Sunday, August 24, 2008
Funcity in Chandigarh
FUNCITY, the biggest Amusement Park and Water Park in entire northern region, is spread over 43 acres of scenic land. Just 20 Kms from Chandigarh on the Panchkula - Barwalla Nadha Sahib Gurudwara Highway near Ramgarh. It is unique combination of Amusement Park, Water Park . We offer the most exiting and hi-tech hydraulic rides in Amusement Park for both children and adults. Aesthetically laid out flora and fauna matching in every bit to the splendor and grandeur of an exclusive haunt for FUNSEEKERS awaits you at FUNCITY. Wunder Water - the first and the biggest wet park in the region has three landing pools, one activity pool, one wave pool and 16 water slides of different sizes and shape including a few small ones for children. New features like Aqua dance, lazy river, splash pool, Slides like Typhoon tunnel, White multi lane white slide, Run away raft slide, Red dragon slide, Pendulum slide etc.
| Amusement Park | ||
| Big Apple | Kids Castle | Fun Slide |
| Razzle Dazzle | Paddle Fun | Grand Prix |
| Dream Boat | Fun on Wheels | Inflatable |
| Thumak Thumak | Fun Wheelie | Horror Zone |
| Space Walk | Crazy Cars | Arcade games |
| Fun Spin | Fun Flights | Disco Theque |
| Tot Spot | Toto Train | Spin o Spin |
| Wunder Park | ||
| Run Away Raft Slide | Wave Pool | Golf Course |
| White Dragon Slide | Activity Pool | Well Shower |
| Red Dragon Slide | Aqua Dance | |
| Typhoon Tunnel | Lazy River | |
| Crazy Cruise | Family Pool | |
| Pendulum | Balloon Fight | |
| Crazy Falls | Beach Volley Boll | |
Fun Cinemas in Chandigarh
The Fun Cinemas offers you one of the hippest and most happening experiences of cinema in Chandigarh . After a successful launch of Fun Republics at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Chandigarh is the third in chain of the nationwide integrated entertainment destinations being set up by E-City. The Fun republic of Chandigarh covers an area of 90,000 sq. ft. with provisions to park up to 300 cars. The Fun Cinemas in Chandigarh is the multiplex associated with Fun Republic . Besides the multiplex, there is a world-class food court, the Fun Food Court featuring eminent brands like Sagar Ratna, Pizza Hut, Tikka Express, Café Coffee Day, and Ruby Tuesday. It also houses the city's first Mc Donald's outlet, a favorite among the tourists. A dedicated chunk of space at Fun Cinemas in Chandigarh caters to the shopping needs of the guests. This Fun Mart features brands like Levi's, Dockers, Reebok, Adidas, Provogue, Lee Cooper, Samsonite, Gini & amp, Jony, Lilliput, Rockport, Greg Norman, Hangten, Ethos, Emminent, Numero Uno, Oleega, Nzyme, and Fen Fang among others. The adjoining Planet M is a meeting point of music lovers in the city and also features a virtual reality futuristic video games zone branded as Fun Gaming.
The 4 screens in the Fun Cinemas in Chandigarh are dedicated to show movies in English and Hindi. The superior quality of movies and the variety of services works wonders in bringing out the people from the comforts of their homes to spend a few hours enjoying, shopping and watching movies. With the colorful and lively ambience it is fast becoming a popular destination for the youngsters in the city. The present generation of music lovers and video game enthusiasts will also find many interesting things to catch their fancy here. If you are an outsider on tour of the city, visiting the Fun Cinemas in Chandigarh offers you the experience of a lively, vibrant mass of humanity getting together to have some fun.
Pinjore Gardens
Chandigarh, in Punjab, is surrounded by numerous beautiful places that serve as ideal destinations for excursions. The Pinjore Gardens in Chandigarh is one of those few places that has emerged as an important tourist attraction that one can visit when on a holiday to this city.
The Pinjore Gardens is situated at a distance of nearly 20 kilometers from the main city of Chandigarh. This beautiful and astounding looking place is situated on the Pinjore-Kalka Road and is also known as the Pinjore Yadvindra Gardens. This ancient garden was built in the 17th century, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Nawab Fidal Khan was the man who designed and constructed this garden.
The Pinjore Gardens at Chandigarh are spread across an area of 100 acres. Like other Mughal gardens, this one also has a sloping ground and is decorated with fountains and grand and beautiful pavilions. There is a channel of water in the middle of the garden. The fountains are located inside this channel of water. There are walkways located on both sides of the channel. Lined with huge trees and a stretch of green grass, these walkways add to the beauty, charm and elegance of the Pinjore Garden. If you walk straight down, you will arrive at a huge pavilion, which offers marvelous view of the entire garden. The pavilion also has a terrace with a water body located in the center. The biggest attraction of the Pinjore Gardens is the Jal Mahal. This is currently being used as a restaurant.
The beauty of this grand park will, definitely amaze visitors planning to go for excursions near by Chandigarh. Apart from the fountains, you can also check out the mango orchard and the litchi orchard housed inside this garden. The Pinjore Garden also serves as a popular picnic spot. You can come over here with your families and have great time under the boughs of the shady trees. There is also a small zoo inside this park where you can get to see some birds and animals.
The Pinjore Garden with its beauty and charm and is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions of Punjab. One should not forget to pay a visit to this place when on a holiday to Chandigarh.
Chattbir Zoo
When planning to go on excursions near by Chandigarh you can visit the Chattbir Zoo, which will definitely give you a pleasant sightseeing experience.
Chattbir Zoo in Chandigarh is popularly known as the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park. It houses 800 different species of animals in a 202-hectare reserve.
The zoo is set on the Chandigarh Patiala road, which is around a 17kilometers drive from Chandigarh. The main attraction of the zoo is the Royal Bengal Tiger, which has developed into the perfect point of interest for visiting the zoo. Visitors are taken in a caged motor vehicle to the tiger's refuge to savor its attractions. While traveling inside the tiger's refuge, the visitors can enjoy close ups of this magnificent animal. Various species of birds are also housed in this zoo. Another major attraction of the zoo is the Himalayan Black Bear.
You can come to the Chattbir Zoo near Chandigarh and check out the 'Lion Safaris'. Initially there were hundred lions in this zoo. At present due to certain reasons the 'safari' only has around twenty-four lions. Though the zoo has suffered loses, the visitors still enjoy the 'safaris' with that of the other animals.
The Chattbir Zoo is the perfect place for a good picnic. School children can come over here for a fun-filled day and also learn a lot about the different animals by carrying out research on them. You will find people overflowing on some major occasions, especially during the winters. Many zoologists also visit the zoo for carrying out research on various species of life. People also capture various sights through photographic lenses.
The Chattbir Zoo near Chandigarh is open round the year except on Mondays, and the national holidays. Visiting the zoo would be a worldly experience gained in a 'naturally wild' surrounding.
Kasauli Hill
Chandigarh, one of the well-planned cities of India, is surrounded by a number of exotic places, which serve as popular excursion spots. Excursions nearby Chandigarh takes you to some of the hill stations of India. Kasauli is one such beautiful hill station, situated close to Chandigarh. Visitors frequent this place to enjoy the scenic beauty that it offers.
Initially Kasauli was a village known as 'Kasul'. During the 17th century, due to some political fights, few Rajput families took refuge and settled in the 'Kasul' village. At that time the village had the provision of fresh perennial spring water. This fresh spring water of the Himalayas made the village turn into a popular hill station of Kausali.
Kasauli is a small town with the blend of all the natural beauty. It is located at a height of 1928 meters from the sea level. Kasauli is one of the cleanest places in Chandigarh. The hill station offers a splendid view of the city of Chandigarh, Shimla and the soothing snow capped Himalayas. You can also visit some more attractive places like Dharampur and Kalka, which are located a few kilometers away from Kasauli. You can reach Kasauli by various means of transportation. You can avail a long drive from Chandigarh or Delhi, which follows the highway of Shimla till Dharampur. Then the Dharampur connector helps you to reach Kasauli. You can also get direct flights from Delhi, which are available only on alternate days. For convenience, you can also take a train to Kalka and from there take a bus or a taxi to Kasauli.
The hill station of Kausali is adorned with some unique places. To make your journey memorable, you should visit Sanwar, which is 6 kilometer from Kasauli. The Lawrence school of the Sanawar house is one of the popular and best schools in India and is also a main attraction of the city. Dharampur is known for its finest hospitals out of which the 'tuberculosis' hospital is the most famous. Sabathu is a popular cantonment town built in the 19th century. Monkey Point is the highest point of Kasauli, which gives you the scenic beauty of the plains of Chandigarh, where the river Sutlej draws a silvery track. Dagshai is also a cantonment, which has a 'military public school'.
Roads to Kasauli pass through numerous shopping malls. These roads are lined with horse cheese nut trees, pine and oak tress. As traffic is not allowed on these restricted roads, Kasauli hill does not face any problem of air pollution. You will be enthralled by the wild beauty of flowers and creatures of the hilly region of Kasauli.
So, if you need a fresh air of mind, then do not waste your time, and head straight for the hill station of Kasauli.
Mansa Devi Temple of Chandigarh
Excursions near by Chandigarh will take you to some of the popular temples such as Mansa Devi Temple, Golden Temple, and Chand Devi Temple, which allows one to enjoy spiritual beauty and experience mental bliss.
Mansa Devi Temple is situated in Bilaspur village, which is around three kilometers drive from the east of Mani Manjra, Chandigarh. There are two temples, which are committed to Goddess Mansa Devi. The Mansa Devi Temple, located in Panchkula, symbolizes the culture and belief of the people in the grand Himalayas and Shiva, the God of 'Shakti'. In Panchkula region there are numerous worshiping centers of 'shakti' like Chandi, Kalika, Mansa and Bhima where people comes to listen to the spiritual words.
