Well I liked Chandigarth...

dreamer · Nov 12th, 2006, 22:59

I know it gets slated on here but I visited it for the first time this year and I liked it very much. It wasn't a planned stop and I only picked it off the map as it was half way from Amritsar to Shimla but I am glad I did. Ok sometimes it looks a little boring and you don't always know where the heck you are as each sector looks like the last one ( though I now have got a handy little mobile that tells me which sector I am in

)

Even so I would like to recommend it if you are fed up with the huge mountains of litter everywhere in India as Chandigarth is indeed clean (ish ) and green and there are some lovely parks to walk around.

The museum is brilliant - one of the best I have seen in India and has a beautiful collection of old textiles and sculptures. There is also a really good collection of modern art and some interesting artefacts from the Harrapan civilization.

You can get a bus tour of all the sites for 50rs, though it doesn't give you long enough at the museum, booked through the tourist office. The rock garden I thought was fab and hats off to anyone who has that sort of imagination with old rubbish.. maybe that is why it is so clean in Chandigarth

So there you...maybe I am getting old and boring

but I found it kind of cute and a little different.

Only downside I would say is that accomodation and shopping is very expensive there.

04274108 · Nov 12th, 2006, 23:44

I agree with you. I found the place quite pleasant and the people pretty much left me alone. I don't know why but for some reason it reminded me of Amsterdam without the canals. I think because when I went to Chandigahr it was very foggy and several of the tree lined streets reminded me of the part of Amsterdam around Haarlemmemeerstraat.

dreamer · Nov 13th, 2006, 00:19

yes that is another thing I liked - everyone ignored me!

I get so fed up of constant staring and unwanted attention that it was a refreshing change to go unnoticed and not get any hassle at all.. maybe that is why I liked Chandigarth so much

mira4bai4 · Nov 13th, 2006, 00:38

It has its moments, sometimes the avenues of trees up towards the posh areas as they call them are really nice and it feels different. In the Aunty lands as they call it, the slightly lower class areas where the foot paths merge with the muck and life and limb a but a trip away from reality the polish is not so good.

There are many parts that have good pricing, though most will give you the tourist treatment but are quick to yield as well given the opportunity of losing a sale. The auto rickshaw drivers certainly charge excessively, Mohali Sect 70 to Chandigarh's sect 17 should be Rs50 but can be RS 100 ~ 120. Fortis Hospital to Sect 17 has been known to be Rs120, tops should be 60.

So many things are over priced including hotels that charge about double and most know it, but dining is well priced though it is a shame about the quality, just ain't much good food here that I have sniffed out in 9 months.

People generally will leave you alone here, not so friendly as it could be, something about the psyche of the place, "we have made it, we live in Chandigarh syndrome". Even tourists are pretty cold here, don't give you even a look, don't talk to one they give you daggers. So wandering about the place as almost the only gori's about through the year and the locals get to know you and are cool, but them forenghi's are something else.

So relax when you hit town, loosen up and have a good cruise round, there are some really strange things here and keep safe in the round abouts PLEASE. Don't buy the maps off the street they are also double the price but the guys that sell them need the money to put on aids awareness shows and other activities that they get into as a social service. This place has a heart, just the grey concrete need a bit of Holi splattered on it big time.

munda_kamaal · Nov 13th, 2006, 01:15

I love chandigarh..

TimMakins · Nov 13th, 2006, 02:59

Yes, Chandigarh is well worth a visit. I stayed at the Green Hotel, near the bus stand. I'd recommend it. The bus stand is a good place to eat, and it has a number of shops and services there too.

Nek Chand's Rock Garden is just amazing - definitely NOT to be missed.

The only thing I didn't like about Chandigarh is how spread out it is - I prefer to walk when sight-seeing, but this wasn't possible here. That's just a minor point, though.

Tim in England

himadventures · Nov 26th, 2006, 19:14

Chandigarh is also facing its own problems as I am watching it since longlong time. This is population and now it is getting very crowded in office hrs.
yes- it is not that easy to move in sectors without your own vehicle or you pay heavy to some taxi or auto.

ROCK GARDEN, ROSE GARDEN, UNIVERSITY, SUKHNA LAKE are popular places. Hotels near bus stand and sector 35 are expesnive for a budget traveler but still....CHANDIGARH IS WORTH A VISIT !

SANJAY_DEL · Nov 26th, 2006, 19:18

Chandigarh is a cool city. The pubs in Sector 17 like Blue Ice and Down Under make for a great evening.

himadventures · Jan 23rd, 2007, 22:29

No doubt...best chill-out place is sector 17. Few years back there used to be live concerts on Saturdays but not now but Sec. 17 is lifeline of CHANDIGARH.

shere · Jan 23rd, 2007, 23:22

If sector 17 is lifeline I dread to think what rest of the areas are.

I thought Shastri Market (forgot what sector) had more of a buzz about it. Things were cheaper and the place had an atmosphere that the shopping area in 17 lacks.

