The committee added, “An activity like aquarium does not match the local atmosphere of the city. Moreover, Chandigarh is not located near any large water body or sea and this activity does not seem compatible with the local conditions. But the forest department representative brought out that it will be first of its kind in the country and will help in attracting tourists”.

Chandigarh is credited as being India’s first modern planned city with wide sweeping tree lined boulevard streets connected through a series of symmetrically placed round-abouts. At less than 50 years old, Chandigarh has one of the best infrastructures in place to accommodate tourists including an airport, rail station, bus terminal and extensive network of hotels. Current tourist hot spots include the world famous rock garden, rose garden, Sakhna Lake and nearby Pinjore Gardens.

Chandigarh Rose Garden has been divided into 10 sections for the 3 day festival. These sections are not only for roses but also for a children’s play area, scrubs, medicinal plants, a hillock and musical fountains. Meandering footpaths take flower enthusiasts past well groomed flower beds, each marked with it’s species name. Some of the unusual names given to the rose varieties are: Only You, Dulhan, King’s Ransom, Hippie Girl, Love Me Tender, Careless Love, Lover’s Meeting, Delhi Prince, Oklahoma, American Heritage, Louisiana, Canadian Centenary, City of Belfast, Wild Plum and Dorothy Peach.

The 2012 edition of the Chandigarh Rose Festival will also see concerts, musical nights, comedy shows, ‘antakshri’, food streets and various competitions. “Live performances by singers Hans Raj Hans, Priyani Vani and Mohit Chauhan and comedian Uday Dahiya will add charm to the festival,” Chandigarh Tourism Secretary Ram Niwas said.

Children would be crowned ‘Rose Prince’ and ‘Rose Princess’ and there will be a brass and pipe band contest, on the spot painting, rose quiz, folk dances, photography competition and kite flying.

“On the Spot Painting Competition” will be organized on 26 February, 2012. The Competition will be open to following age groups of children:

Group A 5 to 8 years
Group B Above 8 years to 11 years
Group C Above 11 years to 14 years
Group D Above 14 years to 17 years

There is an entry fee of Rs 50 for each participant. Forms can be purchased from the Rose Garden on 22nd and 23rd February, 2012. Each participant will carry painting material and board of their choice. The competition will be held on a theme to be disclosed at the time competition commencement. Participants will also be supplied with refreshments and a small gift as goodwill gesture.

Chandigarh Rose Garden has also referred to in more recent years as Festival of Gardens. The festival will be held for 3 days from 24 to 26 February, 2012, at Chandigarh Rose Garden in Sector 16.

Few lights exist along the garden pathways and bridges making it difficult for visitors to navigate safely.

“Utmost care is also being taken to preserve the garden’s flora. The illumination is being done in a manner that it does not affect those areas of the garden where clusters of trees or flower-beds are, said CCA principal Pradeep Kumar Bhagat.

Chandigarh, famous for a laundry list of reasons but primarily for being the first modern planned city of India, has been voted the greenest city of the country. And the Rose Garden, the largest of it’s kind in Asia, is a big reason why. Expertly maintained walkways wind through tall shade trees and fountains interspersed among 1600 species of roses. Just like the organized flow of the city, flower beds are carved into the ground in a methodical pattern leaving ample room for picnics, yoga and fitness. More than 47,000 plants call this tourist destination home.

Begun in 1967, Chandigarh’s first Chief Commissioner Dr M S Randhawa was instrumental in the garden’s creation. His interest in horticulture not only help guide the landscape of Chandigarh, he also played a pivotal role in establishing the Punjab Agricultural University at Ludhiana. Today the highlight of his work fully blossoms with the annual Rose Festival, a great celebration of Chandigarh attracting 20,000 visitors. This spectacular showing occurs around the end of February or early March, depending on the year.

Tourists can still appreciate a visit to the garden even when out of season. Also be sure to check out the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, which is always in “bloom”.

There is no entry fee to the garden.

A rock garden may sound like a kitsch project gone awry yet it should be on any tourist’s list of sightseeing while in Chandigarh. Unlike the thread garden in Ooty, Tamil Nadu which I went into with low expectations and yet somehow even those weren’t met, the rock garden impressed me immensely. Clocking in at 4 acres, it’s a huge array of twist and turns. Every corner uncovers a new concept, new character, new material used or new environment.

What began in the 1970′s has grown into a massive exhibition of art captivating some of it’s visitors, boring others and just stumping the rest. I visited right at opening time (10 AM) to beat the heat and subsequently any crowds. Plan for at least an hour to cover the property properly.

