.

Understand

Le Corbusier's Open Hand

The most striking thing about the city is the expanse of resplendent blue sky with the mountains in the backdrop. When you approach the city, you see the jagged skyline of the Shivalik Hills looming large over the city and the faint image of an old temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi (15 km from Chandigarh) from which the city got its name.

Chandigarh may appear oddly familiar to Western visitors and idiosyncratic to the rest of India. Because of this, Chandigarh is a good place to visit if you need a break from the chaos of the rest of India. Chandigarh is also a very secure city. With the lowest crime rates in the country you can feel safe at any hour. Enjoy the planned city, with tree lined roads, large beautiful roundabouts, several gardens and on top - a great set of people. Chandigarh and Mysore are considered the cleanest two cities of India.

History

When India was partitioned, Punjab was split into two, with the western half going to Pakistan. Lahore, the historical capital of Punjab was also ceded to Pakistan and Chandigarh was conceived of as a symbol of India's freedom, and a new beginning for Punjab.

The government of the state decided to build the new city at the foot of the Shivalik hills. Architects Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki drew the initial plans in New York. When the latter died in an air crash in 1950, the work was entrusted to the French architect Edouard 'Le Corbusier' Jeanneret who created Chandigarh as a city of "Sun, Space and Verdure", to fulfill the basic functions of working, living, and care of body and spirit. Today, the city is home to more than 900,000 people living in harmonious conditions that are considered to be the best in the country.

Le Corbusier's Secretariat Building

One can see architectural genius in the neat geometrical design of residential quarters, reinforced concrete structures and self-contained area layouts. Chandigarh is divided into 47 self-contained sectors. Each sector of the city is designed with its own shops, academic, and health care buildings, and places of worship, open spaces, greenery and the residential areas. Chandigarh is one of the best planned cities of India. Roads are pretty wide and spacious. It hasn't grown in a haphazard way as some of other Indian cities have. The city is divided into four major work areas. In the north, the capital complex, consisting of the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and High Court, with the hills as a background dominating the city. Sector 17, which is the city and district centre, houses the administrative and state government offices, as well as shopping malls, banks and other offices. The west contains the university, and institutions of engineering, architecture, Asian studies and medicine. The east zone is the industrial area of the city. In 1966, Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab were split from the Punjabi speaking areas of the state to form a new state of Haryana. Chandigarh continued to be the capital of both states. This was supposed to be a temporary measure. The plan was that in 1986, the city would pass to Punjab. But this has been indefinitely delayed because Haryana insists on getting some territory in return, and the two states have not been able to agree on the area that should go to it.

Climate

Chandigarh
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       50     21 7       35     23 9       33     29 14       7     35 19       16     40 24       59     40 27       282     34 26       260     33 25       177     34 23       41     32 17       8     28 11       17     22 7 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source: Weather2Travel
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2     70 45       1.4     73 48       1.3     84 57       0.3     95 66       0.6     104 75       2.3     104 81       11     93 79       10     91 77       7     93 73       1.6     90 63       0.3     82 52       0.7     72 45 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Chandigarh has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) with extremely hot summers and warm to mild winters. The rainy season is in the middle of the year, although the rest of the months are not completely dry.

Get in

By plane

Indian Airlines , Jet Airways, GoAir and MDLR Airlines connect to the city.

Indian Airlines, GoAir and Jet Airways offer direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi. Tickets cost around ₹3,000 (from Delhi, including taxes) for most of the airlines. AirAsia has recently started a direct flight from Bangalore.

1 Chandigarh Airport (IXC  ^IATA) is an attractive and pleasant domestic airport about 8 km (5 mi) from the city centre. The airport will be upgraded to an international airport, possibly as early as July, 2015.

By train

There is frequent service to and from New Delhi. The popular trains connecting New Delhi include Kalka (Chandigarh) Shatabdi Express (twice daily) and the economical Chandigarh Jan Shatabdi Express (Una (H.P) to Delhi). Shatabdi Express is quite popular and it is better to have an advanced reservation at least 2–3 days prior to the journey.

