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Sukhna Lake :
On the south eastern boundary of the city is the seasonal rivulet Sukhana choe. Water through it used to flow away in the rainy season. The planner of the city through their imagination, created a lake by obstructing the flow of rain water through the Sukhana Choe. A three and half km long dam was built to create a reservoir of water. Now known as Sukhna Lake. People generally come here for a morning or evening walk. It consists of an eating place, children’s park. It also has facility for boating and rafting for the adventure seekers. A major hit with children and grown-ups alike. At one end of the Lake are the premises of Lake Club. The club management takes care to provide facilities for water sports and recreational activities. Water sports become annual feature. Environment friendly people of Chandigarh take part in its disilting operation every year.
Shopping Centre :
In the heart of the city, is located Sector 17. This is the main shopping center of the city though there are many government and private offices also. This commercial centre is fully pedestrianised. Here, the residents shop, lounge around or simply relax in the beautiful surroundings to enjoy the various fashion houses located here. Big showrooms and excellent departmental stores cater to the needs of shoppers. In evenings, one can see the crowd walking around here and there. The ultimate lightning effects are visible during the evenings.
Rock Garden :
Next to Sukhana Lake there is a unique but a world famous fantasy in the city of Chandigarh, called Rock Garden. Situated in the thick forest area, this gardens hold its own charms for the visitors. It is full of objects built from household and industrial waste. There are no flowers or plants in this garden. The object to be seen there are the figure made of raw cement resembling humans and animals. These figures have been decorated with broken but colourful odds and ends of China clay. As one looks at them with deep intent, they seem to be staring as the visitors. They seem to be engaged in various activities. There are group of dancing damsels made from bicycle and motorcycle's waste materials, marching armies of warriors resting flying or fledging birds made from countless bite of broken glass. There are groups of music bands engaged in their activity of entertaining the visitors. Its creator also needs a mention. The garden was visualised by Sh. Nek Chand. He belong from gurdaspur district in Punjab province. He started his life in PWD as labourer, but late rose to high ranks. He came to Chandigarh as Road Inspector. His deep visualization made him to pick and collect all sorts of discarded scrap. He started to visit waste dumps of the factories. He collected there raw cement, broken pipes and other discarded matter. He created rapport with the truck drivers who carried and drop his debris at a vacant corner of the forest where now this unique creation stands. For twelve years he worked hard alone on this unique fantasy. After twelve years the work of Nek Chand noticed by Government. He was giving deserving patronage. An area of twelve acres was allotted for the extension of the original Rock Garden. Even funds were provided for carrying on the work.
Rose Garden :
Next to city centre, in sector 16 is situated Zakir Hussein Rose Garden Asia's largest Rose Garden and is spreaded over 30 acres of land having over 1600 different species or roses. These have been planted beautifully carved out lawns and flowers beds. Like the cultural zone which is just across the road in Sector 10, this was also planned by Dr. M.S. Randhawa as his interest in horticulture and fondness for flowers was profuse. Every year, either at the end of February or beginning of March, a big festival known as Rose Festival, is celebrated at this garden. Over 20,000 people visit this festival. Its one of the great celebrations in the city. There are lots of competitions, cultural celebrations and many other events.
The Museum and Art Gallery :
As per its name its building in itself is a work of great art. Historical and modern paintings and sculpture of vast range are housed in museum. Dr. M.S. Randhawa the first Chief commissioner of Chandigarh was a man of many facts. One of these was his fondness and love for art. He had remained himself involved in Kangra and other Pahari miniature paintings as well as Gandhara sculpture. Because of his interest there is rich collection of these rare pieces of art in the museum. For the interest of anthropologists there is collection of fossils of pre historic man and his implements. These finds were unearthed in India. In the complex is museum of Evolution and the exhibition gallery housing interesting features. One can always enjoy the exquisite pictures and sculptures at this place. They are real examples of great architect’s work. It is located in Sector 10. The museum complex remain open 10.00 a.m. to 4.30. p.m. on all days except Mondays
Punjab University :
Educational activities are spread all over the city. However the premier institution Punjab University is located in the north west corner of the city in the sector 14. This sector has University’s administrative offices, educational blocks subject wise and residential hostels for students and houses for university’s employees. Sector 14 and university are synonymous in Chandigarh. To some this sector looks the most beautiful of all the sectors. No doubt about it. Its beautiful red sand stone buildings have been built on awe stuck landscape. The focal point is the Gandhi Bhawan, which is centre for learning philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. This Bhawan seems to be floating like a lotus in a large water pool. An early walker in this sector will witness some exquisite scenes. Under the flowering trees the dropped flowers provide such designs on the groung as if a carpet has been laid on which colourful pattern have been woven on the expensive campus. There are 190 colleges affiliated to this university which are situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and some other states.
Secretariat :
The largest building in the Capital Complex. It is huge slab type building, intended as a work place for about 4000 people In the hands of Le Corbusier this basically dull framework has turned out to be something of a sculpture. It is shaped like an eight storey concrete slab incorporating a high drama of plasticity and grandeur, especially in the centre portion which contains the offices of minister with its distinctive high parapet, concrete walls offers a memorable experience to visitors at the highest point of repose and recreation in the city.
The High Court :
The High Court the law interpreting structure is one of the first architectural monuments to be built in the Capitol complex. The structure of this building has a double roof, projecting over the office block, like a inverted umbrella shading its lower part and forming trough from which the monsoon rainwater is discharged through huge spouts at magnificent outward sweep symbolically that the law is an umbrella of shelter for the ordinary citizen. The rear wall of the court room are decorated with large woollen tapestries designed by Le Corbusier
The Legislative Assembly :
The profile of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) cupola determines the stately personality of the building. The form was inspired by an impressive grouping the industrial cooling towers during Le Corusier visit to Ahmedabad. The Legislative Assembly square in plan with a monumental portico standing free from the main building and facing the high court which delineates the south eastern end of the Capitol Piazza. A pyramid cover the upper chamber of the erstwhile bicameral system,and offer an exciting counterpoint to the main cupola.
The Open Hand Monument :
The most important monument in the Capital Complex is Open Hand it is made of matel sheet arises 26 meter from the sunken french and rotate freely in the wind from a high concrete padestal. The giant hand turn around a ball bearing like a weather clock. The design of this emblem as of the monument was conceived entirely by the Le Corbusier. The symbol stand for india's civilizations greedlessness and magnanimity 'Open to give - Open to recieve'. It is official emblem of the city. This is probably only city emblem.
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