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Chandigarh is the biggest example in India of experimental architecture. The world's renowned architect Le Corbusier received a dream commission in early 1950's to create new capital city for Punjab, on a green field site at Chandigarh. He opted for monumental concrete government buildings (temples of democracy), artificial lake, and symbolic sculptures – no human statues were allowed. His plan was for low-density, low rise housing divided in 1 Sq. Km in neighbourhood sectors, each with their own shops, schools and places of worship. Houses were to face on to traffic quite roads. He also insisted on green spaces, a large lake for recreation and straight tree lined avenues.
The city is most orderly in India and popularity in housing designs is reflected in the high property prices. Le Corbusier's valiant attempt at creating a Utopian city still provokes controversy among western and Indian architects.
After 1950, Chandigarh has been capital for newly formed state of Punjab and state of Haryana. Politically Chandigarh is Union Territory control by Central Government of India.
Following Le Corbusier radical plan, the city has modernist concrete government buildings, terraced housing clustered in small neighbourhoods, wide tree lined streets, masses of green parks; the down side is that the Chandigarh city is very spread out.
The climate of Chandigarh varies from time to time. Summers are very hot in April to June. October to March is the best season to visit Chandigarh. Although the nights can be chilly from Mid November to Mid February, when a Jersey is more powerful than AC's.
In Chandigarh, Bus station, Restaurants, and main shopping centers are in sector no. 17, while most of the hotels are in sector no.22. Railway station is 8 Kms from city center, which is connected by bus, autoriksha and taxies. |
