Located close to Sukhna Lake, the captivating Rock Garden in Chandigarh is an enormous innovative park space spread out like a maze that is unlike any you have ever seen! Offering something unique to visitors at every turn and made out of recycled waste transformed into eye-catching structures, this garden will change the way you define “Art”! From quirky waterfalls, labyrinthine formations, huge swings, hilarious mirrors, to sculptures made out of scrap and waste material like glass bottles bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, and wires, you will find something to keep you hooked to this place whichever direction you turn your head to. And if you haven’t ever visited this gem of a place in Chandigarh, this small guide will surely compel you to!
Best Time To Visit Chandigarh
The best time to plan a trip to Chandigarh lies between the months of October to March. The weather during this time is great and favorable for sightseeing in Chandigarh. While the temperature remains at a moderate 20-30 degree Celcius, it drops rapidly at night owing to the replete greenery in this city. In January, the minimum temperature drops to a whopping 2 degrees Celcius at times.
While the heat is scorching in the summer months in nearby cities, Chandigarh enjoys a rather warm and somewhat pleasant summer season owing to the lush greenery, the presence of a lake, and the city’s close proximity to the hills. The monsoon showers bring in some relief in July, considerably bringing down the temperature. If one wishes to visit Chandigarh when it’s not crowded, they should plan their trip in August or September.
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Rock Garden Chandigarh Map
Timings Of Rock Garden In Chandigarh
The Rock Garden stays open on all days of the week. One must, however, take note that the
Rock Garden Chandigarh timings differ in the summer and winter season.
Opening Hours In Summer: 9 AM – 7:30 PM (1st April – 30th September)
Opening Hours In Winter: 9 AM – 6 PM (1st October – 31st March)
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Rock Garden Chandigarh Entry Fee
The Rock Garden Chandigarh ticket is nominally priced so that everyone can visit this fascinating place without any restrictions. The entry ticket only includes the price for admission into the garden premises, and one has to pay extra if they wish to purchase food and beverages inside.
For Adults: INR 20/- per person
For Children: INR 10/- per person
History Of Rock Garden Chandigarh
The Rock Garden in Chandigarh was a secret project of the self-taught artist Nek Chand who had established it on an infertile piece of land near Sukhna Lake. He had the hobby of collecting waste material from all around the city and nearby villages and using it to create figurines and bizarre structures, though where he was putting these up was unknown at that time. Despite having a hectic schedule as a dedicated Public Works Department employee, he used to take out time to finish his masterpiece and worked tirelessly on weekends and nights.
Upon discovering this project, the authorities decided to demolish it since it was illegal, but his creativity and unique art managed to win the hearts of the local people of Chandigarh and it was saved from destruction. Later, the authorities even named Nek Chand the in-charge of the park and gave him 50 laborers to complete it. The park was officially opened for public viewing in 1976 and soon turned into the most popular tourist attraction of Chandigarh.
He used all kinds of scrap and waste material that he could find. He used recyclable items like broken glass, mirrors, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, broken crockery, photos frames, mudguards, forks, handlebars, metal wires, play marbles, porcelain, auto parts, sinks, pipes, rocks, and much more. Today, in addition to these figurines, the park also has a few waterfalls, creative walls, narrow doorways, swings, tall trees, a huge aquarium, and concrete arches that resemble ancient Roman aqueducts. Other than being a remarkable installation of creativity, this garden is also perhaps the biggest example of ecotourism and the importance of recycling.
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6 Things To Do At Rock Garden In Chandigarh
Wondering what all there is to explore inside this vast ocean of art and creativity? Don’t worry. There’s loads to see and do. Just gear up for a ride of thrill and excitement as you step into this wonderland!
1. Artwork And Sculptures – Explore
Every door you pass through will take you to an even bizarre and gripping installation of art than the previous one. As mentioned earlier, these sculptures and figurines inside the garden have been made out of recyclable industrial, domestic, and rural waste, which makes them all the more fascinating. Don’t hurry! Stop by and admire these beautiful pieces of art that reflect the creativity and skills of Nek Chand, the visionary!
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2. Man-Made Waterfalls – Take Selfies
The set of inter-connected waterfalls inside the garden are unlike any you may have ever seen. And they’ll be easy to locate in the premises since a great many people will be huddled over them to try and capture their beauty in their cameras. Reflecting the refreshing environment of the Green City – Chandigarh, these waterfalls were installed long after the Rock Garden was opened to the public to add an extra dose of beauty to the park. However, one needs to be careful while checking these out, since visitors are not allowed to step inside and pollute these waters in any way.
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3. Aquariums – Watch Sharks And Rays
Other than the waterfalls, these massive aquariums were also added long after the Rock Garden in Chandigarh had become a popular tourist attraction. Housing bizarre fish like stingrays, parrots, starfish, sharks, and many more, these aquariums act as a respite from the static sculptures and figurines the park is otherwise famous for. And they are a great attraction for kids and youngsters visiting the park, who like to watch these beings of different shapes, sizes and colors simply swim by inside these large septic tanks.
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4. Swings – Enjoy!
