Chandigarh is a well planned city in the Northern part of India and is the capital of two Indian states – Punjab and Haryana. It is one of the Union Territories of India and is also the country’s first planned city. The city was planned by French architect Le Corbusier. The city has a pre historic past and excavations reveal that the city was the home to the Harappan Civilization.

Chandigarh is located at the foothills of the Siwalik hill ranges and forms a part of the Himalayan Ecosystem. Washed by Sukhna Choe in the east and Patiala-Ki-Rao Choe in the west, Chandigarh provides a wonderful stay for the tourists amidst the beauty of the nature. The city ranks first in the country in terms of Human Development Index and is rated the wealthiest town in India. The city centre, popularly called Sector 17 is the heart of all activities in the city. There are a large number of parks in the city which provide ample space for the travelers to breathe in fresh air. Some of the parks include the Leisure Valley, Rajendra Park, Bougainvillea Park, Zakir Rose Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Garden of Fragrance, Botanical Garden, Smriti Upavan, Topiary Garden, Terraced Garden and Shanti Kunj are some of the famous gardens in the city. One can also visit Lalit Kala Academy, Sahitya Academy, Pracheen Kala Kendra, and Cultural Complex.

The best time to visit Chandigarh is the period between mid August and November, when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Since Chandigarh is located in the plains; it enjoys a moderate weather like other North Indian cities experience. Summers are sometimes very hot and then the arrival of monsoon comes like a pleasant surprise. Read on to know more about the Chandigarh peak time…

The ideal time to visit Chandigarh starts by the mid of August. By that time, the monsoons are almost over and the temperature keeps dropping, giving a warm welcome to the winter season. Tourism is on its boom during this season. Tourists come from different parts of the country to visit this beautiful city of gardens.

Air: The city is well connected with Delhi, Leh and Amritsar via air. The airport is located at a distance of about 12 kms from the city center.

Rail: The city is well connected with major cities via train. There are two trains, namely, Shatabdi Express and Himalayan Queen that link Chandigarh with Delhi and the best part is that these trains run daily.

Road: There is an excellent road network in Chandigarh. There are two national highways, namely, No. 21 (Ambala-Kinnaur) and 22 (Chandigarh-Leh) that serve this union territory by connecting it with other parts of the country. Infact, there are many pilgrimage spots and famous towns that are located at a motorable distance. There are several buses that link Chandigarh with other neighboring cities. Buses are of different kinds: air-conditioned, deluxe, semi-deluxe or ordinary.

• Temperature: Summer: 31°C - 44°C, Winter: 3°C - 14°C
  
• Chandigarh District Area: 114 sq km
• Altitude: 304 metres above sea level
• Rainfall: 1110 mm. average yearly
• Language: Hindi, English and Punjabi
• Chandigarh STD Code (Area Code): 0172