In the main temple, Devi Mansa is worshiped in the form of the holy 'sand' in the formation of 'pindi'. At present this has been replaced with her idol, which is made of marble. Mansa Devi is worshiped with Devi Saraswati and Devi Lakshmi in the holy form of 'pindi'. Primitively the processes of the idol worship were done in the form of pindis, but now in the recent times, the deity is worshiped in its anthropomorphic form. The idol worship makes the human form more attractive when the ornaments are placed in their due place.
The interesting point is that the architectural designs of the temple are the typical Mughal manifestation, which is in direct contrast with the environmental region of Chandigarh. It has a distinctive 'nagara' curve shaped design and the walls of the temple are decorated with paintings of shrines and other motifs. The architectural flair of the temple comes from the 'Shivalik' background. The temple is built in a Panchayantana pattern. As per this pattern, there are four major shrines at each of its corners and the main shrine located right in the middle.
The present day Mansa Devi Temple of Chandigarh was constructed by Maharaja Gopal Singh of Manimajra situated in the Bilaspur village, Tehsil and Panchkula District on the Shivalik foothills. You can find another temple called Patiala Temple just 200meters from the main temple. There are some wall paintings in thirty-eight panels and the marvelous floral designs painted on the ceiling. One can illustrate the themes by watching the variety of paintings.
o, do not forget to visit the Mansa Devi Temple of Chandigarh, which gives you the pleasure to enjoy finest artistic beauty.
Sports Facilities
Chandigarh has infrastructure for nearly all types of sports activities. The Chandigarh Administration runs many well equipped sports complexes, sports clubs and hostels. The city is well equipped to cater to player's need in sports like swimming, athletics, tennis, gyms, football, cricket and golf, etc.
Cricket Stadium
Chandigarh has the world class cricket stadium owned by the Punjab Cricket Association in SAS Nagar-part of Greater Chandigarh. PCA stadium has became the venue for a number of international cricket matches. International day and night matches has also been played here as the stadium has facilty of flood lights. Additionally, there is a cricket stadium in sector 16 chandigarh, which has been the venue of international cricket matches.
Hockey Stadium
There is a hockey stadium with international standard Astroturf in sector 42 is the venue for national and international hockey matches. There is one more hockey stadium with grass pitch in sector 18, near Tagore theatre.
The Chandigarh Golf Club in sector 6 started in the Sixties has steadily developed into an 18 hole course. The Chandigarh Golf Open Championship is becoming an annual event and one of the most prestigious golf
Lawn Tennis
Lawn Tennis Stadium in Sector 10 is the pride of Chandigarh. It has a seating capacity of 4000 persons, and has been the venue of Davis Cup Semi-Finals. Other tennis courts are available at Lake Club, Chandigarh Club and Panjab University.
Swimming
Chandigarh has a large number of Swimming Pools. They are accessible to the members and guest of the respective institution. There is no indoor Swimming Pool in Chandigarh. Most of the Pools have filtration plants. The city has swimming pools in Sector 14, 23 and lake club. The sukhna Lake makes in the city. You can go yachting, boating, rowing, sailing, sculling.
Chandigarh Football & Hockey Academy
The Chandigarh Football & Hockey Academy has established as per the initiation taken by the Administrator U.T. Chandigarh - an aim to groom the talent in the discipline of Football & Hockey in this region. Conducive environment for specific coaching and training on scientific basis has been provided in Sports Complex, Sector-42, Chandigarh to achieve the said aim. There is a football stadium in sector 46.
Gardens
Le Corbusier, the planner of the conceived the Master Plan of Chandigarh as analogous to a human body with a clearly defined Head (Capital Complex), Heart (City Centre), Lungs (Leisure Valley and Gardens), the Limbs (Cultural and Educational Institutions) and the Circulatory System (7 Vs). The conception of the City has been formulated on the basis of four major functions: Living, Working, Care of the Body and Spirit and Circulation.
The leisure valley, gardens, sector greens, forests and trees of Chandigarh are the lungs of the city.
LEISURE VALLEY
A continuum of various theme gardens to take care of the body and spirit of the city. Le Corbusier retained the eroded valley of a seasonal rivulet on the original site of the City and sculptured it into a Linear park now over 8km long .It starts from Sector 1 in the north and leaves Chandigarh at its southern most edge in sector 53.
RAJENDRA PARK (Sector 1)
The Leisure Valley starts from the Rajendra Park. The park is a vast stretch of land of about 400 acres abutting the Secretariat building on its eastern side. Le Corbusier himself designed the landscape scheme of this park .Trees with round canopies and evergreen foliage have been planted here. It was started in 1954 and is used for long walks, learning to drive and horse riding.
BOUGAINVILLEA GARDEN (Sector-3)
It spreads over an area of 20 acres. The natural choe running through the valley starts from here. The garden is devoted to hundreds of varieties of bougainvillea. A few flowering trees have also been planted to give colourful effect during the intervening period of bougainvillea flowering time. It was opened in 1976.
FITNESS TRAILS (Sector 10)
The Physical Fitness Trails have been developed with a view to enjoying physical exercises amidst the beauty of Nature. It is an ideal place for long walks and physical workouts.
To the south of Fitness Trails is located the Flower Garden where seasonal flowers have been planted in one portion and the remaining portion is punctuated with sculptures by renowned artists. Some area has been left vacant for organizing various cultural activities.
ROSE GARDEN (Sector 16)
Named after India’s former President Dr. Zakir Hussain, the garden was established in 1967 under the guidance of Chandigarh’s first Chief Commissioner, Late Dr. M.S. Randhawa.
The largest Rose Garden in Asia, is spread over an area of 27 acres and has more than 17000 plants representing some 1600 varieties of roses. Along with the roses, emphasis was also given to the trees of medicinal value and some unique species of trees to enhance the beauty of the garden. The annual “Festival of Gardens” is organized in the Rose Garden in the month of February and is listed in the “National Calendar of Events”.
SHANTI KUNJ (Sector16)
Shanti Kunj is situated between Rose Garden and Cricket in Sector 16. This is a completely noise-free area with natural undulations. The natural stream running through this garden divides the park into five areas. The five parts of the garden depict different kinds of trees such as medicinal plants, vertical shaped trees, flowering trees, trees for shade and environmentally suitable areas.
CHILDREN TRAFFIC PARK (Sector 23)
The area of Leisure Valley in Sector 23 has been developed into a Children’s Traffic Park. The roads have been constructed and traffic lights have been installed in miniature form. This park is meant for children who are learning to cycle and designed to reach them the rules of road safety.
HIBISCUS GARDEN (Sector 36)
It covers an area of 8 acres and about 40 different varieties of Hibiscus shrubs have been planted to provide colour throughout the year.
GARDEN OF FRAGRANCE (Sector 36)
Situated to the south of the Hibiscus Garden, it is very popular for different varieties of aromatic and fragrant plants. The flower plants like Raat ki Rani, Motia, varieties of Jasmine, Demask Rose, Mehndi, Champa, Haar Shingar and many others cast a pervading aroma in this part of the Leisure Valley.
OTHER GARDENS
SMRITI UPAVAN (Sector 1)
This space has been set aside to allow people to plant trees in the memory of the departed. This is a garden where every tree commemorate someone who is no more. It was formally inaugurated on 14.11.1998 by planting a banyan tree in the memory of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is situated between Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. People can plant trees in the memory of their near and dear ones.
BOTANICAL GARDEN (Sector 14)
There are two Botanical Gardens in the city – one between Rock Garden and lake and the other in Panjab University. Another Botanical Garden is being developed to about 110 acres of land in Sarangpur which will be a major tourist attraction in the near future.
TERRACED GARDEN (Sector 33)
A small valley running through the length of the sector has been developed into a Terraced Garden. Its main attraction is an illuminated musical fountain. The garden is the venue for the annual Chrysanthemum Show. It is spread over 10 acres and was opened in 1979.
TOPIARY PARK (Sector 35)
It was opened to the public in 1987. Many animal shapes created out of creepers and bushes attract children to this park. A large variety of ornamental plants add to the park’s charm.
Other than these Gardens, Chandigarh has beautifully landscaped roundabouts and wherever you may be in the city, you are surrounded by Natures beauty and freshness.
FOREST
Chandigarh has 3245 hectares under forest and most of it is hilly. The forest areas are mostly around Sukhna Lake, Sukhna Choe and Patiali Ki Rao. There are two reserve forests in Chandigarh – Kansal and Nepli. Both the places have forest Rest Houses. Permit from the Forest Department, Chandigarh Administration is required for entry to these places. A walk in these areas can be very rewarding as one may come across a large variety of wild animals such as antelopes, neelgais, hyena, jackals, hares and even leopards. The forest also offers excellent facilities for trekking in the hills.
Life Style
People of Chandigarh were accustomed to a casual and leisurely lifestlyle which has now gradually changed to a fast and busy one. People are peaceful friendly and broad minded. This reflects in the fact that Chandigarh has now become a trendsetter in fashion.
Also the Chandigarh Carnival that is held every year in the sector 17 plaza is a major center for boosting and bring across the people of Chandigarh the talent of its residents, as people perform on stage and large crowds gather around to see and enjoy what the upcoming artists of the city have in store. Also many art exibitions are held in various auditoriams of the city creating a creative enviornment, all year round.
Life in Chandigarh is peaceful largely due to efficeint state run administration. All the government offices are surprisingly well maintained and up to date. SBI, the telecom department and the central bus service are few examples. Chandigarh is also responsible for the birth of the word 'GERI' which basically means patrolling or moving around in an area. This word got its meaning from the youth of the city studying in the various city colleges and the University located in the northern part of the city. Whenever the students get a time-out from their lecture and busy schedule, they along with their friends go around the various city colleges and Panjab University to check out the crowd and flaunt their ride !
The people of Chandigarh, being influenced by closeness of Punjab, are very friendly and warm. Especially the Chandigarh youth. Although this city houses a lot of Senior Citizens and Retired Majors, but yet both the generations have a capabale understanding. Youth of Chandigarh hang around, with a steam of eating joints, chick cloths, and happening music. People of Chandigarh have there main concentration on education. It boasts of many world renowed educational institiutes. The city does not have a night life and most of the occasions or celebration die out at about 10:00 PM, and the regular days are limited upto 9:00 PM. Although this does not implies that the city is completely dead after 9:00 PM. A nice and decent crowd is regular at cool pubs and discs, the number of which has been increasing in Chandigarh.