Ah well each to their own. I still feel Chandigarh is a bore. Nek Chands garden has got to be the most over-rated attraction ever. I can usually spend hours in museums and parks but I was in and out of Chands creation in about 15 minutes maximum.

Better off heading to Pinjore at night and checking out Pinjore Gardens.

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 23rd, 2007, 23:26

Some of the action has shifted lately to Mani Majra near Panchkula, after the Fun Republic mall and multiplex was built there - the first in the Tri-city.

dreamer · Jan 24th, 2007, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANJAY_DEL

Some of the action has shifted lately to Mani Majra near Panchkula, after the Fun Republic mall and multiplex was built there - the first in the Tri-city.

Whereabouts is that Sanjay? Is it far from the main part of Chandigarh?

himadventures · Jan 24th, 2007, 07:42

shere ! I beg to differ.But as you said it differs from person to person. I quote a Punjabi great poet SHIV KUMAR BATALVI.." Patharan Da shehar" means city of stone. Chandigarh was well planned city with wide roads and well built plan.

I agree that NEK CHAND ROCK GARDEN is too much hyped out...but still for a visitor it has got somthing to see. I mean look at CHANDIGARH from a visitor's view.

I think ROSE GARDEN and some ther places like SUKHNA LAKE and MUSEUM+ visit to UNIVERSITY are good plans for a visitor.

If you ask me for personal opinion...I am more comfortable at ROSE GARDEN than in PINJORE. You know driving through traffic-to have some air and peace at PINJORE...is tough for guy like me. Trafiic is growing problem of this city.

I used to have family picnics at ROSE GARDEN and SUKHNA-what we used to do....dial a home delviery no: and used to order food at our sitting place.

PANCHKULA ! Yes...used to be having first DISCO also..but is closed due to drinking brawls and pollitical leg pulling....

julesa · Feb 11th, 2007, 11:52

i thought the rock garden was amazing. i expected a few rocky statues but it's huge. in my mind more interesting than the Taj, while as a creation the latter is stunning the symmetry means that walking around one side is exactly like the side you just came from... the rock garden was really interesting to wander around in, such an imaginative creation.

chandigarh on the whole was nice but not that exciting. we were there for a wedding.

gautam · Feb 12th, 2007, 02:29

@dreamer : First of all welcome to my place. Not like i own that place but thats the place where i stay

. You can head to pinjore garden. It is 30 minutes max drive from chandigarh.
You can also visit kasauli which is around an 1hr +/- 10mins away from chandigarh. Visit the sai baba temple there.

@munda kamaal : How are you finding the place

@others who stay in chandigarh : any plans for a india mike chandigarh meet up ??

Nov 12th, 2006, 22:59	#1
dreamer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southampton, U.K. Posts: 188	Well I liked Chandigarth... I know it gets slated on here but I visited it for the first time this year and I liked it very much. It wasn't a planned stop and I only picked it off the map as it was half way from Amritsar to Shimla but I am glad I did. Ok sometimes it looks a little boring and you don't always know where the heck you are as each sector looks like the last one ( though I now have got a handy little mobile that tells me which sector I am in ) Even so I would like to recommend it if you are fed up with the huge mountains of litter everywhere in India as Chandigarth is indeed clean (ish ) and green and there are some lovely parks to walk around. The museum is brilliant - one of the best I have seen in India and has a beautiful collection of old textiles and sculptures. There is also a really good collection of modern art and some interesting artefacts from the Harrapan civilization. You can get a bus tour of all the sites for 50rs, though it doesn't give you long enough at the museum, booked through the tourist office. The rock garden I thought was fab and hats off to anyone who has that sort of imagination with old rubbish.. maybe that is why it is so clean in Chandigarth So there you...maybe I am getting old and boring but I found it kind of cute and a little different. Only downside I would say is that accomodation and shopping is very expensive there. __________________ Life is not about the moments that we take breath, rather the moments that take our breath away.

Feb 12th, 2007, 02:29	#15
gautam Super Mode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chandigarh - Blore NON-STOP Posts: 708	@dreamer : First of all welcome to my place. Not like i own that place but thats the place where i stay . You can head to pinjore garden. It is 30 minutes max drive from chandigarh. You can also visit kasauli which is around an 1hr +/- 10mins away from chandigarh. Visit the sai baba temple there. @munda kamaal : How are you finding the place @others who stay in chandigarh : any plans for a india mike chandigarh meet up ?? __________________ "Your thoughts could be your prison" My pics on flickr Kerela backwaters - by beach

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Nov 12th, 2006, 23:44	#2
04274108 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 293	I agree with you. I found the place quite pleasant and the people pretty much left me alone. I don't know why but for some reason it reminded me of Amsterdam without the canals. I think because when I went to Chandigahr it was very foggy and several of the tree lined streets reminded me of the part of Amsterdam around Haarlemmemeerstraat.