Popular long-distance trains include the following:

• Paschim Express (daily) to Mumbai
• Kalka Mail (daily) to Howrah
• Dehradun-Chandigarh Madras Express (Monday) to Chennai
• Kerala Sampark Kranti (Wednesday) to Kochuveli ( Kerala)
• Chandigarh Lucknow Express (daily) to Lucknow.
• Chandigarh-Jaipur Garib Rath to Jaipur.

By car

Chandigarh has an equally good connectivity via road. It is a 4-5 hour drive from Delhi, the road comprising mainly of NH 1 is quite good. Chandigarh serves as a gateway to the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Important Distances :

• New Delhi - 260 km (160 mi)
• Shimla - 110 km (68 mi)
• Manali- 320 km (200 mi)
• Dehradun - 175 km (110 mi)
• Amritsar - 250 km (155 mi)

There are many car rental companies available in Chandigarh like Gagan Taxi Service, Chandigarh Taxi Wale, Guru Taxi Service Chandigarh etc. If you are traveling from Delhi, you can book a cab from a number of travel agencies present in various nooks and corners of the city or you can book a cab just a call away. Traveling by smaller vehicles like Indica is the most common mode of cab transfers on this route. The highway is pretty scenic.

While it is good to take the cabs for travel on this route in summers, it should be avoided in winters due to heavy fog. Dec -Feb are winter months in India. Chandigarh, being situated in laps of mountains, faces heavy fog in night and early morning. Sometimes the visibility on roads get reduced to less than six feet in such times

By bus

Chandigarh is served by two bus terminals.

The 1 New Inter State Bus Terminus, in Sector 43, ☏ +91 172 2624413. provides connectivity to all major destinations in the neighbouring states Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Jammu, and Delhi (limited). 

The Inter State Bus Terminus in Sector 17 offers connectivity to all major towns of Haryana (except those on Himachal Route like Kalka) and Delhi.

Delhi is extensively connected with bus service every 15 min offered by Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, Haryana Roadways, Punjab Roadways and Himachal Roadways. Volvo A/C buses are also run on Chandigarh-Delhi section and offer connection to the Airport and towns like Gurgaon. The fares of Volvo buses are usually comparable with the Shatabdi Express. The timetable for Haryana State Transport Volvo Buses can be found here .

Chandigarh Transport Undertaking offers a comprehensive connectivity between the two bus terminals with air conditioned and normal buses plying throughout the day between the terminals.

Get around

By bus

The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) provides local bus service in Chandigarh and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali. There are two local bus terminals at Sector 17 and at Sector 43. The bus service is frequent and efficient and runs from 6AM-10PM. It is very economical with a single point to point fare of ₹10 regardless of the distance. The map of Chandigarh showing all the bus routes is printed on the back of each ticket. In the New Grid Transport System, 45 routes are being plied in Chandigarh. The travel is generally hassle-free, though there might be rush on some particular routes during morning and evening peak hours.

Recently, mini air-conditioned buses have been deployed on some vital routes (connecting location such as PGI, ISBT -17,43, Railway Station, IT park and others). The fare for these is ₹10/ for a single trip.

The buses with corresponding routes can be found here.

The Chandigarh tourism also runs a special Hop On Hop off double-decker bus which takes you around for a tour of all the main spots in the city including Sukna Lake, Punjab University, and the Secretariat. Having bought one ticket, a person can board or disembark as many times in a day as he wishes. This provides flexibility to see the places of interest and spend as much time as he wishes at a particular spot of choice. It starts its journey from Hotel Shivalikview in Sector 17 near the Bus Terminal.

Fare: Point to Point ₹10/ One Trip ₹25/ Half a Day ₹50/ Full Day ₹75/

For booking, contact Citco Tours & Travel Wing, ISBT, Sector 17, Tel : 5055462, 2703839.

By taxi

There are not many private local taxi services in the city. The private taxi operators can be located at Taxi stands in Commercial market of every sector.

UT administration has started a fully air conditioned cab service. The cabs are available at the door step on giving a call. The cabs are stationed at important places including Railway Station and Airport. The cabs are fully air-conditioned and extremely comfortable. They serve Chandigarh and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali. All the taxis are brand new, air conditioned/air heated and driven by the uniformed drivers. Taxis are also have a complaint book and any passenger can lodge a complaint with State Transport Authority if services provided to him are not found up to the mark. The cabs are continuously monitored through GPS technology whereby their locations are monitored by their respective control rooms.

