Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, is India's first fully planned post-independence city, designed largely by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s. Wide green sectors, modernist government buildings and Nek Chand's eccentric Rock Garden make it one of North India's most distinctive urban destinations — and a common stopover on the way to the Himalayan hill stations.
The Story of Chandigarh
Chandigarh was conceived after Partition in 1947, when Punjab's historic capital, Lahore, was allotted to Pakistan and the Indian state needed an entirely new administrative centre. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru envisioned the new city as "unfettered by the traditions of the past" — a modern symbol of independent India's future — and selected a site at the foothills of the Shivalik range, near a small village and temple dedicated to the goddess Chandi, from which the city takes its name.
The original masterplan was begun by American architect Albert Mayer, but after his Polish-American collaborator died in a plane crash in 1950, the project was handed to the Swiss-French modernist architect Le Corbusier, who redesigned the city on a grid of self-contained sectors, each with its own shops, schools and green spaces. Le Corbusier also personally designed the monumental Capitol Complex — home to the High Court, Secretariat and Legislative Assembly — much of which is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Since its inauguration in the 1950s, Chandigarh has served as the joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana following their 1966 split, while itself remaining a separate Union Territory. It's regularly ranked among India's cleanest and most liveable cities, known for wide tree-lined boulevards, extensive green cover, and Nek Chand's whimsical Rock Garden, built secretly from urban waste and industrial scrap starting in the late 1950s.
Top Places to Visit in Chandigarh
Le Corbusier's Modernist Design & Rock Garden — here's what most visitors build their itinerary around.
Best Time to Visit Chandigarh
How to Reach Chandigarh
* Indicative one-way sedan fares — the exact fare (including driver allowance, taxes and estimated tolls) is always shown before you confirm your booking. Ertiga, Innova Crysta and Tempo Traveller options are available at checkout.
Good to Know Before You Go
Chandigarh Travel — Frequently Asked Questions
Chandigarh is about 248 km from Delhi, roughly 5 hours by cab via NH44.
The city's masterplan was largely designed by Swiss-French modernist architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s, after an earlier plan by American architect Albert Mayer, making it India's first fully planned post-independence city.
After Punjab was split to form Haryana in 1966, both states retained Chandigarh as their joint capital, while the city itself remains a separate Union Territory administered by the central government.
Yes — it sits directly on the route from Delhi to both hill stations and is commonly used as an overnight halt or day-trip base.
Yes — One-Way Bhaarat runs flat-fare one-way cabs from Delhi to Chandigarh via NH44, with the full fare shown upfront before you book.