Top 5 Historical Sites in and Near Chandigarh Mohit Bansal Chandigarh

Top 5 Historical Sites in and Near Chandigarh

Chandigarh is one of the most beautiful cities of Punjab. It is one of the union territories of India and also the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh has a lot of historical stories and with historical stories comes historical sites. Le Corbusier, a well-known French architect, designed Chandigarh, the ideal city that Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the country's first prime minister, had envisioned. It is regarded as one of the best efforts in urban planning and modern architecture carried out in India throughout the twentieth century and is picturesquely situated at the foothills of the Shivaliks. For people who love history, Chandigarh is a great place for them with lots of historical sites. Here are some of the historical sites whenever you visit Chandigarh -

Government museum art and gallery The 1947 Partition of India resulted in the establishment of the Government Museum and Art Gallery. The extensive collection of antiquities kept in the Central Museum in Lahore was divided between India and Pakistan when the nation was split into those two nations. The goods that became part of India were stored in four different locations before being divided in 1948: Amritsar, Shimla, Patiala, and Chandigarh. Le Corbusier created the museum, which became public on May 6, 1968. Gandhian carvings, stone carvings, works of decorative art, manuscripts, textiles, and other items are among the numerous treasures kept here. The timings for the same are 10.00 am in the morning to 4.30 in the evening. Though it is closed on mondays.

Pinjore Gardens Pinjore Gardens near Chandigarh was constructed in the 17th century to serve as the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's summer getaway. It was modeled after the Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar. His foster brother, Nawab Fidai Khan Koka, also known as Muzaffar Hussain, constructed it. Maharaja Yadavindra of the Patiala dynasty later repaired and extended it. This is why it is also known as Yadavindra Gardens. Pinjore Gardens, a beautiful example of a terrace garden in India, spans a 100-acre area and is ornamented with a number of palace buildings that exhibit remarkable Rajput and Mughal architectural characteristics. The garden's stunning fountains, peaceful water features, outdoor museum, and vintage train are just a few of its main draws. The timings for the same are 7.00 am in the morning to 10.00pm in the night.

Ramgarh fort Ramgarh Fort, one of the most interesting historical locations close to Chandigarh, is less than 40 minute's drive from Chandigarh. The Bilaspur ruler, who constructed this fort roughly 360 years ago, is responsible for its creation. Throughout its history, the building was governed by a number of different monarchs; today, it functions as a heritage hotel. This fort's 37-foot-high wooden entrance is one of its most intriguing characteristics. It is the highest wooden door in India, according to the Limca Book of World Records. The timings for the same are 10.00 am in the morning to 10.00 pm in the night.

Capitol Complex If you only consider dates, the Capitol Complex might not be considered one of Chandigarh's historical sites. But in order to recognise the architectural genius demonstrated by Le Corbusier, the architect who designed the city of Chandigarh, it was given the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. The complex is home to some of the finest examples of Le Corbusier's creations, including the Secretariat, High Court, and Assembly for Punjab and Haryana. This complex also includes striking structures including the Martyrs Memorial, Tower of Shadow, Geometric Hill, Rock Garden, and the well-known Open Hand. The timings for the same are 9.00 am in the morning to 5.00pm in the evening.

Nada Sahib fort One of the most well-known historical sites close to Chandigarh is Nada Sahib, which is situated on the banks of the River Ghaggar- Hakra. On his way from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib in the year 1688, Guru Gobind Singh stopped at this Sikh religious site, which has a history spanning more than three centuries. The location went unnoticed for a very long time before being found by a villager by the name of Bhai Motha Singh. This ultimately resulted in the construction of the magnificent Gurudwara that stands here today. There is a museum in the shrine where you may find out about Sikh history. The timings for are from 4.00 am in the morning to 8.00pm in the evening. These were some of the historical sites in Chandigarh which you must pay a visit to. Though there are plenty of other historical sites in chandigarh as well such as - Burail fort, Manimajra fort, Le Corbusier center, Jayanti Devi temple etc.