There are no charges for first KM except for the meter down charges. Rate ₹15/- for the first kilometer and ₹15/- for the subsequent kilometers.

Many new cab services like OlaCabs have also begun there operation in Chandigarh and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali.

By auto rickshaw

Cycle Rickshaw in Panjab University

Chandigarh Union Territory is the first city in the country to have Radio Auto service on the lines of successful working of the Radio Taxi service. The autos, pink in color, charge ₹10/- for 1st km and ₹8/- for subsequent km. The service named as "tuk-tuk" is available round the clock. Available on call at (0172) 4242424.

On the whole, Auto Rickshaw are not quite popular in the city although are easily available at Bus Terminals, Railway Station, and Auto Stands in the commercial market of every sector. It is very unlikely that they would operate with a meter so negotiate the price before engaging one.

By cycle rickshaw

Cycle rickshaws are three-wheeled pedal powered rickshaws with seats in the back to seat passengers and a driver in the front. They are good for short distances, or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a bus/taxi/auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws can be easily spotted in all parts of the city. You should negotiate the price before boarding one of these. Ask the locals to help if you doubt the charges demanded.

See

The Palace of Justice(Punjab and Haryana High Court)

Sports in The Open Hand's shadow

Pinjore Gardens

Statuettes at the Rock Garden

The Rose Garden

Sukhna Lake

• 1 The Capitol Complex (Chandigarh Capitol Complex), Sector 1. Most of the capitol complex is fenced off due to tight security, the open hand is accessible and from there you can see the main buildings, albeit in the distance. If you want a closer look at the Capitol, you need permission from the Tourist Bureau, in the ‘Deluxe Administration building’ in Sector 9, or (which is much more convenient) to the new tourist office just nearby the high court. Please note the capitol and bureau are only open on M-F. The tourist bureau is not well signed, you’ll need to ask. It’s in the single story building out the back. Bring your passport and prepare for the beginning of the most amazing experience in Indian bureaucracy. The tourist bureau gives you three letters giving you permission to visit the three main buildings of the Capitol complex, The Secretariat, the High Court and the Assembly, but it may take hours for you to obtain the letters. It is one of 17 worldwide works by the architect Le Corbusier to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  

• 2 Chandigarh Museum (Government Architecture Museum), Sector 10. This provides an interesting aspect on how Chandigarh was founded. It begins with the principles on which Chandigarh was built, selection of the Architects, the design for the people etc. The correspondence between the Punjabi officials overseeing the construction of the city, and the Federal Government in Delhi is fascinating, and well worth taking a few minutes to read. Close by is the Government Museum and Art Gallery as well as the Museum of Science and Natural History Museum.. 

• 3 Elante Mall. Elante Mall at Chandigarh is among the largest malls in North India, which covers 20 acres of area. It is a mixed use development project which includes entertainment, hotels and business. Elante Mall has a retail space of over 1 million square feet. across "ground level and three upper levels". In the retail area, Elante Mall hosts various national and some huge internal brands like Heckett London,Apple ( eStore..Powered by Beyond Computers), Marks & Spencer, Brook Brothers, Rolex, Harley Davidson, Promod etc. Elante boasts of a great food court, a wonderful courtyard full of cafes, sports bars and has various clothing brands. In the entertainment section Elante Mall has PVR cinemas for entertaining large numbers of crowds. (updated Mar 2015)

• 4 The High Court (Punjab and Haryana High Court also: Capitol High Court). The letter is fine for looking around the High Court; just show it to security at the entrance, around the back, but if you want to take photos you need to surrender your camera, and head in to fill out some more forms in the protocol office, and then take the forms back to security to get your camera back. It’s worth it as the building is amazing, and extremely photogenic. You can’t take any photos indoors. (updated Mar 2015)

• 5 The Japanese Garden (Japani Garden). The Japanese Garden is a park located in Sector 31 in union territory of Chandigarh. Built in 2014 in 13 acres of Land, by Indian Government, it was inaugurated by Shivraj Patil on 7th November 2014. It consists of water bodies, pagoda towers, water falls and golden bamboos. This is first ever garden in Chandigarh with Japanese touch cost around ₹6 crore. (updated Mar 2015)