Also the Chandigarh Carnival that is held every year in the sector 17 plaza is a major center for boosting and bring across the people of Chandigarh the talent of its residents, as people perform on stage and large crowds gather around to see and enjoy what the upcoming artists of the city have in store. Also many art exibitions are held in various auditoriams of the city creating a creative enviornment, all year round.
Life in Chandigarh is peaceful largely due to efficeint state run administration. All the government offices are surprisingly well maintained and up to date. SBI, the telecom department and the central bus service are few examples. Chandigarh is also responsible for the birth of the word 'GERI' which basically means patrolling or moving around in an area. This word got its meaning from the youth of the city studying in the various city colleges and the University located in the northern part of the city. Whenever the students get a time-out from their lecture and busy schedule, they along with their friends go around the various city colleges and Panjab University to check out the crowd and flaunt their ride !
The people of Chandigarh, being influenced by closeness of Punjab, are very friendly and warm. Especially the Chandigarh youth. Although this city houses a lot of Senior Citizens and Retired Majors, but yet both the generations have a capabale understanding. Youth of Chandigarh hang around, with a steam of eating joints, chick cloths, and happening music. People of Chandigarh have there main concentration on education. It boasts of many world renowed educational institiutes. The city does not have a night life and most of the occasions or celebration die out at about 10:00 PM, and the regular days are limited upto 9:00 PM. Although this does not implies that the city is completely dead after 9:00 PM. A nice and decent crowd is regular at cool pubs and discs, the number of which has been increasing in Chandigarh.
Festivals
The Festival of Gardens
It is organized in the last week of February. Earlier it was famous by the name of "Rose Festival". It is the biggest Rose Show in the country. Varieties of magnificent roses are on display during this festival. It was intended to encourage people to walk through the Rose Garden and enjoy the beauty of roses. The festival features performances of music and dance, both classical and folk, flower shows, events for children, exhibitions by local artists, photographers and craftsman and a wide range of other activities.
The Mango Festival
It is celebrated in the month of June at Pinjore Gardens. Different varieties of mangoes are displayed in the festival. Mango growers from all over India get together at one place giving a chance to public to taste the varieties of mangoes. At the festival, mango products like juice, squash, jams, pickles and aam papad are also displayed.
Baisakhi
The first day of the Hindu new year (according to Vikrami calender) is marked by Baisakhi, primarily a harvest festival. This is celebrated with great gusto in Chandigarh where Bhangara dancers, energetic and vigorous country youths enhant everybody with their ebullience. It is also the main festival for Sikhs as on this day in 1699, the 10th Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Panth.
The Chrysanthemums Show
A flower show is held every year in the Terrace Garden of Sector 33 in the month of December . The Chrysanthemum Show attracts a lot of visitors as well as participants to Chandigarh. Hundreds of varieties of the flower are on display and city gardeners vie for coveted honors in the competitions.
Teej Festival
It is the festival of monsoon celebrated by women. The Rock Garden of Chandigarh becomes the centre of activity during Teej celebrated in the month of August every year. Women accessories like bangles, mehndi, and other makeup utilities are displayed at the Rock garden during the festival. One can see every female dressed up with full jewelry like newly weds.
April Fool's Day
No other city in India hosts such festival, various famous poets from all over the country gather on April 1st in Chandigarh. They recite verses in a jocular vein. On this day Chandigarh becomes a laughter zone. Even those who do not ordinarily enjoy poetry look forward to the Maha Moorkh Sammelan, or Conclave of Colossal Fools. People listen to the foolish poetry of poets and share a lighter side of the life with them.
The Chandigarh Carnival
This carnival is celebrated in the second week of November (just before Children's Day) every year for three days. The carnival opens with a colourful procession followed by number of competitions. The carnival is a time for students and children to show their talent and elders too participate in a number of competitions.
The Plaza Carnival
Every Saturday evening, people of Chandigarh enjoy the three-hour Plaza Carnival held on an open-air stage set up in Sector 17's central plaza. The carnival is free for all and draws a large crowd. It intends to promote local artists from every field. The attractions vary every Saturday and it could be anything from dance, music, and magic show to painting display, sculpture display, acrobatics, or mimicry.
Every Saturday evening, people of Chandigarh enjoy the three-hour Plaza Carnival held on an open-air stage set up in Sector 17's central plaza. The carnival is free for all and draws a large crowd. It intends to promote local artists from every field. The attractions vary every Saturday and it could be anything from dance, music, and magic show to painting display, sculpture display, acrobatics, or mimicry.
Chandigarh Real Estate
Chandigarh Property has got magnetism owing to its beauty. Chandigarh is the most planned city and capital of two states viz. Punjab & Haryana. The city got its name from the temple of goddess Chandi. Chandigarh is a very rich city. The standard of living and per-capita income is very high there. Majority of the population in the city is from army background who because of the beauty of the city want to spend their retired life there. The same pattern of glory and pride can be seen in Chandigarh property. Big bungalows, farmhouses are common there. But now the scenario is changing. The commercial real estate is getting pace. One major commercial development is the construction of IT Park. All the big names in IT are setting up their business there. A future IT hub is attracting top builders to invest in the city beautiful. There are high returns on investment in real estate and property so realty sector is on an upsurge. Many other real estate developments are also taking place. Lush green parks, well maintained round abouts and roads covered with large canopies of trees are really creating people's interest to buy property in the most fine-looking city.
Punjab Urban Development Authority, Chandigarh is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to beautify the city further. They are taking projects in many sectors and its peripheral areas. Along with this Chandigarh Housing Board brings out many housing schemes. Besides giving housing facility to all they are also working on the development of parks, city suburbs and slum rehabilitation projects. The prevalent architects of the city inspire the architects in Chandigarh. Many private builders and developers are making exquisitely designed townships and flats in the city. As people living there are very fashion conscious so they want home which are well decorated and smarten up by the Interior Designers. Houses in Chandigarh generally have big lawns with them. One call always try lots of Home Gardening ideas there. Property Dealers and Real Estate Agents in Chandigarh are also playing major role in buying or selling property. They are well versed with the latest news in the real estate and property market. With all the development in commercial and residential sector property prices are really getting high.
But as many foreign companies (Emaar MGF Developers Group)are interested in the real estate in Chandigarh there is relief to take home loans. Several banks, private and finance companies are providing easy loans at low interest rate. Consequently the property market in one of the most planned and beautiful city is flourishing.
Art & Culture
The Cultural Complex (Sector 10)
Chandigarh is the cultural capital of the region. Many artists and writers live in the city. The frequently held exhibitions, and performances by singers, dancers, musicians and actors have inculcated among city residents a desire for the best in performing visual and plastic arts besides literary encounters.
Le Corbusier earmarked a portion of Sector 10 as the Cultural Complex which would include an Audio-Visual Training Institute, a Museum, an Art Gallery, and a 'Miracle Box' ( which never got build ) and later replaced by the Science Museum.
At present there is the Government College of Arts, the Government Museum and Art Gallery alongwith a separate 'Pavilion for Temporary Exhibitions' - now converted into the City Museum. The 'Miracle Box' has been substituted by the Museum of Evolution of Life, not designed by Le Corbusier, but located in the Cultural Complex. The Theatre for Performing Arts was later realised as the Tagore Theatre designed by Aditya Prakash in Sector 18.
Lalit Kala, Sahitya and Sangeet Natak Academy
These three bodies devoted to art, literature, music and dance/drama respectively function in co-ordination with the UT Administration and have their offices in the State Library Building, Sector 34. They conduct numerous lectures, exhibitions, performances and festivals throughout the year.
Pracheen Kala Kendra (Sector 35)
This is a private teaching institution offering degree courses in Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, Kathak and Bharatnatyam among the Indian Classical dance and also folk dances and song. The Pracheen Kala Kendra organises a week-long festival of music and dance every year in March as well as smaller programmes -baithaks- on the 11th of every month. No tickets are required for these programmes. Anyone may attend.
Theaters and Auditoriums
| Theatre | Address |
| Open Air Theatre (2 Number) | Rock Garden, Sector 1 |
| Open Air Theatre | Open Hand, Capitol Complex |
| Open Air Theatre | Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16 |
| Bal Bhawan - Open Air | Sector 23-B |
| Tagore Theatre | Sector 18-A |
| Auditorium | Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 |
| Bhargava Auditorium | PGI, Sector 14 |
| Auditorium | Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15 |
| Auditorium | Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35-B |
| Auditorium | Polytechnic for Women Sector 10-D |
| Auditorium | Home Science College Sector 10 |
| Auditorium | Government College for Girls, Sector 11 |
| Auditorium | Government College of Arts, Sector 10 |
| Auditoria (3 in Number) |
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Alchemist Hospital, Panchkula
Alchemist Group forayed into provision of Healthcare in 2006 with the acquisition of a 100-bed hospital at Panchkula. The Hospital is being refurbished to create a state of the art JCI compliant hospital. The completely renovated and upgraded facility will be available to the community from the third quarter of 2007.
The hospital will be centrally air-conditioned. It will have steel modular operation theatres with independent air handling units and .3-micron hepa filters with a laminar air flow. The NFP A certified medical gas system is being supplied from Tri- Tech, USA. The Central Sterile Supply Systems are from Steris, USA. The laundry systems are from Image, Malaysia. It is being equipped with a GPS supported Master Clock system first of its kind in the country for any hospital. The hospital is being networked to enable a paperless, film-less environment for functioning. All critical systems like electricity, gases have backup and fall back systems installed to ensure 100% uninterrupted availability.
