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Capitol
Complex
Though
all of Chandigarh
carries Le Corbusier's
stamp, Capitol Complex,
presently the administrative
hub of two States,
contains the best
of his talent. The
High Court, Legislative
Assembly, Secretariat,
Open-hand Monument,
Geometric Hill,
Tower of Shadows
are all part of
the complex at the
northern-end of
Chandigarh.
Rock
Garden
This
unique garden consists
of art objects fashioned
from industrial
and urban waste:
rocks, boulders,
broken chinaware,
discarded fluorescent
tubes, broken glass
bangles, building
waste, coal and
clay. Situated between
the Capitol Complex
and Sukhna Lake
in Sector 1, it
covers some 20 acres
of woods.
The creator of the
Rock Garden, Nek
Chand, was a Road
Inspector in the
Engineering Department
of Chandigarh Capital
Project. Since the
site where Rock
Garden stands today
was also used as
a dumping ground,
Nek Chand took pieces
of waste and shaped
them into human,
animal or abstract
forms.
The layout of the
Garden is based
on the fantasy of
a lost kingdom.
An unpretentious
entrance leads to
a variety of doorways,
archways, vestibules,
streets and lanes
of different scales
and dimensions,
each one opening
into a new chamber.
The Rock Garden
has 14 different
chambers, all juxtaposed
to create a dream
world of palaces,
soldiers, monkeys,
village life, women
and temples. The
open-air sculptures
and concealed gateways
separating them
are enhanced by
a waterfall, pools,
open-air exhibition
hall, and open-air
theatre. There is
a miniature maze.
During the teej
festival the Rock
Garden comes alive
with music and dance.
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Sukhna
Lake
This
picturesque man-made
lake, in the foothills
of Shivalik range,
is an idyllic resort
for communing with
nature and for water
sports such as boating
and water skiing.
Sukhna is also a
sanctuary for many
migratory birds
like the Siberian
duck, Storks and
Cranes. A golf course
and mini zoo are
to the south..
Leisure
Valley
It
traverses the heart
of the city as a
continuum of various
theme gardens. Along
the Valley, various
parks like Rajendra
park, Bougainvillaea
Park, Fitness Trails
and the Flower Garden,
Shanti Kunj, Children's
Traffic Park, Hibiscus
Garden, Garden of
Fragrance have come
up.
Bougainvillea
Park
This
20 acre park is
popular for its
vibrant colors.
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Rose
Garden
30
acres of beautifully
landscaped gardens
contain nearly 1600
varieties of roses.
The Rose Festival
is held here during
spring..
Terraced
Garden
Spread
over 10 acres, seasonal
flowers are grown
here in terraced
parterres. The garden
has a wealth of
material for students
of botany.
Topiary
Park
Many
animals shaped out
of creepers and
bushes form the
Topiary Park. A
large variety of
ornamental plants
add to the park's
curious charm.
Chandigarh
Golf Club
The
18 hole, par 72
course, of manicured
fairways and greens,
is designed to be
a challenge for
the most adept golfer.
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