• 6 The Legislative Assembly (Palace of Assembly). This is the Assembly for both Punjab and Haryana. It's easy to run out of time, so make sure you have a whole clear weekday to appreciate all the capitol buildings. (updated Mar 2015)

• 7 Museum and Art Gallery (Government Museum and Art Gallery) (Sector 10). The museum and the combined art gallery is an interesting place to go to. Artefacts range form Harappan period relics to paintings and coins from different areas and time periods. The Art Gallery has good collections of ancient and modern Indian art. Fossils of the local dinosaurs found in the region are on show in the adjacent natural history museum. The buildings that the Museums and Art Gallery are housed in are attractive. (updated Mar 2015)

• 8 Pinjore Gardens. Also called Yadavindra Gardens, these are 20 km (12 mi) from Chandigarh and 15 km (9 mi) from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh-Shimla road. Taxis and buses ply regularly between Pinjore and Chandigarh. Pinjore lies on the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges. The fascinating gardens in the Mughal style are one of the most popular picnic spots in the region. A mini zoo, plant nursery, Japanese garden, historic palaces and picnic lawns await visitors. (updated Mar 2015)

• 9 Rock Garden of Chandigarh (Nek Chand's Rock Garden). One day 36 years ago, Nek Chand, a humble transport official, began to clear a little patch of jungle to make himself a small garden area. He set stones around the little clearing and before long had sculpted a few figures recycled from materials he found at hand. Gradually Nek Chand's creation developed and grew; before long it covered several acres and comprised of hundreds of sculptures set in a series of interlinking courtyards. After his normal working day Chand worked at night, in total secrecy for fear of being discovered. When they did discover the garden, local government officials were thrown into turmoil. The creation was completely illegal - a development in a forbidden area. However, rather than demolishing the garden, they decided to give Nek Chand a salary so that he could concentrate full-time on his work, plus a workforce of fifty labourers. The park is open daily from April to September between 9AM-1PM and 3 to 7PM Between October and March, it is open from 9AM-1PM and 2 to 6PM  

• 10 Rose Garden (Zakir Hussain Rose Garden), Sector 16. The city houses the largest rose garden in Asia. It also hosts annual rose festival which is quite popular among local population.  

• 11 The Secretariat. You have to jump through some hoops to visit the Secretariat. First you need to find ‘Reception’, which is just a small building out the back, and show them your letter to get a visitor permit, then you need to see Security, who will let you in, then you need to see the main security officer inside, who will send you up to the Registrar, who will then send you back to the main security office. Thankfully you are escorted through most of this confusing, overly complex procedure, usually by a junior soldier with large machine gun. The whole process takes about 30 min. to an hour. Once it’s all clear you can go up to the roof, check out the geranium gardens and take in an expansive view of all of Chandigarh. Then they’ll let you have a look out the front, which is more interesting. (updated Mar 2015)

• 12 Sukhna Lake (Sector 1). Sukhna Lake is an artificial reservoir. A popular place to hang out, one can expect to find residents of the city jogging or strolling along the banks. There is a walking path, a cafeteria, shops and a mini-amusement park and paddleboats. Shikaras are also available. The Sukhna Lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream that flows down from the Shivaliks. Storks and cranes make migratory stops at the lake. The lake, incidentally, has Asia's longest water channel for rowing and yachting. Visiting Sukhna Lake in the evening or early morning is a particularly pleasant experience.  

Do

• Motorbike expeditions. Many bikers clubs organise motorbiking and adventure activities.
• Visit Kalagram on Manimajra-Chandigarh road. It has exhibition of various handicrafts and decorations from various parts of the country. It also houses the innovative and famous "Condom Bar", whose theme is centred on condoms.

Movies

The city has several cinema halls with the classical single screen format. Catch a movie at any one of the halls, all of which are air conditioned and well maintained.

The city has more than a dozen malls with 4 or 5 screen multiplexes. Some of these are Fun Republic(Fun Cinemas) in Manimajra, DLF DT Cinema in IT Park, Green House Entertainment(Big Cinemas) and Centra Mall(PVR Cinema) in Phase 1, Industrial Area. Big Cinemas at Downtown Mall, Zirakpur on Chandigarh-Punjab border and Fame Cinemas at Shalimar Mega mall are new upcoming entertainment malls also easily accessible in the city. Many others malls and multiplexes are coming up in Chandigarh and around soon.

