Related Places

Historical Places

Capitol Complex
This is the most magnificent work of Le Corbusier – the architect of Chandigarh. Capitol Complex is the seat of the governments of Punjab and Haryana. Set against the Shivalik Hills the complex comprises of three edifices – the Secretariat, the High Court and the Legislative Assembly, representing the monumental character authority of the complex. Separated by large piazzas, the subtle and most evocative grouping of these buildings is of breath-taking beauty.

The “Open Hand” Chandigarh’s Emblem

The “Open Hand” Chandigarh’s Emblem
The “Open Hand” Emblem
One of the significant monuments constructed by Le Corbusier was the Open Hand Chandigarh’s emblem. A giant open hand made up of metal is meant to convey the message of peace among the humanity. It tells “open to give, open to receive”. Rising 85 feet above the ground the monument is designed like a "weather cock", not to show the incertitude of ideas, but to indicate symbolically the direction of wind (that is the state of affairs). The surface of the hand is coated with baked enamel in orange, green and while – the tri colours of Indian flag.


Martyr's Memorial

Just right of the Assembly building one can see the Martyr’s Memorial – a monument to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Punjab partition. The memorial consists of a square enclosure with one side elongated into a ramp by which one mounts the enclosing wall, Within the enclosure are to be symbolic figures of a prone man, a snake, and a lion set amid ruins, The concrete ramp permits one to see, from above, the Capitol in its entirety and creates a promenade -rising and descending.

Other stunning monuments include the Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill and Martyr's Memorial which are worth visiting.

How To Reach

By Air
Chandigarh domestic airport is 8 km away from city center. Cab costs about Rs 100 to cover the distance. Most of the air services provide daily flights to Delhi from Chandigarh. International travelers have to get connection through Delhi Airport. Delhi Airport is connected to all major cities in India and most of the foreign cities.

By Train
Chandigarh is connected by rail to many cities in Punjab, Haryana and also to Delhi. Frequent trains are running between Delhi and Chandigarh (260 km). One can get connection trains to Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum (Kochu Veli) from Chandigarh. Daily trains are available from Chandigarh to Lucknow.


By Bus
State owned buses connect Chandigarh to all nearest cities in Punjab and Haryana. Deluxe Volvo buses and semi deluxe buses are available from Shimla (110 km), Manali (320 km), New Delhi (260 km) and Dehradun (175 km). Deluxe buses charge Rs 3-4 per kilometer.