The hospital will be centrally air-conditioned. It will have steel modular operation theatres with independent air handling units and .3-micron hepa filters with a laminar air flow. The NFP A certified medical gas system is being supplied from Tri- Tech, USA. The Central Sterile Supply Systems are from Steris, USA. The laundry systems are from Image, Malaysia. It is being equipped with a GPS supported Master Clock system first of its kind in the country for any hospital. The hospital is being networked to enable a paperless, film-less environment for functioning. All critical systems like electricity, gases have backup and fall back systems installed to ensure 100% uninterrupted availability.
The hospital will have the best of medical technology including the Dual source CT scanner, Flat Panel Cath Lab for interventional Cardiology, a 3D C-Arm System for surgery, Digital Fluoroscopy System, Integrated patient Monitoring Systems in Critical Care Units and several other technologies. The hospital will offer all clinical programs in an institutional framework adopting the best of accreditation and credentialing norms. Standards, Quality, Appropriateness, Transparency and Ethics will be the guiding parameters to govern this initiative.
Alchemist Group has also recently taken over the management of a 500-bed Medical College Hospital in Gujarat.
Contact Information
ALCHEMIST HOSPITAL
Sector 21
Panchkula, Haryana
India - 134112
Phone: +91-172-2520171-2-3
Fax: +91-172-2561404, 2561039, 2520175
Sliver Oaks fully equipped multi speciality Hospital
Welcome to Silver Oaks Hospital - one of the most comprehensive healthcare providers in North India. We have accredited Medical Officers from almost all specialty areas.
Our priority is high quality, cost effective patient care founded on excellent practice. We have one single multi speciality hospital that is fully equipped to handle each and every conceivable medical problem. We strive as a team to provide services and care which improves the quality of life of our patients.
Silver Oaks Hospital is a 100 bedded multi-speciality hospital built on 1.2 acres of land having 70000 sq ft of covered area. It is situated in Mohali satellite town of Chandigarh (a thriving metropolitan and most ultra modern city of India).
With 30 disciplines running in the hospital it is considered a centre of excellence in Orthopaedics (bones & joints), Cardiac care, Psychiatry and EndocrinologyThe one hospital that meets all your demands for quality, efficiency and affordability. Has a 14 bedded ICU, CCU equipped with modular monitors, digital ventilators, defibrillator, central medical gas systems and all other support measures. The equipment configuration and level of medical care and support is equivalent to any international corporate hospital.
The hospital has centrally air conditioned premises, state-of-the-art Equipment, the most qualified and experienced doctors and an efficient and trained Paramedical staff ensures that you receive services that are at par with the best in the country.
Our priority is high quality, cost effective patient care founded on excellent practice. We have one single multi speciality hospital that is fully equipped to handle each and every conceivable medical problem. We strive as a team to provide services and care which improves the quality of life of our patients.
Silver Oaks Hospital is a 100 bedded multi-speciality hospital built on 1.2 acres of land having 70000 sq ft of covered area. It is situated in Mohali satellite town of Chandigarh (a thriving metropolitan and most ultra modern city of India).
With 30 disciplines running in the hospital it is considered a centre of excellence in Orthopaedics (bones & joints), Cardiac care, Psychiatry and EndocrinologyThe one hospital that meets all your demands for quality, efficiency and affordability. Has a 14 bedded ICU, CCU equipped with modular monitors, digital ventilators, defibrillator, central medical gas systems and all other support measures. The equipment configuration and level of medical care and support is equivalent to any international corporate hospital.
The hospital has centrally air conditioned premises, state-of-the-art Equipment, the most qualified and experienced doctors and an efficient and trained Paramedical staff ensures that you receive services that are at par with the best in the country.
It is the only renal Transplant center in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali and it is the 4th in punjab.
*Built on 1.2 acres of land having 70000 sq ft of covered area. Silver Oaks Hospital is situated in Phase IX, Mohali 1.5 km from Chandigarh.
*100 bedded multi-speciality hospital with state of the art facilities for comprehensive and advanced medical care.
*30 disciplines running in the hospital.
*Affordable to all classes of society with provision for indoor facilities with General Ward, Twin Sharing to Deluxe Rooms.
*Has a 14 bedded ICU, CCU equipped with modular monitors, digital ventilators, defibrillator, central medical gas systems and all other support measures. The equipment configuration and level of medical care and support is equivalent to any international corporate hospital.
*Multi-speciality OPD 09:00 AM to 06:30 PM.
Contact Information
Silver Oaks Hospital
Phase IX, Sector 63
S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) - 160 062
Punjab, India
Tel: +91-172-2211303
+91-172-2211308
+91-172-2211309
Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh
In view of the ever increasing population of the city of Chandigarh, a second 500-bedded General Hospital had become a necessity not only for catering to the needs of patients in the southern sectors of the city but also to cater for patients from the satellite townships of Panchkula and SAS Nagar. The first 500-bedded General Hospital in sector 16 remains choked with the flow of patients from the first phase sectors of the city and the surrounding states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and western parts of Uttar Pradesh. The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, located in sector 12, Chandigarh was conceived as a premier referral centre for the northern states of India.
The second General Hospital in Sector 32 had been planned to serve the second phase sectors, thereby relieving pressure on General Hospital, Sector 16 and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), so that the latter could serve as a first rate referral hospital.
Chandigarh, best educational facilities in the country. Besides the Panjab University and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, it has an Engineering College, College of Arts, College of Architecture, a number of Government and Private Degree Colleges and other prestigious and important research institutions. Somehow, the city had lacked a Medical College for graduate studies, i.e. MBBS. The deficiency was most glaring. GMC provides opportunity of a career in medicine to many promising students who were denied of this opportunity because of ‘domicile’ restrictions imposed by the states in which these colleges are located.
Broad Objectives of the Project
The hospital, intending to meet the medicosocial needs of various communities of different economic status, has been obliged to adjust its various services/facilities of general nature and teaching to the present requirements of the society in North India. The broad objectives of the 500 bedded multi-disciplinary teaching hospital are cited below :
The second General Hospital in Sector 32 had been planned to serve the second phase sectors, thereby relieving pressure on General Hospital, Sector 16 and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), so that the latter could serve as a first rate referral hospital.
Chandigarh, best educational facilities in the country. Besides the Panjab University and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, it has an Engineering College, College of Arts, College of Architecture, a number of Government and Private Degree Colleges and other prestigious and important research institutions. Somehow, the city had lacked a Medical College for graduate studies, i.e. MBBS. The deficiency was most glaring. GMC provides opportunity of a career in medicine to many promising students who were denied of this opportunity because of ‘domicile’ restrictions imposed by the states in which these colleges are located.
Broad Objectives of the Project
The hospital, intending to meet the medicosocial needs of various communities of different economic status, has been obliged to adjust its various services/facilities of general nature and teaching to the present requirements of the society in North India. The broad objectives of the 500 bedded multi-disciplinary teaching hospital are cited below :
*To provide comprehensive health care, encompassing preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care to the residents of North India drawn from the urban/semi-urban and rural areas.
*To provide out-patient, in-patient and round the clock maternity and emergency care services of all basic and supportive general specialties. These services would be provided free to the poor whereas the more affluent component of the society will add gradually to the government revenue.
*To provide round the clock facilities of intensive care unit, coronary care unit, burns unit and neonatal intensive care unit.
*To provide round the clock state of the art diagnostic services/facilities in clinical pathology, including blood bank, clinical biochemistry, microbiology and radiology, including ultrasound and CT scan.
*To provide few specialised services in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic fields like in cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, neonatology, neurosurgery, urology, plastic surgery and burns, etc.
*To act as a free medical institution for direct/first level contact for patients and also as a secondary level referral centre for the referred cases from nearby smaller/large hospitals (Government/private), health centres, polyclinics and dispensaries situated in North India.
*To act, specifically, as a regional overflow multi-disciplinary institution (north region) for the referred cases by linking horizontally with other peripheral 100 bedded and 500 bedded general hospitals in the north, with other major teaching institutions and larger multi-disciplinary hospital situated in other parts of Chandigarh.
*To reduce considerably the present workload of other hospitals, especially the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh and thereby offer maximum relief to the economically weaker section and middle section of the people residing in rural and semi-urban areas of Chandigarh.
*To participate in various national health programmes, including National Family Welfare Programme, by linking with various Government/private hospitals and health centres(horizontally and vertically) and providing necessary infrastructure and facilities as per their demands.
*To fulfill the glaring deficiency of an undergraduate Medical College in the Union Territory of Chandigarh which offers the best educational facilities in all other fields. The Government Medical College will be attached to the teaching hospital.
*To act as a centre for Continuing Medical Education Programmes for various categories of technical and non-technical personnel of different disciplines working within and from other various sized hospitals.
*To render facilities for conducting research activities relating to different specialties, as and when required.
*Last but not the least the hospital, as a measure for future expansion, in response to the changing trend in hospital services, would also provide facilities/services (clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic) of various other specialties in future depending upon the real needs of the population.
*To provide out-patient, in-patient and round the clock maternity and emergency care services of all basic and supportive general specialties. These services would be provided free to the poor whereas the more affluent component of the society will add gradually to the government revenue.
*To provide round the clock facilities of intensive care unit, coronary care unit, burns unit and neonatal intensive care unit.
*To provide round the clock state of the art diagnostic services/facilities in clinical pathology, including blood bank, clinical biochemistry, microbiology and radiology, including ultrasound and CT scan.
*To provide few specialised services in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic fields like in cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, neonatology, neurosurgery, urology, plastic surgery and burns, etc.
*To act as a free medical institution for direct/first level contact for patients and also as a secondary level referral centre for the referred cases from nearby smaller/large hospitals (Government/private), health centres, polyclinics and dispensaries situated in North India.
*To act, specifically, as a regional overflow multi-disciplinary institution (north region) for the referred cases by linking horizontally with other peripheral 100 bedded and 500 bedded general hospitals in the north, with other major teaching institutions and larger multi-disciplinary hospital situated in other parts of Chandigarh.
*To reduce considerably the present workload of other hospitals, especially the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh and thereby offer maximum relief to the economically weaker section and middle section of the people residing in rural and semi-urban areas of Chandigarh.