Theatre

The city has a rich theatre culture with regular performances by societies and groups from all over India. Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 plays host to most of the performances. One can view these street plays in PLAZA CARNIVAL situated in sector 17 Main Market, which can be viewed by everyone.

Amusement and water parks

• FunCity -20 Km (12 mi) from Chandigarh on the Panchkula - Barwalla Nadha Sahib Gurudwara Highway near Ramgarh .
• Thunderzone - A 30 min drive from Chandigarh, located in Landran, Mohali.

Buy

Chandigarh, with the highest income per capita in India, is home to some of India's biggest brands. Hotspots for higher-end shopping include markets in Sector 17, Sector 22, Sector 35, and Manimajra. However, shopping is typically more expensive in Chandigarh than it is in other cities, including big cities such as Delhi.

There are plenty of Shopping Avenues in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is home to all leading brands and retail store chains.

Sector 17 is a fully commercial sector that houses all the major brands and shops that cater to wide array of taste and pocket.

Other popular shopping places are Elante Mall, Sector 22, Sector 35, and Manimajra.

If you want to bargain hard for usual stuff, try the Azad Hind Market in Sector 22 but note that it is closed on Monday.

You can buy souvenirs in the form of coffee mugs, shirts, etc. at Sukhna Lake.

Eat

You can relish all type of cuisines from local Punjabi flavours to Continental cuisine.

Budget

Many Western fast food chains have registered their presence in Chandigarh.

• Indian Coffee House, Sector.17. (updated May 2015)
• 1 Tandoori express, Booth No. 5, Sector 8 B, ☏ +91 172 400 5382. 11:30 am – 11:30 pm. Don't miss this roadside outlet in sector 8. Providing specialised delicacies like kakoris and galoutis from Lucknow, amritsari fish and special waraqi wraps. 

Mid-range

• Amrtisari Kulche : The only authentic Kulchas you can find in Chandigarh. Located at Bhainsa Tibba, near Mansa Devi Mandir.

• Backpackers - Sector 9

• 2 Barbeque Nation, Sector 26. 

• 3 Chawla Chicken, SCO 2458 B, Sector 22C (Near Aroma Hotel), ☏ +91 172 507 6421. 11:30 am – 11:30 pm. There is a whole Chain of Chawla's, the better ones being in Sector 8 and Sector 22. 

• 5-AAB Superb Punjabi dhaba serving unlimited thalis. Sector 22-B, shop 1085, just down from bus station, beside Hotel Piccadilly.
• 4 Hot Millions, SCO 196-197, Sector 17-C, ☏ +91 172 272 3000. 11:30 am – 5:00 pm Sunday closed. Very popular salad bar. Other locations Sector 35, Mohali, Panchkula. 

• Hotel Sheronz and The Cellar 35, S.C.O. 429-430, Sector 35-C

• 5 Nando's, Elante Mall bbmb Industrial Area Phase 1,. Afro-Portuguese chain restaurant serving flame-grilled chicken in spicy chilli sauce. 

• 6 Nik Baker's, S.C.O. No. 441-442, Sector-35-C, ☏ +91 172 506 2251. 8:00 am – 12:00 am. Also in Sector 9. 

• 7 Oven Fresh, Sector 26. Also in Sector 35 

• Pizza Hut - Sector 26, Sector 35

• 8 Sagar Rathna, Shopping Plaza, 17D, Sector 17, ☏ +91 172 503 0200. 11:00 am – 11:00 pm. South Indian vegetarian chain. 

• Tehal Singh Chicken, 22B Himalaya Marg, Sector 22,, ☏ +91 98037 37555. 11:30 am – 2:00 am. One of the best places to try the famous butter chicken of Punjab. 

• 9 Yo! China, SCO 4 & 5, Madhya Marg, Sector 9D (Near HSBC Bank), ☏ +91 172 461 3123. 11:00 am – 11:00 pm. 