As you keep walking through this gigantic maze, door after door, you’ll finally be rewarded with the best kind of remedy to your fatigue and patience – various huge swings! Located at the very end of this maze-like garden, there are plenty of swings hanging from the high aqueducts. All you have to do is wait for your turn, grab a swing, and fell the cool breeze of Punjab ruffle your hair as you sway back and forth.
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5. Open Air Theatre – Attend Cultural Events
The amphitheater at the Rock Garden is known to host many events from time to time and is one of the best attractions in the Rock Garden in Chandigarh. Stay tuned and you may just get lucky enough to witness a gig or two here during your visit to Chandigarh. The theatre is essentially a vast pavilion with a center stage that blends art and culture perfectly with the rustic and natural environs of the garden. Here, you can also be part of the Teej Festival that is celebrated by women in this very garden with a lot of enthusiasm and pride.
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6. Food Stalls – Munch On Street Food
There are various food stalls and vendors selling street-side knick knacks at the very end of the garden where the swings are located. You can grab a quick bite or a water bottle at nominal rates to beat the heat while watching your kids play and swing nearby. It’s the perfect place for a family picnic and to relax after roaming around tirelessly in this huge park.
Restaurants Near Rock Garden In Chandigarh
After having a great time exploring this giant maze, you’ll definitely come out feeling all tired and hungry. So, we took the liberty to enlist some nice restaurants near this place that you can head to for some hearty Punjabi cuisine.
1. Backpackers Cafe
This is a vegetarian-friendly cafe that serves excellent vegan food options as well as an extensive gluten-free menu. Some of the best dishes on their menu include Mushroom Toast, Club Sandwiches, Ceaser’s Salad, Pancakes with whipped cream. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner to its visitors and also features takeout and table service. It’s a great option to grab a quick bite and an economical meal. The staff is quick on their feet and the service is super fast.
Location: SCF 16, Inner Market, Sector 9D, Near Chandigarh Dance Academy, Sector 9, Chandigarh 140110, India
Cost For Two: INR 400/-
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
TripAdvisor Rating: 4/5
Reviews
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2. Yo! China
This place needs no introduction. Yo! China food chain is famous all over India for serving their guests with the best of Chinese and Asian cuisine. They serve dinner and lunch and also have an extensive vegetarian-friendly menu. The prices are between low to moderate, so it’s perfect for a hearty family meal where you can satiate your Chinese food cravings in a comfortable environment. The staff is quick, attentive, and always ready to serve the best food to their customers.
Location: 4 & 5 Near Hsbc Bank, Chandigarh 160009, India
Cost For Two: INR 1,000/-
Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
TripAdvisor Rating: 4/5
Reviews
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3. Vintage Terrace Lounge Bar
It’s a great place to unwind with your friends or after work owing to its cozy ambiance, comfortable seating, variety of delicious mocktails and cocktails, and the fact that no one shall disturb or intrude in your privacy here. Lying unnoticed in a remote corner of Chandigarh, it doesn’t get a lot of visitors. But those who do visit absolutely fall in love with this place and keep coming back to it. This bar cum pub is a great place to host parties with DJ at reasonable charges. Guests also love the terrace seating where they can get a great view of the hotel’s pool and lawns while sipping on a delicious cocktail and enjoying the blissful weather.
Location: Hotel Mountview, Sector 10 D, Chandigarh 160011, India
Cost For Two: INR 1,200/-
TripAdvisor Rating: 4/5
Reviews’
How To Reach Rock Garden In Chandigarh
Sprawled over an area of over 40 acres, the Rock Garden is a renowned sculpture garden and among the most visited tourist attractions in Chandigarh. Located in Sector 1 lying in North Chandigarh near Sukhna Lake, this place is pretty easy to get to from anywhere in the city via a bus or car/cab.
How To Reach Chandigarh
Chandigarh is easily accessible and well connected to other cities in India by various means of transport.
By Air – Chandigarh manages a daily Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flight traffic to and fro Delhi and a bi-weekly one to and fro Amritsar. There is also a weekly flight to and fro Leh from this city. By air, it takes hardly 50 minutes to get to Chandigarh from Delhi. The airport is located just 11 km away from the main city, and upon checking out, one can easily hail a cab or auto-rickshaw to anywhere they wish to go in the city.
By Rail – Located just 7 km away from the city center, the Chandigarh Railway Station is well connected to the major cities of India like Delhi, Jaipur, Bikaner, and Jodhpur.
By Road – With a well-maintained and smooth road network, Chandigarh is connected to almost all small and big towns in northern India. You will surely enjoy a road trip to Chandigarh via the pretty fields of Punjab! If you’re looking for a more economical means of road transport to Chandigarh, you can board any of the frequent AC buses plying to Chandigarh from Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu, Rajasthan, and other cities of Punjab.
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If you’ve never been to the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, we’ve just given you some awesome reasons to visit it right away! So, plan your getaway to Chandigarh and explore this artsy avenue along with many others with your travel companions, and we bet you’ll love every bit of it! Don’t forget to tell us all about your trip experience once you’re back!
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