*To participate in various national health programmes, including National Family Welfare Programme, by linking with various Government/private hospitals and health centres(horizontally and vertically) and providing necessary infrastructure and facilities as per their demands.
*To fulfill the glaring deficiency of an undergraduate Medical College in the Union Territory of Chandigarh which offers the best educational facilities in all other fields. The Government Medical College will be attached to the teaching hospital.
*To act as a centre for Continuing Medical Education Programmes for various categories of technical and non-technical personnel of different disciplines working within and from other various sized hospitals.
*To render facilities for conducting research activities relating to different specialties, as and when required.
*Last but not the least the hospital, as a measure for future expansion, in response to the changing trend in hospital services, would also provide facilities/services (clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic) of various other specialties in future depending upon the real needs of the population.
The Government Medical College, Chandigarh was started during the year 1991 in pursuance of the No Objection Certificate issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, vide their U.O.No. 12013/31-90ME(P) dated 15-01-91. The defacto Government Medical College was started in the Prayaas building, Sector 38, Chandigarh after the foundation stone laying ceremony was performed by the former Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Chandra Shekhar on 20 January, 1991 in Sector 32 on the quilt of 36.09 acre of land allotted by the Chandigarh Administration. In the first instance, the construction for this College and Hospital was started with the outlay of Rs. 100.00 Lac earmarked in the annual plan for 1991-92.
Hospital Planning
The hospital building is being constructed with the highest specifications available in the country so that it can be kept hygienically clean and relatively infection free, in the patient’s interests. Crevices, projections and other designs, which can collect dust and cobwebs, have been avoided in the construction. Such infection harboring designs have been eliminated.
Bed Distribution and Architectural Design
Based upon modern technology and the utilization of the modern approach for the building of any complex, specially a large hospital, the Chief Architect, Chandigarh Administration, had evolved a new concept based on the modular system. He proposed the system with self-contained modules for different functions with vertical requirements and a central core which will take away the use of unending corridors of the traditional hospital buildings constructed in the past.
Hospital Planning
The hospital building is being constructed with the highest specifications available in the country so that it can be kept hygienically clean and relatively infection free, in the patient’s interests. Crevices, projections and other designs, which can collect dust and cobwebs, have been avoided in the construction. Such infection harboring designs have been eliminated.
Bed Distribution and Architectural Design
Based upon modern technology and the utilization of the modern approach for the building of any complex, specially a large hospital, the Chief Architect, Chandigarh Administration, had evolved a new concept based on the modular system. He proposed the system with self-contained modules for different functions with vertical requirements and a central core which will take away the use of unending corridors of the traditional hospital buildings constructed in the past.
Contact Information
Government Medical College & Hospital
Sector 32
Chandigarh
India
Tel: +91-172-2665253, 2665545, 2669180, 2669182
+91-172-2669569, 2662201-04, 2663301, 2663303
Fax: +91-172-2608488
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh : A Profile
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh was conceived in 1960 as a center of excellence which would endeavour to develop patterns of teaching in postgraduate medical education in as many branches as possible and attempt to produce specialists in several disciplines of medicine. It was also envisaged that these specialists would spread out in the country in various medical colleges and medical institutions and impart medical education of highest standard to the students and set up nucleus of excellence in their own institutions. The PGIMER was also given the responsibility to broaden the horizons of medical knowledge by intensive research in the field of health.
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh was mandated to
1. Provide high quality patient care.
2. Attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and to meet the country’s need
for highly qualified medical teachers in all medical and surgical disciplines.
3. Provide educational facilities for the training of personnel in all important branches of
health activity.
4. Undertake basic community based research.2. Attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and to meet the country’s need
for highly qualified medical teachers in all medical and surgical disciplines.
3. Provide educational facilities for the training of personnel in all important branches of
health activity.
Mission Statment
The mission of PGI is "service to the community, care of the needy and research for the good of all".
History
The PGIMER owes its inception to the vision of late Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister of Punjab and the distinguished medical educationists of the then combined state of Punjab, supported by the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru who considered the institutions of scientific knowledge as temples of learning and the places of pilgrimage. The institute started in 1962 and Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru inaugurated the hospital now named “Nehru Hospital” on 7th July 1963. The Institute was originally under the Government of undivided Punjab. After the reorganization of the state, the administrative control of the institute passed on to the Union Territory of Chandigarh in November 1966. The Institute became an autonomous body under the Act of Parliament in 1967 functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with the following mandate.
* Provide high quality patient care.
* Attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and to meet the country’s need
for highly qualified medical teachers in all medical and surgical fields.
* Provide educational facilities for the training of personnel in all-important branches of
health activity.
* Undertake basic community based research.
The Institute is continuing to achieve the objective of service to the community, care of the needy and research for the good of all. The Institute has shown the way to the entire nation in the sphere of health care and medical training.
Patient Care
1. The Nehru Hospital, the most vital part of the Institute, caters to the need of very sick and has about 50,000 annual admissions. The Institute has important diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, which are important compliments to the parallel clinical specialties.
2. A comprehensive emergency department (140 bedded) with divisions catering to medical, pediatric, surgical emergencies and trauma round the clock is a remarkable feature of the Institute. The new emergency block has attached laboratory, X-ray and operation theatre facilities. The department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging has facilities for MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and caters to the emergency services besides the routine service.
3. The Institute is actively involved in the community health services. The department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health along with departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology are busy conducting studies pertaining to the community health needs.
4. Advanced Pediatric Centre (300 bedded) is a multi speciality facility dedicated to the care of children. The centre which was inaugurated in 1997 by Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then president of has been equipped with modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The centre provides a 24 hours emergency service and a pediatric intensive care unit. It has a separate pediatric outpatient department. The centre provides speciality services in the field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Allergy and Immunology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Genetics and metabolic diseases. The department also has a super specialty of Neonatology with Neonatal Intensive Care facilities.
5. Super speciality of Gastroenterology is housed in a separate building with all modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The department has its own laboratory facilities - biochemistry, enzymology, microbiology, virology, radiology and pathology services. In addition, the department has a full-fledged section of pediatric gastroenterology.
6. Drug de-addiction and treatment centre has well functioning outpatient, inpatient, and outreach components. Active liaison with fellowship groups and other centres is maintained which in turn helps in the aftercare, rehabilitation, and manpower development.
7. Round the clock emergency services are provided for issue of blood and blood components. Mobile unit of the department of Transfusion Medicine conducts voluntary blood donation camps within and outside Chandigarh.
8. New OPD Block houses most of the out patient departments which are fully functional. It also has physiotherapy services, minor operation theatres for short surgical procedures. It also houses the DOTS centre for giving supervised treatment to patients of tuberculosis.
9. Advanced Eye Centre was inaugrated by Sh. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Hon'ble Vice President of India in the august presence of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss Hon'ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday, March 18, 2006. The Advanced eye Centre has introduced several new advanced technologies, some of which are among the first in India and include Optical Coherence Tomography, Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, Prefrential Hyperacuity Perimetery, Confocal Specular Microscopy, Eye Bank Specular Microscopy, Fluorescein and Indocyanine Green Angiography, Variety of Lasers, Computerized Perimeteric Techniques, Frequency Doubling Technique for Perimetery, High Resolution Ultrasonography, Ultrasonic Biomcroscopy, Corneal Topography, Automated Computerized Refractors and highly sophisticated electrophysiological techniques. All sophisticated ocular surgical procedures viz: IOL Implants for complicated cataracts, Lasik Surgery for removal of refractive errors, Trauma Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgical Procedures, Endoscopic DCR surgery, Galucoma and Vitreo Retinal Surgery including Laser Surgery for premature babies even in the incubators are routinely performed. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma has been introduced.
Patient Care
1. The Nehru Hospital, the most vital part of the Institute, caters to the need of very sick and has about 50,000 annual admissions. The Institute has important diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, which are important compliments to the parallel clinical specialties.
2. A comprehensive emergency department (140 bedded) with divisions catering to medical, pediatric, surgical emergencies and trauma round the clock is a remarkable feature of the Institute. The new emergency block has attached laboratory, X-ray and operation theatre facilities. The department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging has facilities for MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and caters to the emergency services besides the routine service.
3. The Institute is actively involved in the community health services. The department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health along with departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology are busy conducting studies pertaining to the community health needs.
4. Advanced Pediatric Centre (300 bedded) is a multi speciality facility dedicated to the care of children. The centre which was inaugurated in 1997 by Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then president of has been equipped with modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The centre provides a 24 hours emergency service and a pediatric intensive care unit. It has a separate pediatric outpatient department. The centre provides speciality services in the field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Allergy and Immunology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Genetics and metabolic diseases. The department also has a super specialty of Neonatology with Neonatal Intensive Care facilities.
5. Super speciality of Gastroenterology is housed in a separate building with all modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The department has its own laboratory facilities - biochemistry, enzymology, microbiology, virology, radiology and pathology services. In addition, the department has a full-fledged section of pediatric gastroenterology.
6. Drug de-addiction and treatment centre has well functioning outpatient, inpatient, and outreach components. Active liaison with fellowship groups and other centres is maintained which in turn helps in the aftercare, rehabilitation, and manpower development.
7. Round the clock emergency services are provided for issue of blood and blood components. Mobile unit of the department of Transfusion Medicine conducts voluntary blood donation camps within and outside Chandigarh.
8. New OPD Block houses most of the out patient departments which are fully functional. It also has physiotherapy services, minor operation theatres for short surgical procedures. It also houses the DOTS centre for giving supervised treatment to patients of tuberculosis.
9. Advanced Eye Centre was inaugrated by Sh. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Hon'ble Vice President of India in the august presence of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss Hon'ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday, March 18, 2006. The Advanced eye Centre has introduced several new advanced technologies, some of which are among the first in India and include Optical Coherence Tomography, Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, Prefrential Hyperacuity Perimetery, Confocal Specular Microscopy, Eye Bank Specular Microscopy, Fluorescein and Indocyanine Green Angiography, Variety of Lasers, Computerized Perimeteric Techniques, Frequency Doubling Technique for Perimetery, High Resolution Ultrasonography, Ultrasonic Biomcroscopy, Corneal Topography, Automated Computerized Refractors and highly sophisticated electrophysiological techniques. All sophisticated ocular surgical procedures viz: IOL Implants for complicated cataracts, Lasik Surgery for removal of refractive errors, Trauma Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgical Procedures, Endoscopic DCR surgery, Galucoma and Vitreo Retinal Surgery including Laser Surgery for premature babies even in the incubators are routinely performed. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma has been introduced.