Apart from these, a variety of restaurants can be found in the Sector 35 market, ranging from traditional Indian sweet shops (Gopal's) to burger joints like McDonald's to formal dine-in joints.

Splurge

• Black Lotus at the Taj Chandigarh, for exceptional Chinese fare, cooked by a Beijing imported chef.

• Café 17, Hotel Taj Chandigarh, Sector 17-A, ☏ +91 172 6613000. 24 hours. A very convenient (as well as very expensive) place to eat, chiefly on account of the fact that it is open round the clock. Multi-cuisine offerings such as "Fijian Mango and Walnut Salad" (₹500), "Naples Grilled Panini" (₹650), salmon pasta (₹600), "Barbados Prawns" (₹1,050). Frequent misspellings of the names of Italian dishes, unpardonable at these prices (e.g. "Penne Pomodoro Bassilico" for "penne al pomodoro e basilico", etc.). "Spaghetti con Fungi [sic]", apart from the misspelling, is translated in the menu as "Black fungus [sic] in pesto cream sauce", which may put some off (unnecessarily). The buffet breakfasts (7AM~10:30AM; ₹675), lunches (12:30PM~3PM; ₹1,100), and dinners (7:30PM~11:30PM; ₹1,300~₹1,400) here are mostly geared towards the Indian palate and best avoided (the atmosphere, somewhat sterile in the best of times, also changes for the worse during these communal feeding periods). The WiFi comes at a premium here (₹140 for 30 minutes). 

• Hometel Hotel at Industrial Area Phase 1 is part of Sarovar Chain of Hotels.

• Hotel Mountview and Shivalikview also offer specialised dining rooms and bars.

• Nando's Chicken at Sector 35 is a recent addition.

• 10 Orchid Lounge, Sector 34B. for excellent Thai cuisine. 

Drink

Coffee shops

Barista, Cafe Coffee Day and Costa coffee (Panchkula, Sec 35) are popular Indian chain of coffee shops that can be found in Chandigarh at various places.

For a true Indian Coffee experience go to Indian Coffee house in Sec 17

Bars and pubs

Chandigarh is often accused of a dull nightlife for its status as a metro. Still, one can enjoy good drink at various pubs/bars with combined restaurants at Sector 35, Sector 26, and Sector 17. The bars remain open till 12 or 1 in the night.

'Condom Bar', a unique bar themed upon the condom, is operated by CITCO at Kalagram, Chandigarh-Manimajra road.

• 1 Crystal bar and lounge. to experience trendy nightlife in Chandigarh 

Sleep

Budget

Lodgings in central Chandigarh are notoriously overpriced, and the expense is generally not matched by quality improvements. Don't be surprised to be asked over ₹1000/night for a dingy room without windows in sector 22.

There is a number of budget housing options (of price and quality comparable to typical Indian cities) located in the large market area of sector 45. The area itself is considerably more "Indian" than the central districts, with its narrow winding streets and a strong community feel. As of February 2013, you should aim at ₹500/night in this area, after some haggling, and there are many hotels to choose from.

• Hotel Chandigarh, Sector 22
• 1 Hotel Orange 35, Sector 35-B, ☏ +91 9216073888, info@orangehotel35.com. 

• 2 Hotel ParkView, Sector 24, ☏ +91 98156 37599. run by the CITCO 

• 3 Hotel Punjab Palace, Sector 22-B, ☏ +91 9780471677. 

• 4 Hotel Rajshree, Industrial area-1, ☏ +91 9803017802. 

• Yatri Nivas run by the CITCO

• 5 YMCA, Sector 11, ☏ +91 172 274 5644. 
• Red Fox Hotel, Chandigarh, Plot No. 15, Industrial Area Phase I, Chandigarh 160002, ☏ +91 172 667 3333, contactus.cd2@lemontreehotels.com. The hotel offers 102 smart rooms, a multi-cuisine coffee shop - Clever Fox Café, a Cyber Kiosk, a modern conference room, as well as a well equipped fitness center to keep you feeling fit as a fiddle. (updated Jan 2017)

Mid-range

• 6 Hometel Chandigarh, in Industrial Area Phase-1, ☏ +91 172 429 9999. 

• 7 Hotel Antheia, in Sector 34, ☏ +91 172 326 2700, +91 172 468 7800. 

