Surrounding Spots

The Rock Garden, about nine kilometres away, is the most original sight of Chandigarh. Nek Chand, a road inspector, secretly built it from industrial and urban waste, broken ceramics, bottles and bicycle parts, creating thousands of figures and winding passages. It opened officially after authorities discovered it and decided to preserve rather than destroy it.

Next to it, Sukhna Lake is where the city goes to breathe. The promenade along the water is ideal at sunrise or sunset, with the Shivalik hills visible behind the lake on clear days. Boating is available, and early mornings bring joggers, walkers and families feeding the birds.

The Capitol Complex, with the High Court, the Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly and the Open Hand monument, forms the heart of Le Corbusier's architectural legacy and belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage listing of his works. Visits are organised by guided tours from the tourist information centre on site, and identity documents are required.

In Sector 10, the Government Museum and Art Gallery holds Gandhara sculptures and Indian miniature paintings, and in Sector 16 the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden displays hundreds of rose varieties, best from February to March. Sector 17, the planned city centre, is a pedestrian plaza with shops, cafés and cinema, lively in the evening.

For Punjabi food, Pal Dhaba in Sector 28 is a local institution for butter chicken, dal makhani and tandoori breads, and the sweet shops of Sector 17 sell traditional mithai. Elante Mall in Industrial Area Phase I, the closest large shopping centre to the hotel, has a food court and restaurants for a quick meal.