Teaching / Training
The Institute has met the objective of providing educational facilities for the training of personnel both medical and non-medical in all the important branches of health activity. The Institute has attained self sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and runs a continuous, full time residency program in most of the specialties of medical sciences e.g. medicine, surgery, pathology, etc. There is a full fledged institute of nursing called National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) which imparts quality nursing education.
The Institute is involved in research for the rural and community related environment and health problems. There has been a steady progress in developing new research methods and strategies for the benefit of patients. The focus of research has been on tackling diseases like diarrhoea, tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis, HIV, leprosy, hepatitis, anaemia, leukaemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, thalassemia, dental caries, stone disease, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Various modern techniques are available to conduct studies like flow cytometry, chromatography (HPLC, FPLC), molecular biology, and genetic studies.Every year nearly 400 research articles are published for the institute in national and international journals.
A number of departments have been designated as research centres by WHO and various national agencies. WHO designated Centres include:
* Clinical research in human reproduction (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
* Mental Health Centre (Psychiatry)
* Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry (Biochemistry)
* Coagulation (Haematology)
* Clinical Parasitology
* Blood Transfusion and Haematology
The Institute has been recognized by National AIDS Control Organisation and has a voluntary testing and counseling centre (VCTC) located at the fourth floor of the research A block. The institute provides free drugs for treatment of HIV patients.
The founders of this Institute Prof. Tulsi Das, Prof. Santokh Singh Anand, Prof. PN Chuttani, Prof. BN Aikat, Prof. Sant Ram Dhall and Prof. Bala Krishna laid the path of excellence for the Institute.
Fortis Hospital, Mohali - Super Speciality in Heart
With a vision to provide the state of Punjab world class cardiac and multispeciality care, Fortis Hospital Mohali came calling in 2001 and was quickly a focal point of healthcare for the residents of North India.
Late Dr. Parvinder Singh, who architected the glorious evolution of Ranbaxy Laboratories, dreamt ‘to create a world class integrated health care delivery system in India, entailing the finest medical skills combined with compassionate care’, a mission well carried forward by his sons - Malvinder M. Singh as CEO & MD, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, and Shivinder M. Singh as CEO & MD Fortis Healthcare Limited.
As the flagship hospital of Fortis Healthcare Limited completes six years of existence, the brand has undoubtedly made a promise to the people of the region. The commitment levels of all those who have brought it to this point have been fierce and uncompromising. Working relentlessly towards patients’ satisfaction, the top brass is passionately involved in each process of qualitative improvement, adding new disciplines, dimensions and domains into the fabric of healthcare, with ‘quality’ certainly the keyword. It is the CEO and MD of Fortis Hospital Mohali, Mr. Shivinder Mohan Singh (the first COO of FHM), and his carefully handpicked team of administrators, along with a top-notch medical faculty, who make the organization vibrant, dynamic and upwardly mobile. The Chief Operating Officer of FHM, Mr. Ashish Bhatia, is unmistakably the driving force behind the project, having been handed over the baton by stalwarts such as Mr. Daljit Singh, the second COO, who is now the President, Strategy & Organizational Development, Fortis Healthcare Limited, and Mr. Jasbir Grewal, the third COO, who is now Vice President Operations.
Promoted by Ranbaxy, India’s largest pharmaceutical company, Fortis enjoys a lineage that has become a benchmark of corporate excellence. Following the ambitious growth trajectory of Ranbaxy very closely is the Fortis network of hospitals, which in a relatively short time span of time has established itself as a premier healthcare chain with as many as 13 hospitals across 6 states of North India. The credential of the doctors can leave anybody awestruck. These comprise of some of the best names in the trade, with the widest experience and unlimited research to their credit
Into its 7th year, Fortis Hospital Mohali, set on a sprawling 8.22 acres, is the veritable torch bearer of these super specialty centers of excellence across the country. While a compelling two hundred founder employees continue to faithfully steer the large, organized team to new heights, many new departments have been introduced and policies created, to ensure a stable, healthy growth. Initially a cardiac care center, Fortis Hospital Mohali, has not only found a place amongst India’s most advanced cardiac hospitals, but is now also a well-recognized multispeciality facility with accomplishments in numerous high end procedures such as Cardiac Remodeling, Pediatric Arterial Switch Operation, Total Knee & Hip Replacement, Aortic Aneurysms, Tumor Surgery, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias, Kidney Tumor Removal and Racial Dissection for Oesophageal Cancer to cite a few.
Been awarded the Best Design Award by the prestigious American Institute of Architecture in 1999, patient centricity is at the heart of the institute with all efforts geared towards giving patients the highest degree of personalized care. Modern medical services matched by abiding concern to treat patients with empathy and compassion ensure that all patients at Fortis receive the best treatment in the shortest possible time. Taking the concept of personalized care to the next level is 1:1 patient to nurse ratio in ICUs and ICCUs. Other top of the line facilities at the hospital include:
Late Dr. Parvinder Singh, who architected the glorious evolution of Ranbaxy Laboratories, dreamt ‘to create a world class integrated health care delivery system in India, entailing the finest medical skills combined with compassionate care’, a mission well carried forward by his sons - Malvinder M. Singh as CEO & MD, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, and Shivinder M. Singh as CEO & MD Fortis Healthcare Limited.
As the flagship hospital of Fortis Healthcare Limited completes six years of existence, the brand has undoubtedly made a promise to the people of the region. The commitment levels of all those who have brought it to this point have been fierce and uncompromising. Working relentlessly towards patients’ satisfaction, the top brass is passionately involved in each process of qualitative improvement, adding new disciplines, dimensions and domains into the fabric of healthcare, with ‘quality’ certainly the keyword. It is the CEO and MD of Fortis Hospital Mohali, Mr. Shivinder Mohan Singh (the first COO of FHM), and his carefully handpicked team of administrators, along with a top-notch medical faculty, who make the organization vibrant, dynamic and upwardly mobile. The Chief Operating Officer of FHM, Mr. Ashish Bhatia, is unmistakably the driving force behind the project, having been handed over the baton by stalwarts such as Mr. Daljit Singh, the second COO, who is now the President, Strategy & Organizational Development, Fortis Healthcare Limited, and Mr. Jasbir Grewal, the third COO, who is now Vice President Operations.
Promoted by Ranbaxy, India’s largest pharmaceutical company, Fortis enjoys a lineage that has become a benchmark of corporate excellence. Following the ambitious growth trajectory of Ranbaxy very closely is the Fortis network of hospitals, which in a relatively short time span of time has established itself as a premier healthcare chain with as many as 13 hospitals across 6 states of North India. The credential of the doctors can leave anybody awestruck. These comprise of some of the best names in the trade, with the widest experience and unlimited research to their credit
Into its 7th year, Fortis Hospital Mohali, set on a sprawling 8.22 acres, is the veritable torch bearer of these super specialty centers of excellence across the country. While a compelling two hundred founder employees continue to faithfully steer the large, organized team to new heights, many new departments have been introduced and policies created, to ensure a stable, healthy growth. Initially a cardiac care center, Fortis Hospital Mohali, has not only found a place amongst India’s most advanced cardiac hospitals, but is now also a well-recognized multispeciality facility with accomplishments in numerous high end procedures such as Cardiac Remodeling, Pediatric Arterial Switch Operation, Total Knee & Hip Replacement, Aortic Aneurysms, Tumor Surgery, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias, Kidney Tumor Removal and Racial Dissection for Oesophageal Cancer to cite a few.
Been awarded the Best Design Award by the prestigious American Institute of Architecture in 1999, patient centricity is at the heart of the institute with all efforts geared towards giving patients the highest degree of personalized care. Modern medical services matched by abiding concern to treat patients with empathy and compassion ensure that all patients at Fortis receive the best treatment in the shortest possible time. Taking the concept of personalized care to the next level is 1:1 patient to nurse ratio in ICUs and ICCUs. Other top of the line facilities at the hospital include:
* Multi-speciality medical center with day care facilities.
* Out patient care to fulfill the local demands.
* NABL certified path lab.
* State-of-the-art blood bank.
* Ultra-modern operation theatres with laminar flow and shadow less lighting
* A 24 hours emergency ambulance service
* A dedicated emergency & trauma center
* Mohali's only 24hr chemist shop
* Free home collection of pathology samples
Contact Information
Fortis Hospital, Mohali
Super Speciality in Heart
Sector 62, Phase - VIII
Mohali - 160 062
Punjab, India
Tel: +91-172-5096222
+91-172-5096400
Fax: +91-172-5096221
Emergency No.: +91-172-5096700
Taj Chandigarh, Chandigarh
Chandigarh, the capital of the states of the Punjab and Haryana set at the foothills of the majestic Himalayas, was planned by the French architect Le Corbusier after India’s independence. The young-at-heart, fast-growing and progressive city is striking for its urban planning, impressive buildings with brise-soleil facades, well-organized sectors and broad tree-lined avenues.
Taj Chandigarh celebrates the dynamic spirit of Chandigarh in its sophisticated architecture and interiors. The newly built hotel, located in Sector 17, the city’s prime business and shopping area, is a comfortable 30-minutes drive from the airport and a 15-minutes drive from the railway station. Taj Chandigarh is the city’s finest hotel and is well suited to both business and leisure travellers to Chandigarh.
Taj Chandigarh celebrates the dynamic spirit of Chandigarh in its sophisticated architecture and interiors. The newly built hotel, located in Sector 17, the city’s prime business and shopping area, is a comfortable 30-minutes drive from the airport and a 15-minutes drive from the railway station. Taj Chandigarh is the city’s finest hotel and is well suited to both business and leisure travellers to Chandigarh.