• 8 Hotel Aroma, Twin Hotel Complex Himalaya Marg, Sector 22-C, ☏ +91 172 401 0000. 

• 9 Hotel KLG, Himalaya Marg, Sector 43/B, ☏ +91 172 465 0001. 

• 10 Hotel The Komfort Inn, in Sector 17 C, ☏ +91 172 270 1614. 

• 11 Lemon Tree Hotels Chandigarh, Plot No. 3, MW Industrial Area Phase I Chandigarh, ☏ +91 172 442 3232. 

• 12 Shivalik View, Sector 17 E (adjacent to the bus stand), ☏ +91 172 270 0001. run by CITCO 
• Lemon Tree Hotel, Chandigarh, Plot No. 3, MW Industrial Area Phase I, Chandigarh 160002, ☏ +91 172 4423232, hi.cd@lemontreehotels.com. The hotel with its 81 smartly furnished rooms and suites, offers you a wide array of accommodation options. Room categories include Superior Room; Executive Room; Studio Room and Executive Suite. (updated Jan 2017)

Splurge

• 13 Hotel Taj Chandigarh, Block No. 9, Sector 17-A (central location next to the city's biggest shopping district, at the intersection of Jan Marg and Madhya Marg, close to the Rose Garden), ☏ +91 172 6613000, fax: +91 172 6614000, taj.chandigarh@tajhotels.com. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Still reasonably new, it is one of the best and easily one of the most expensive places to stay in Chandigarh, part of the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces group with properties in India and abroad (including Zambia, Maldives, and South Africa). Expansive lobby decorated with impressive original sculptural works contrasts starkly with the grubbiness of the neighbourhood outside (but this gives the place its raison d'être). Rooftop swimming pool and all the other usual five-star amenities. Good security; exclusive shopping arcade. Expect to pay for every breath of air you take. ₹8,550~₹18,000 plus taxes. 

• 14 Hyatt Regency Chandigarh, 178 Industrial and Business Park, Phase I, ☏ +91 172 440 1234. 

• 15 Mount View, Sector 10A, ☏ +91 172 467 1111. run by CITCO. 

• 16 Regenta Central Ashok Chandigarh, on NH 21, Near Chandigarh Airport, ☏ +91 172 645 0000. 

Connect

STD code for Chandigarh is 0172. When calling from overseas, dial +91 172 XXXXXXX. The same STD code is shared by Panchkula and Mohali. If you have a non-working phone number with only 6 digits, try adding a "2" in front of it.

Chandigarh has one of the highest cellular density in India. The city is served by all major cellular operators : Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, BSNL, Tata Indicom, Docomo, Virgin, Spice, and Connect. The cellular connection provided covers the cellular network of state of Punjab and city limits of Panchkula district in Haryana.

If you do not have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of new government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages), a colour photo, and proof of local address (in Chandigarh) when buying a pre-paid card. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

PCOs are a good option. You will find them almost every 100 m. These are public pay-phones (post-pay) and there will be a person on the shop to take the payments. Check your bill generated (from the billing machine) and make the payment accordingly. Payments are always in Indian rupees (₹).

Internet is cheaply and easily accessible via various cyber cafes operating in every corner of the city with rates ranging from ₹15-₹30 per hour.

Major Cyber Outlets:

• Reliance Web World: Operates through various centres in Sector 9, Sector 35, Sector 46, etc.
• Sify Centres: Spread throughout the city.

Stay safe

Chandigarh is a safe city. With the lowest crime rates in the country, you can feel safe at any hour. Police assistance can be found at the nearest police station or at the patrolling booths in every sector.

You can call following numbers for respective help : 100 (Police), 101 (Fire), 102 (Ambulance), 1073 (Traffic Police Helpline). If you are calling from a mobile phone, just add the STD code such as 0172 in front of the emergency numbers. This is true in any other Indian city.

Cope

Balance

India is often said to assault the senses, and can be overwhelming to travelers. Chandigarh may appear oddly familiar to Western visitors and idiosyncratic to the rest of India. Because of this, Chandigarh is a good place to visit if you need a break from the constant flow of India.

Hospitals

List of major hospitals and health care centres:

• Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Sector 34-A.

