Chandigarh is a beautiful, planned city and union territory in northern India. It is the capital city of Punjab and Haryana. It is also one of the earliest planned cities in post-independence India. Chandigarh is a well-planned and clean city in India. Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier prepared the master plan for Chandigarh. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at the 40th session of the World Heritage Conference in July 2016. Chandigarh is also a main part of Punjab.
Chandigarh has become a hot tourist spot for many native and foreign tourists. According to the Chandigarh Tourism Department, Chandigarh saw 31,498 foreign tourists come to the city in 2023.
Chandigarh is a well-known city in the world because of its beauty, greenery, wide roads, clean area, traffic system, education, and health system. People come here to explore this city, study, health facilities, work, and enjoyment.
The Best Places to Visit in Chandigarh: A One-Day Trip
When you come to north India, don’t go back without exploring and visiting Chandigarh. The following are the best 7 places to go and explore in Chandigarh on a day trip.
1. Sukhna Lake
Start your Chandigarh journey from the coolest place, Sukhna Lake in Sector 1, Chandigarh, India. It is a man-made water reservoir that was created in 1958 by damming the rainy season in Sukhna Choe. It spans 3 km and reaches a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake’s tranquility attracts local and tourist walkers, nature and boating lovers, and migratory birds, making it a famous part of the city. It is one of the most visited places in all seasons.
It is open 24/7 with no ticket.
2. Rock Garden
Rock Garden is another great place to visit on a one-day trip. The Rock Garden of Chandigarh founder Nek Chand Saini started building it in 1957 from industrial, home waste, and discarded items. It is a sculpture garden that spreads over an area of 40 acres. It is a place where you will see man-made interlinked waterfalls, open-air theaters, and many other sculptures that have been made of scrap, concrete, and other kinds of waste material (glasses, bangles, bottles, tiles, ceramic pots, electrical waste, sinks, broken pipes, etc.). It is placed in sculptures and walled paths. It is also located in Sector 1 of Chandigarh, near Sukhna Lake.
You can visit the rock garden from Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Paid entry: ₹30 per person for adults and ₹10 per person for children.
3. Bird Park
Bird Park Chandigarh is a house of many birds. Bird Park has trees, plants, waterfalls, closed nets, and many colorful birds. It is in front of the Lake Sports Club entry, near Rock Garden in Sector 1, Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Bird Park has given ample space for every bird with 58 feet of flying height. It is a vibrant wildlife sanctuary with 550 birds, including African Love Birds, Budgerigars, Black Swans, Wood Ducks, White Swans, Yellow Golden Pheasants, Green Wing Macaws, African Grey Parrots, Dun Conures, Finches, and Melanistic Pheasants.
You can visit the bird park from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paid entry!
4. Rose Garden
There are a lot of varieties of roses and other flowers in this garden. Zakir Husain created this rose garden for the Chandigarh residence, but now thousands of tourists and locals visit this garden every day. This major tourist attraction has a variety of roses, a variety of trees, medicinal plants, a jogging track, and a water fountain. The cultural festival is celebrated every year in the last week of February. It is situated in Section 16, Chandigarh.
Free entry, timing: 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
5. Sector 17 Market
It is one of the favorite and oldest markets in Chandigarh. It is located in the central location of this city. There are Several big fashion brands, stores, international outlets, food chains, fountains, and luxury lifestyles. A cinema hall is also there. The musical fountain show is displayed every evening.
It is an open market. You can visit it any day, anytime.
6. Elante Mall
It is a man-made thing and 7th largest shopping mall in northern India. It was officially opened in April 2013, in industry area phase 1, Chandigarh. It has four floors for retail shops and one basement area for parking. If you are looking to shop, eat, play indoor games, watch movies, or nightclub party, Elante Mall in Chandigarh is one of the best places to explore on your one-day trip.
Enlante Mall is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
7. Museums
Chandigarh city has many museums. The six most persistent museums are mentioned below.
- Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, Chandigarh: It displays Pahari, and Rajasthani miniature paintings, Gandharan sculptures, and stone sculptures.
- Chandigarh Architecture Museum, Sector 10, Chandigarh: It displays Chandigarh city’s planning, designing, and architectural developments.
- International Doll Museum, Sector 23, Chandigarh: It displays around 250 dolls and puppets that have been collected from various countries like Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and Korea.
- Museum of Evolution of Life, Sector 10, Chandigarh: You will learn about the origin of human life and the diversity of natural plants and animals.
- High Court Museum, Sector 1, Chandigarh: This museum honors India’s freedom fighters and leaders who sacrificed for independence.
- Natural History Museum, Sector 10, Chandigarh: You can learn about the history of plants, humans, geology, animals, ecosystems, climatology, and paleontology at the Natural History Museum.
You can visit these museums according to your interests. Some museums let visitors experience it for free, while others charge a small fee.
So these are the top 7 places to go and explore in Chandigarh on a day trip. Don’t forget to share your experience with us after visiting these amazing places in Chandigarh.