Contact Information
Taj Chandigarh
Block 9,
Sector 17-A,
Chandigarh - 160017
India
Tel: +91-172-6513000
Fax: +91-172-6514000
Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh
Welcome to the world of Hotel Mountview at Chandigarh - a city that is the hub of travel to the adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The Hotel is the only five star Hotel in the Region North of Delhi. Against the backdrop of the Shivalik Hills, surrounded by lush green lawns, the hotel is located in an excellent & pleasant environment blended with the tranquility of the Leisure Valley & the famous Rock Garden.
You will find an ambience of comfort, luxury and warm hospitality set amid beautiful, landscaped settings of the 'The City Beautiful'.
Contact Information
Hotel Mountview
Sector 10,
Chandigarh - 160011
India
Tel: +91-172-4671111, 2740544, 2740444
Fax: +91-172-4644414, 2742220
Email: mountview@citcochandigarh.com
You will find an ambience of comfort, luxury and warm hospitality set amid beautiful, landscaped settings of the 'The City Beautiful'.
Contact Information
Hotel Mountview
Sector 10,
Chandigarh - 160011
India
Tel: +91-172-4671111, 2740544, 2740444
Fax: +91-172-4644414, 2742220
Email: mountview@citcochandigarh.com
Hotel Shivalikview, Chandigarh
Chandigarh - the City Beautiful where sun, space and verdure create aesthetic panoramas of life every day welcomes you. Savour the best facilities and services of this modern hotel located in the heart of the city whether on business or a pleasure trip. The second biggest hotel in the city is reputed for impeccable standards of service and luxury.
Location
Hotel Shivalikview is located in City Center,Sector-17. The Hotel is 13 kms. from Airport; 9 kms. from Railway Station; 1 km. from Bus Stand.
Accommodation & Amenities
The centrally air-conditioned hotel has 104 luxurious rooms and 4 suites with attached balconies, running hot and cold purified water, direct dial telephones, channel music and cable TV, private balconies room service round the clock.
'YANGTSE' Chinese Cuisine
An unforgettable experience of Chinese cuisine. The roof top restaurant is popular for dine and dance in style. Situated on the sixth floor, the restaurant offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik hills, Leisure Valley, Jan Marg and the City skyline. Live band in attendance enlivens your musical pulse.
'BAZM' Mughlai Speciality Restaurant
Mughlai speciality restaurant serves sumptuous food. For in an exotic ambience in hurry A lavish buffet is spread out during lunch for Business luncheons. A well stocked bar to complement the spirits.
Whispers
Located on the sixth floor, provides a grand view of the city. The bar is well stocked with Indian and imported spirits.
* BAZM BAR: A well stocked bar at Lobby Level. Ideal for a quick bite as well as a relaxed tete-a-tete with friends over a drink.
* 'LE CAFE': COFFEE SHOP: Elegantly appointed coffee shop serves a mouth watering array of South Indian, Continental and Indian snacks.
Banquets & Conventions
* 'MAJLIS': BANQUET HALL: A 500 capacity hall, the largest in the city, suitable for weddings, receptions, parties and even conferences.
* 'THE PARTY': The private room located on the roof top is ideal for conferences and cozy get - together up to 40 persons.
* CONFERENCE ROOMS: Two well appointed rooms for smaller conferences and meetings upto 40 persons on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Modern audio video conference facilities available.
Guest Services
* BUSINESS CENTER: Well equipped business center having Computer, Internet, Fax, Photostat & Secretarial facilities.
* GUEST SERVICES: Tour & travel desk, In house travel agency, Beauty parlour, 24 hour currency exchange, Complementary breakfast for residents in bazm, Credit Cards accepted, Same day laundry & cleaning service, Doctor on call, Shopping arcade, Safe deposit lockers.
Contact Information
Hotel Shivalikview
Sector 17E,
Chandigarh - 160017
India
Tel: +91-172-2700001, 2700277, 2700278, 2700722, 2700733, 2700744, 4641888,4642888,4643888 4644888, 4644451-4644454
Fax: +91-172-2701094
Email: shivalikview@citcochandigarh.com
Location
Hotel Shivalikview is located in City Center,Sector-17. The Hotel is 13 kms. from Airport; 9 kms. from Railway Station; 1 km. from Bus Stand.
Accommodation & Amenities
The centrally air-conditioned hotel has 104 luxurious rooms and 4 suites with attached balconies, running hot and cold purified water, direct dial telephones, channel music and cable TV, private balconies room service round the clock.
'YANGTSE' Chinese Cuisine
An unforgettable experience of Chinese cuisine. The roof top restaurant is popular for dine and dance in style. Situated on the sixth floor, the restaurant offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik hills, Leisure Valley, Jan Marg and the City skyline. Live band in attendance enlivens your musical pulse.
'BAZM' Mughlai Speciality Restaurant
Mughlai speciality restaurant serves sumptuous food. For in an exotic ambience in hurry A lavish buffet is spread out during lunch for Business luncheons. A well stocked bar to complement the spirits.
Whispers
Located on the sixth floor, provides a grand view of the city. The bar is well stocked with Indian and imported spirits.
* BAZM BAR: A well stocked bar at Lobby Level. Ideal for a quick bite as well as a relaxed tete-a-tete with friends over a drink.
* 'LE CAFE': COFFEE SHOP: Elegantly appointed coffee shop serves a mouth watering array of South Indian, Continental and Indian snacks.
Banquets & Conventions
* 'MAJLIS': BANQUET HALL: A 500 capacity hall, the largest in the city, suitable for weddings, receptions, parties and even conferences.
* 'THE PARTY': The private room located on the roof top is ideal for conferences and cozy get - together up to 40 persons.
* CONFERENCE ROOMS: Two well appointed rooms for smaller conferences and meetings upto 40 persons on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Modern audio video conference facilities available.
Guest Services
* BUSINESS CENTER: Well equipped business center having Computer, Internet, Fax, Photostat & Secretarial facilities.
* GUEST SERVICES: Tour & travel desk, In house travel agency, Beauty parlour, 24 hour currency exchange, Complementary breakfast for residents in bazm, Credit Cards accepted, Same day laundry & cleaning service, Doctor on call, Shopping arcade, Safe deposit lockers.
Contact Information
Hotel Shivalikview
Sector 17E,
Chandigarh - 160017
India
Tel: +91-172-2700001, 2700277, 2700278, 2700722, 2700733, 2700744, 4641888,4642888,4643888 4644888, 4644451-4644454
Fax: +91-172-2701094
Email: shivalikview@citcochandigarh.com
Sunday, March 23, 2008
History of Chandigarh
Chandigarh, derives its name from the temple Chandi Mandir located in the vicinity of the site selected for the city. The deity 'Chandi', the goddess of power and a fort or 'garh' lying beyond the temple gave the City its name.
Chandigarh is a modern city with a pre-historic past. The gently sloping plain on which Chandigarh exists, was in the aeons past when the Himalayas were young, a wide lake ringed by a marsh. 
The fossil remains found at the site testify to a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life which that environment supported. Some 8000 years ago Chandigarh was home to the Harappans. Their potsherds, stone implements, ornaments and copper arrow-heads unearthed during the excavation in 1950s and 1960s testify this. Area near the Church of Sector 18, Sunbeam Hotel, Sector 22 , Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24, CII Complex, Sector 31 etc. were some of the sites from where a lot of relics of Harappans Civilization were found and excavated.
Chandigarh was conceived as the capital of Punjab, in lieu of its lost capital of Lahore after the partition of the country in 1947. But Punjab was divided a second time in 1966, and Chandigarh is today the capital of the states of both Punjab and Haryana. However, the city does not belong to either. Chandigarh is now a Union Territory, administered by the Government of India.
Chandigarh belongs to its people. They love the city, and are proud of the quality of life it continues to provide. Chandigarh is one of the greatest experiments in urban planning and modern architecture of the twentieth century. A bold venture which came to fruition with the juxtaposition of a great vision that the India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nurtured, and the genius of a French architect Le Corbusier and his team. Today Chandigarh is 114 square kilometers of pulsating modern town famous for its architecture and landscaping the world over. It combines elegant architectural forms with wide tree-lined avenues, green belts and gardens and offers a idyllic living experience to its residents and visitors.
THE STORY OF CHANDIGARH
Chandigarh has become synonymous with a certain kind of architecture, along with planned landscaping, not found in the older cities of India. And so we begin the story of Chandigarh.
Chandigarh was designed and constructed as the new Capital of the State of Punjab. The second important objective was to rehabilitate the refugees from Pakistan. The search for the new Capital began immediately after independence and by early 1948, the choice for the new Capital was finally narrowed down to three sites which came to be known in order of preference:
-
Ambala site
-
Chandigarh site
-
Ludhiana site.
The cost of acquisition for Chandigarh site was much less as compared to Ludhiana and Ambala site. The Chandigarh site was also at a safe distance from the Pakistan border. It was felt that instead of siting the Capital at the existing town, it would be better if a totally new town was built for that purpose. The Government of Punjab in consultation with Government of India in March, 1948 selected the Chandigarh site which was located in the Kharar Tehsil of Ambala District.
The city was to be built in two phases over an area of 28000 acres of land in 58
villages. A total of 21000 persons or about 6228 families were likely to be affected. The local people vehemently opposed to the idea of the New City. They formed Anti Rajdhani Committee (Anti Capital Committee) and protested against the Government move to site the new Capital here. The work proceeded at slow pace for about two years. It was only in December, 1949 that the Architect was selected and the government reached the final decision of constructing the capital at the Chandigarh site. The early development of the City was guided by Shri P.N. Thapar, a member of Indian Civil Services who became Administrative head of the Capital Project in 1949 and Shri P.L. Varma, Chief Engineer of Punjab.