Inside you’ll find waterfalls, bridges, tunnels, passages and more all in an outdoor, open-air setting. And it’s not just rocks used to bring the artist Nek Chand’s visual to reality. The garden boasts the use of recycled materials such as glass, bottles, ceramics, tiles, electrical waste and more. Uncommon beauty flows throughout the garden bringing with it haunting thoughts, images in one’s mind while being stared down by hundreds of miniature man-line rock figurines.

For those that take more time to see this amazing feat there are food and beverage stalls on site to curb your hunger. Toilets are readily available as well. Entry fee Rs 100.

30 Minutes or less even in India

Yes, I relented and tried a US pizza chain for dinner one night while traveling through Chandigarh last year. To be fair, it was the night of Diwali and nearly every restaurant in Sector 35 was closed. I spent 20 minutes walking up and down the strip malls only to be turned away as bosses were handing out Diwali bonuses or employees were already performing puja. Only two places were open, Cafe Coffee Day and Domino’s Pizza. As much as trying Indian style pizza was tempting to me on other occasions, every new location had far too many native choices to cave in to my curiosity.

Tucked into Sector 34 on the main drag, this Domino’s Pizza was little more than a take away ordering center. Inside the cramped storefront, there were 4 tables for waiting customers with signs that read “no inside eating”. Ordering the pizza is no different than in the US: pick your size, toppings or specialty, your crust and any extras. A very upbeat cashier handled my order and gave me the OK to eat my meal inside. Why not? As I turned around, every table had a customer enjoying a meal. I joined a single at his table with seating for 4 and happily waited watching the surroundings.

The wait was short for my vegetarian pizza (no meat for me in India) and Coke. Something about Coke taste really damn good there. The pizza was tasty with mild spices not that different from what you expect in the States.

Cleanliness was top priority at this location. In-between orders, the cashier wiped down empty tables picking up any garbage along the way. Through the kitchen door I could see a hand washing sink actively used. Sometimes outside corporations can have a positive effect on a cultural level. In the seating area, it was fun to see families entering to order.  Children were dressed in Western clothing while mom was more traditionally dressed with most dads dressed in a mix of oxford shirts or kurtas and chinos.

My other entertainment came in the form of a young, urban Indian couple. Each layered in brand name clothing and accessories, not uncommon in Chandigarh’s new money residents, they bargained for a discount with payment via credit card. Apparently this is a trend in India I was unaware of until then. With my pizza gone and my interest in grabbing some espresso growing, I never did find out if their request was approved.

You won’t find this stop listed in your guide books as it’s targeted more for locals and vacationing Indians. The entry is is listed as Rs 20 however foreigners pay Rs 100, not uncommon for Government tourist spots. Once inside visitors are free to roam the grounds as they wish. If hunger pains hit, find the food stall which sits in the middle of a water pool reminiscent of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Also on sight is a hotel, conference center, gift shop, bar and restaurant which makes this a perfect spot during the wedding season.

Below is a terrific write up on the gardens by Haryana Tourism:

Front Entrance to Pinjore Gardens Haryana India

Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens, represent one of the most travelled excursions from Chandigarh. Located at Pinjore, in the state of Haryana, they fall at a distance of about 22 km from the ‘City Beautiful’, on the Chandigarh-Kalka Road. The gardens lie at the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges and stands as an apt example of the Mughal Garden style. Spread over an area of 100 acres, Pinjore Garden serve as the venue of the annual Mango Festival. The gardens house a mini zoo, historic places, Japanese garden, nursery and a number of picnic spots. According to the Hindu Mythology, the Pandava Brothers rested here during their exile.

History

Early in the 17th century, Nawab Fidai Khan, a reputed architect and the cousin of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, made the design for the Pinjore Gardens. At that time, the Nawab was the Governor of the Province and during one of his tours, he happened to visit the Pinjore valley. He was so enchanted with the beauty of the place that he thought of making a beautiful garden there and this is how the concept of the gardens came into being. The Nawab designed the garden as per the classical Charbagh pattern and introduced a central waterway in the area. He planned both sides of the waterway to be planted with the patches of green bordered with flowers, along with cover the entire place with a number of trees, like traditional palm, cypress and magnolia.