Nov 13th, 2006, 00:19	#3
dreamer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southampton, U.K. Posts: 188	yes that is another thing I liked - everyone ignored me! I get so fed up of constant staring and unwanted attention that it was a refreshing change to go unnoticed and not get any hassle at all.. maybe that is why I liked Chandigarth so much

Nov 13th, 2006, 00:38	#4
mira4bai4 Lost in Space Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ND PaharGanj Permanently/Temporarily Posts: 1,188	It has its moments, sometimes the avenues of trees up towards the posh areas as they call them are really nice and it feels different. In the Aunty lands as they call it, the slightly lower class areas where the foot paths merge with the muck and life and limb a but a trip away from reality the polish is not so good. There are many parts that have good pricing, though most will give you the tourist treatment but are quick to yield as well given the opportunity of losing a sale. The auto rickshaw drivers certainly charge excessively, Mohali Sect 70 to Chandigarh's sect 17 should be Rs50 but can be RS 100 ~ 120. Fortis Hospital to Sect 17 has been known to be Rs120, tops should be 60. So many things are over priced including hotels that charge about double and most know it, but dining is well priced though it is a shame about the quality, just ain't much good food here that I have sniffed out in 9 months. People generally will leave you alone here, not so friendly as it could be, something about the psyche of the place, "we have made it, we live in Chandigarh syndrome". Even tourists are pretty cold here, don't give you even a look, don't talk to one they give you daggers. So wandering about the place as almost the only gori's about through the year and the locals get to know you and are cool, but them forenghi's are something else. So relax when you hit town, loosen up and have a good cruise round, there are some really strange things here and keep safe in the round abouts PLEASE. Don't buy the maps off the street they are also double the price but the guys that sell them need the money to put on aids awareness shows and other activities that they get into as a social service. This place has a heart, just the grey concrete need a bit of Holi splattered on it big time.

Nov 13th, 2006, 01:15	#5
munda_kamaal Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 22	I love chandigarh..

Nov 26th, 2006, 19:14	#7
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	Chandigarh is also facing its own problems as I am watching it since longlong time. This is population and now it is getting very crowded in office hrs. yes- it is not that easy to move in sectors without your own vehicle or you pay heavy to some taxi or auto. ROCK GARDEN, ROSE GARDEN, UNIVERSITY, SUKHNA LAKE are popular places. Hotels near bus stand and sector 35 are expesnive for a budget traveler but still....CHANDIGARH IS WORTH A VISIT !

Nov 26th, 2006, 19:18	#8
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Chandigarh is a cool city. The pubs in Sector 17 like Blue Ice and Down Under make for a great evening.

Jan 23rd, 2007, 22:29	#9
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	No doubt...best chill-out place is sector 17. Few years back there used to be live concerts on Saturdays but not now but Sec. 17 is lifeline of CHANDIGARH.

Jan 23rd, 2007, 23:22	#10
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,105	If sector 17 is lifeline I dread to think what rest of the areas are. I thought Shastri Market (forgot what sector) had more of a buzz about it. Things were cheaper and the place had an atmosphere that the shopping area in 17 lacks. Ah well each to their own. I still feel Chandigarh is a bore. Nek Chands garden has got to be the most over-rated attraction ever. I can usually spend hours in museums and parks but I was in and out of Chands creation in about 15 minutes maximum. Better off heading to Pinjore at night and checking out Pinjore Gardens.

Jan 23rd, 2007, 23:26	#11
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Some of the action has shifted lately to Mani Majra near Panchkula, after the Fun Republic mall and multiplex was built there - the first in the Tri-city.

Jan 24th, 2007, 07:42	#13
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	shere ! I beg to differ.But as you said it differs from person to person. I quote a Punjabi great poet SHIV KUMAR BATALVI.." Patharan Da shehar" means city of stone. Chandigarh was well planned city with wide roads and well built plan. I agree that NEK CHAND ROCK GARDEN is too much hyped out...but still for a visitor it has got somthing to see. I mean look at CHANDIGARH from a visitor's view. I think ROSE GARDEN and some ther places like SUKHNA LAKE and MUSEUM+ visit to UNIVERSITY are good plans for a visitor. If you ask me for personal opinion...I am more comfortable at ROSE GARDEN than in PINJORE. You know driving through traffic-to have some air and peace at PINJORE...is tough for guy like me. Trafiic is growing problem of this city. I used to have family picnics at ROSE GARDEN and SUKHNA-what we used to do....dial a home delviery no: and used to order food at our sitting place. PANCHKULA ! Yes...used to be having first DISCO also..but is closed due to drinking brawls and pollitical leg pulling....

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Feb 11th, 2007, 11:52	#14
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 291	i thought the rock garden was amazing. i expected a few rocky statues but it's huge. in my mind more interesting than the Taj, while as a creation the latter is stunning the symmetry means that walking around one side is exactly like the side you just came from... the rock garden was really interesting to wander around in, such an imaginative creation. chandigarh on the whole was nice but not that exciting. we were there for a wedding.