Although eager to build a new capital that would compensate for the loss of Lahore, the Indians were nevertheless poorly equipped to carry out their intention. Administered by a large and sophisticated bureaucracy trained in the impersonal idiom of colonial rule, India was still woefully inexperienced in technical areas. Architectural schools were virtually nonexistent, indigenous architectural tradition had practically faded and local craft skills were visibly on the decline. Initially, the Government of Punjab approached American town planner Albert Mayer who along with architect Matthew Nowicki became the key planners for the new city. Albert Mayer was appointed as project architect on 28/12/1949.
Albert Mayer was a Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and he started his career as a Civil Engineer. World War II brought Mayer to India as a United States Army Civil Engineer. He built airfields in Bengal. After the end of World War, he started his Indian career by proposing to build model villages to the new Government of Pandit Nehru. He built some villages in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh . The master plan conceived for chandigarh by the American team had a fan-shaped outline filling the site between the two seasonal river-beds. The plan also had the sectors concept which in this case were called Super Blocks. Each Super Block was divided into three parts, the middle part of which was devoted to the provision of public amenities like shopping, recreation, education and health. At the northern edge of the city was the Capitol Complex against the panoramic back drop of the Shivalik hills. The City Centre was sited in the middle, and two linear parklands ran from the northeast to the southwest. Mayer sought to create a self-sufficient city, restricted in size and surrounded by green belts. Areas were clearly demarcated for business, industry and cultural activities. On 31/8/1950, his co-planner Nowicki died in a plane crash and Mayer could not continue the work.
This vision of Chandigarh, contained in the innumerable conceptual maps on the
drawing board together with notes and sketches had to be translated into brick and mortar. Administrator P N Thapar and Chief Engineer P L Varma then went to Europe to look for a substitute. Le Corbusier, eminent architect and urban theorist, was finally selected (20/12/1950) to carry forward this task. Le Corbusier was to be the author of the master plan and the designer of the principal buildings. The rest of the work was to be carried out by a team of three foreign architects, who would be stationed in Chandigarh. They were Maxwell Fry, his wife Jane Drew and Corbusier's cousin Pierre Jeanneret.
He retained many aspects of the original concepts and its components : the Capitol and the City Centre, besides the University, Industrial area, and linear parkland. Even the neighbourhood unit was retained as the basic module of planning. However, the curving outline of Mayer and Nowicki was reorganised into a mesh of rectangles, and the buildings were characterised by an 'honesty of materials'. Exposed brick and boulder stone masonry in its rough form produced unfinished concrete surfaces, in geometrical structures. This became the architectural form characteristic of Chandigarh, set amidst landscaped gardens and parks.
The revised master plan was finalised in early 1951 and the work on the sites began soon after. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of Chandigarh on 02/04/1952 at a spot which is now in Sector 9. The earliest activities were building of roads and laying of service infrastructure. The earliest permanent constructions were pockets of all categories of government houses spread out all over the City. Included in this phase were shops, schools for various age groups, a health centre, a cinema and a swimming pool and Maxwell Fry's government press. Sector 22 with all its facilities and variety of type designs was developed earliest to serve as the model neighbourhood. In the absence of City Centre, it soon became the cultural focus of the City.
The capital of Punjab was officially shifted from Shimla to Chandigarh on 21/9/1953. The President of India Dr. Rajendra Parsad inaugurated the City on 7/10/1953.
Art and Culture
The Cultural Complex (Sector 10)
Chandigarh is the cultural capital of the region. Many artists and writers live in the city. The frequently held exhibitions, and performances by singers, dancers, musicians and actors have inculcated among city residents a desire for the best in performing visual and plastic arts besides literary encounters.
Le Corbusier earmarked a portion of Sector 10 as the Cultural Complex which would include an Audio-Visual Training Institute, a Museum, an Art Gallery, and a 'Miracle Box' ( which never got build ) and later replaced by the Science Museum.
At present there is the Government College of Arts, the Government Museum and Art Gallery alongwith a separate 'Pavilion for Temporary Exhibitions' - now converted into the City Museum. The 'Miracle Box' has been substituted by the Museum of Evolution of Life, not designed by Le Corbusier, but located in the Cultural Complex. The Theatre for Performing Arts was later realised as the Tagore Theatre designed by Aditya Prakash in Sector 18.
Lalit Kala, Sahitya and Sangeet Natak Academy
These three bodies devoted to art, literature, music and dance/drama respectively function in co-ordination with the UT Administration and have their offices in the State Library Building, Sector 34. They conduct numerous lectures, exhibitions, performances and festivals throughout the year.
Pracheen Kala Kendra (Sector 35)
This is a private teaching institution offering degree courses in Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, Kathak and Bharatnatyam among the Indian Classical dance and also folk dances and song. The Pracheen Kala Kendra organises a week-long festival of music and dance every year in March as well as smaller programmes -baithaks- on the 11th of every month. No tickets are required for these programmes. Anyone may attend.
Theaters and Auditoriums
| Theatre | Address |
| Open Air Theatre (2 Number) | Rock Garden, Sector 1 |
| Open Air Theatre | Open Hand, Capitol Complex |
| Open Air Theatre | Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16 |
| Bal Bhawan - Open Air | Sector 23-B |
| Tagore Theatre | Sector 18-A |
| Auditorium | Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 |
| Bhargava Auditorium | PGI, Sector 14 |
| Auditorium | Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15 |
| Auditorium | Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35-B |
| Auditorium | Polytechnic for Women Sector 10-D |
| Auditorium | Home Science College Sector 10 |
| Auditorium | Government College for Girls, Sector 11 |
| Auditorium | Government College of Arts, Sector 10 |
| Auditoria (3 in Number) | D.A.V. College, Sector 10 |
| Auditorium | Government College of Architecture, Sector 12 |
| Auditorium | Law Department Panjab University, Sector 14 |
| Auditorium | Government College of Education, Sector 20 |
| Auditorium | Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23 |
| Auditorium | Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24 |
| Auditorium | Centre Polytechnic, Sector 26 |
| Auditorium | Teacher Technical Training Institute, Sector 26 |
| Auditorium | Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Sector 30 |
| Auditorium | Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36 |
| Auditorium | Mehar Chand Mahajan College for Girls, Sector 36 |
Architecture of Chandigarh
Chandigarh is one of the most significant urban planning experiments of the 20th century. It is the only one of the numerous urban planning schemes of Le Corbusier, the famous French architect-planner, to have actually been executed.
It is also the site of some of his greatest architectural creations. 
The city has had far-reaching impact, ushering in a modern idiom of architecture and city planning all over India and has become a symbol of planned urbanism. It is as famous for its landscaping as for its architectural ambience. Most of the buildings are in pure, cubical form, geometrically subdivided with emphasis on proportion, scale and detail.
Le Corbusier summed up his work on the city in an "edict", reproduced here in full:
EDICT OF CHANDIGARH
The object of this edict is to enlighten the present and future citizens of Chandigarh about the basic concepts of planning of the city so that they become its guardians and save it from whims of individuals. This edict sets out the following basic ideas underlying the planning of the city.
HUMAN SCALE
The city of Chandigarh is planned to human scale. It puts us in touch with the infinite cosmos and nature. It provides us with places and buildings for all human activities by which the citizens can live a full and harmonious life. Here the radiance of nature and heart are within our reach.
SECTORS
This city is composed of sectors. Each sector is 800 meters by 1,200 meters, enclosed by roads allocated to fast mechanised transport and sealed to direct access from the houses.
Each sector caters to the daily needs of its inhabitants, which vary from 5,000 to 25,000 and has a green strip oriented longitudinally stretching centrally along the sector in the direction of the mountains. The green strip should stay uninterrupted and accommodate schools, sports fields, walks and recreational facilities for the sector.
Vehicular traffic is completely forbidden in the green strips, where tranquility shall reign and the curse of noise shall not penetrate.
ROADS
The roads of the city are classified into seven categories, known as the system of 7 Vs, as below: V-1 -- Fast roads connecting Chandigarh to other towns; V-2 -- arterial roads; V-3 -- Fast vehicular roads; V-4 -- Meandering shopping streets; V-5 -- Sector circulation roads; V-6 Access roads to houses; V-7 -- footpaths and cycle tracks.
Buses will ply only on V-1, V-2, V-3 and V-4 roads. A wall shall seal the V-3 roads from the sectors.
AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST
Certain areas of Chandigarh are of special architectural interest. Where harmonised and unified construction of buildings is aimed at, absolute architectural and zoning control should remain operative.
Along V-2 central, dual carriageways Madhya Marg and Uttar Marg, where skyline, heights, character and architecture of buildings as planned shall not be altered.
No building shall be constructed north of the Capitol Complex
Along V-2 beyond dual carriageway areas are reserved for cultural institutions only and shall never have any residential buildings
CITY CENTRE
The central plaza in Sector 17 was designed by Le Corbusier as "Pedestrian's Paradise". No vehicular traffic will be permitted in the plaza.
INDUSTRIAL AREA
Only such industry as is powered by electricity would be permitted in the Industrial Area, so that atmosphere is saved from pollution.
THE LAKE
The Lake is a gift of the creators of Chandigarh to the citizens to be at one with the lake and its environments and its tranquility shall be guaranteed by banning noises.
LANDSCAPING
The landscaping of this city is based on careful observation of the vegetation of India. Selected ornamental trees, shrubs and climbers have been planted according to colour schemes to beautify it. In future planting and replacements, these principles must be kept in view. There should be no haphazard replacements, so that the avenues retain their harmony and beauty.
The Leisure Valley, the Rajendra Park and other parks shall be developed as parks only and no building other than already planned shall be permitted.
NO PERSONAL STATUES SHALL BE ERECTED
The age of personal statues is gone. No personal statues shall be erected in the city or parks of Chandigarh. The city is planned to breathe the new sublimated spirit of art. Commemoration of persons shall be confined to suitably placed bronze plaques.
TRUTHFULNESS OF BUILDING MATERIALS TO BE MAINTAINED
The truthfulness of materials of constructions, concrete, bricks and stone, shall be maintained in all buildings constructed or to be constructed.
The seed of Chandigarh is well sown. It is for the citizens to see that the tree flourishes.
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