• General Hospital Sector 16, Chandigarh

• Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh

• Mukat Hospital, Sector 34.

• The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (commonly referred to by the locals as "P.G.I."), Sector 12. By all accounts the best multidisciplinary hospital complex in town (under the management of the central government of India, and conceived as the premier referral centre for all the northern states of India). While it is not always good by Western standards, it has no rival this side of New Delhi.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one, though Sector 16-C is considered the "pharmacy district" and offers a variety of shops to find your medication. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine Over the Counter drugs and ayurvedic medicine (proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, travellers' ailments, general infection, etc., but you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorized as Schedule H drugs.

You can locate 24-hour pharmacies at PGI and G.M.C.H., Sector 32.

General amenities

General amenities for daily living like grocery shopping, laundry etc. can be availed all in one place in every sector's market complex. Each sector is self sufficient in that regard and serves almost all the needs of its residents.

Traffic rules

There is a strict enforcement of traffic rules in Chandigarh. Wearing helmets (for male riders ISI Marked), and using seat belts are compulsory. Violators pay heavy penalties. No exceptions to these rules are made to cars from outside the state.

Press

The city has an expansive presence of leading national dailies which roll out their City-based editions. Among these are The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Tribune, The Indian Express, Amar Ujala (Hindi), and Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi). The Tribune, one of the oldest print newspapers in circulation, has its headquarters in Chandigarh and is popular throughout the region.

Go next

Nearby

• Panchkula is 8 km away and contains the beautiful Cactus Gardens, the largest succulent gardens in Asia.

Farther afield

Set aside some time to visit the nearby hill stations of Kasauli, Solan or Shimla.

• Amritsar, the city with the holiest temple of Sikhs is 238 kms away and also offers a glimpse into Indian struggle for Independence.

• Delhi is 250 kms by road and has excellent connectivity through the NH-1 Highway.

• Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama and the highest cricket ground in the world takes another overnight journey to reach.

• Other Himachal hill stations such as Kullu and Manali, are worth visiting as well. A trip by road to Kullu takes about 12 h by bus or 6–7 hours by taxi.

• Kasauli, only 90 min drive from Chandigarh is a hill station not very far from the city. If one is lucky, in clear weather it offers a staggering view of Chandigarh from the Himalayan Foothills. Note that foreign visitors will need to present a valid passport to gain entrance since Kasauli is an Army cantonment.

• Morni Hills, The town of Morni lies at a height of around 1100m (3500 feet) in the Shivalik hills. Just 45 km from Chandigarh, the town is a popular day trip & weekend destination. There are 3 routes from Chandigarh to Morni. The shortest and most popular turne off from the Shimla highway just past the toll barrier at Chandimandir.

• One can visit Pinjore Gardens that are within a range of 15–20 km (9-12 mi) from Chandigarh on the way to Shimla.

Sarson blooms at Prakriti Farms, a rural & traditional Punjabi farm-stay.

• Prakriti Farms An organic farm located 45 km from Chandigarh, surrounded by the lower Shivaliks & forestland on all sides. Accommodation is provided (only on weekends) in a mud & thatch cottage, swiss tents & safari tents, starting at ₹2,000 for 2 people. Traditional Punjabi food is freshly prepared from organically grown farm vegetables, with sarson ka saag & makki ki roti, and Indian-styled scrambled eggs being the farm specialties. Residents of Rail Majra, a nearby Rajput village, are employed by the farm. The village has a group of Punjabi Sufi music performers who often perform at the farm. Bonfires are lit under the stars on winter nights. Advanced bookings are required and can be done at +91 8527 141 626 or shivya@indiauntravelled.com.

• Shimla, just 110 km (70 mi) from Chandigarh by road is called the 'Queen of Hills' and is the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj.

• Tikkar Taal - The Tikkar lakes are at a distance of around 7 km from Morni town. A popular destination, they are also home to the region's first adventure park. The park, which lies on the bank pf the smaller of the 2 Tikkar lakes, was set up by Haryana Tourism in 2004, with the intention of promoting adventure tourism in the lower Himalayan region. At present it offers a range of activities from low ropes, commando nets, Burma bridge, rappelling & rock-climbing. It also has a tree house, fountains and a cafeteria.