While Pinjore Gardens were still being created, goiter struck the women of the place. The courtiers of the Nawab immediately left the place, which forced him to quit as well. The palace later fell first under the reign of Raja of Sirmaur and finally, in 1775 AD, under Maharaja Amar Singh of Patiala. The latter consolidated Pinjore to his lands. He had a great admiration for the beauty engulfed in the garden and used to visit the place frequently. Amar Singh is credited with to improve the garden manifold. In 1966, Haryana was declared as an independent state and Pinjore Garden was handed over to it. Today, the garden continues to be one of the prime attractions of Haryana.

Features

Pinjore Garden is built in the typical Mughal style. It has a sloping ground and is adorned with fountains and grand pavilions. However, it differs from the other Mughal Gardens in respect that the seven terraces at Pinjore, instead of ascending, descend into a distance, creating a magical sight. The garden is full of varied species of beautiful, aromatic flowering plants, big trees, mango orchards, litchi orchards and several shrubs. The garden presents cool, shady walks and flagged pathways, which run to the reaches of the creeper-covered walls.

Recently, the end structure of the doorway was made into a disc-like open-air theatre. The stiff outer wall of the garden is suggestive of the fort walls, which has now all around dieter pavilions housing the zoo. A watercourse traipsing from level to level sparkles in the sunlight, its pools reflecting white shining pavilions and balconies etched high against a blue sky. The stylishly arched balconies and shining fountains, luxuriant green lawns and murmuring watercourse, limpid pools, shady walks and colorful flowerbeds, unusual descending terraces and monumental gateways – all are carefully planned to give the magic effect.

Besides the greenery and nature, one can find other attractions within Yadavindra Gardens, like a mini zoo, historic places, Japanese garden, nursery, and a number of picnic spots. The gardens are brightly illuminated at night. There is a Jalmahal within the garden, which is presently used as a restaurant. The garden is open from 7am to 10pm. The entry ticket for the garden is Rs.20 per head. Special programs are organized in the garden during the festivals, like Baisakhi and Mango Festival, which attract visitors from every corner of the country.

After seeing the compact lobby I was pleasantly surprised by the large two room suite accommodation. Dark wood trim starts in the lobby continuing through the staircase and into the rooms. Marble tile covers the floors with upgraded furniture, linens and drapes completing a very cozy atmosphere. The bathrooms were very clean, very Western.

Hotel staff was helpful in carting our luggage up to the rooms and prompt with tea service. There is room service provided by the attached Hot Millions restaurant or take your meal in the actual facility. Fast food joints, coffee shops and finer Indian cuisine restaurants are just steps away from the hotel lobby on either side.

Upon my return 3 years later, my initial thought was to stay here again but my mind was on saving money. After a rather disappointing stay at Hotel Gravity, I should have gone with a sure thing.

Having stayed here previously, I knew that Sector 35 was ripe with Indian hotel options. Upon arrival I looked at 3 different hotels but settled on Hotel Gravity. The manager, knowing I was looking for a bargain and willing to walk to find it, offered me a room with breakfast included for Rs 1000. The rate was robbery but my choices were limited as employees at other hotels were beginning their Diwali Pooja (Worship). The room fee was expected up front in cash, a request which I rarely honor.

The guest room was large, included A/C (not needed) and faced out over the parking lot ( A nice feature for this city to watch your car). The bathroom was a different story; Dirty, cracked and falling apart. It did offer a Western toilet, a shower plus full time running water. This was one hotel I was happy to carry my own TP, towel and flip flops. The bed was large enough for two to sleep comfortably. TV channel options were sparse.

The hotel is paired with a nightclub/disco bar just off the lobby. This has become very popular with the younger urban crowd of Chandigarh. On this night it was closed, replaced by nonstop Diwali fireworks which continued well past 2 A.M.

Hotel Gravity parking lot morning after Diwali 2009

A walk up the flight of stairs from my room took me to the unsecured rooftop entrance/exit door where I was able to watch a 360º fireworks show. That part was exciting and fun to watch however I’m not sure any other night how the noise level would be in the room.

The next morning I was greeted to the same manager from the night before. When I asked to make good on my breakfast he explained he had almost no staff due to Diwali. My options this morning were for a veggie sandwich and chai. Figuring most places would be opening late the morning after the holiday I accepted his meager offering.

The sign above the front door claims Hotel Gravity is the City’s most comfortable hotel. There should be an asterisk after that: *for Rs 1000. Nowhere near my worst hotel experience, I’m more put out by the fact I’ve paid Rs 400 and had much better experiences elsewhere. Lesson learned. Hotel Gravity is Chandigarh’s best skipped hotel in Sector 35.