Things to Do in Chandigarh

- Exploring the Rock Garden: If you are pondering what to do in Chandigarh, the thing to consider is exploring the beauty of Nek Chand’s Rock Garden. The numerous beautiful sculptures and art made of debris attract a lot of tourists. Apart from that, you can visit the open-air exhibition which was built in 1957 and is spread in 40 acres of land.

- Taking a stroll by the Sukhna Lake: One of the best things to do in Chandigarh is to take a stroll around the Sukhna lake and let the tranquility of the place penetrate. This man-made blue lake has Shivalik mountains at the backdrop and is a home to different species of fishes as well as migratory birds. You can participate in various sports activities like boating, yachting and water skiing at Sukhna Lake.

- Sinking into the city history at Le Corbusier center: The Chandigarh city has a rich architectural history which is presented in a sanguine way at the Le Corbusier Center. As you move through the small rooms that contain pictures and artifacts, you learn about how the 20th-century urban planner perceived the city.

- Tantalizing the senses in Rose Garden: Rose Garden is the perfect place to relax your senses and have a similar experience to aromatherapy. Zakir Hussain Rose Garden of Chandigarh is spread in 30 acres and is known to be Asia’s biggest botanical garden. You can witness hundreds of different rose species as well as thousands of other rare trees and plants.

- Appreciating the art at Government Museum and Art Gallery: The Government Museum and Art Gallery is a well-known museum since its establishment in 1947. This museum gives you an opportunity to witness an intriguing collection of Gandharan sculptures, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature art. As the place is located in the central part of the city, it is easily accessible and thus gives another reason for tourists to visit and appreciate the paintings, sculptures, and artifacts. There are several other museums to visit as well, such as the Museum of Evolution of life, the Doll Museum and many others.

- Seeking Pleasure in Leisure Valley: As the name goes, visiting the Leisure Valley is one of the most pleasurable experiences. The 8km long Leisure Valley is not a single garden but includes many other gardens such as Rose Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Shanti Kunj, Garden of Fragrance, Bougainvillea Garden and others. The best time to visit this place is during the 3-day Chandigarh Carnival that is organized every year. The carnival aims to promote the talents of the elderly and children present by hosting various events.

- Shopping at Sector 17: Shopping is a must when you visit a new place and there is no better place for the shoppers than Sector 17 of Chandigarh. Despite being economical, the place has all kinds of shops to buy anything you want! The Tiny Shop is Sector 17’s prime attraction and shopping here is one of the must things to do while in Chandigarh. You must visit this small shop in the basement and get a souvenir before you go back home. Established in the 1980s this small shop has everything to match your artistic taste. You can also find the art of locals at Tiny Shop that gives you the true essence of the city.

- Move around the Tower of Shadows: You can visit the Tower of Shadows which is another brainchild of Le Corbusier. This architectural marvel reflects his interest in how sunlight passes into buildings. This excellent architecture captures the solar movement with shadows going in and out both and therefore gains a good amount of tourist attention.

- Clicking Pictures at Open hand monument: This is another masterpiece architecture by Le Corbusier that depicts “the hand to give and the hand to take; peace and prosperity, and the unity of mankind”. There are many other open hand sculptures constructed by Le Corbusier, but this one is the largest and stands 26m high above a platform of 14 meters and weighs approximately 50 tons. You can take a close-up selfie with the symbolic monument.

- Fun and frolic at Fun City: Fun City amusement park of Chandigarh is a perfect place for a group of friends or family to entertain themselves. The park has all kinds of water slides, pools and many more things which are well-suited for both kids and adults.

- Experience serenity of Iskcon Temple: Iskcon temple at Chandigarh, dedicated to Lord Krishna is not only a religious place, but an epitome of beauty in itself. If you are contemplating what to do in Chandigarh then you must include a visit to Iskcon Temple with your family in the bucket list.

- Rejuvenate at Sukhna Lake: Sukhna Lake is a perfect place to spend quality time with family. You can have a ride on a cruise or go boating in the clear blue waters and also enjoy the wildlife on the Northern side of the lake.

- Awe at the Rock Garden: One of the best things to do in Chandigarh with your family is visiting the famous Rock Garden. The place has over 5000 statues and sculptures to celebrate with your family. While one phase of the garden has the best from the waste statues, the other phases consist of a waterfall and elephant statues.

- Picnic at Pinjore Gardens: The famous Pinjore garden finds its way back to the Mughal era. The lush green of the garden, clean water fountains and the special Mango Festival lure a number of tourists. The place includes a mini zoo and a Japanese garden. A perfect spot for a family picnic!

- Paintballing at Xtreme War Zone: One of the many fun activities to do in Chandigarh is the paintball. The game was first introduced in the city by the Xtreme War Zone and continues to provide the finest paintball experience.

- Get a Strike at Smaaash: Another thing to try is bowling at the Smaaash located inside the Elante Mall. You can not only enjoy the bowling experience but also have a look around the Elante Mall, get a quick bite and shop.

- Unwind the Mystery at Mystery Rooms Chandigarh: If you and your friends love solving puzzles then going to Mystery Rooms in Sector-35 is one of the must things to do in Chandigarh. The place is one of its kind as it has many escape games that make you solve puzzles in 60 minutes. An amazing way to bond!

- Whisk above the greens at Timber Trail: Timber Trail is 36km away from the Chandigarh city located in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh. Although this place is not a part of Chandigarh its closeness to the city attracts a lot of tourists who visit Chandigarh. The Timber Trail Ropeway gives you an opportunity to witness the spellbinding beauty of nature. The 15-20 minute ropeway ride will make you enjoy the lush green trees and rocky glaciers underneath.

- Party at Pubs and Bars: After having an amazing day in the city, if you are planning what to do in Chandigarh at night then the first and foremost thing to consider is the energetic nightlife of the city. The Wild West Pub & Bar, Buzz, Peddlers and Paara Club are some of the places where you can have fun and dance through the night.

- Devour the Dhaba Food: If you went to Chandigarh and did not gobble an Aloo Paratha at a Dhaba in the night, did you even visit Chandigarh! There are plenty of dhabas in Chandigarh that accepts guests the whole night so you can get to a Dhaba and enjoy a full meal at any time in the night.

- Visit the Spooky Haunted Bridge: If you are one of those who loves the adrenaline rush then you must spend some time at the Sector-16 Haunted Bridge. As the legend goes, the bridge became haunted after a student committed suicide. Now it is considered to be home to paranormal activities as a lady with a lamp is often sighted here. Although the place is not a tourist spot, going here is one of the most thrilling things to do in Chandigarh.

- Party at Pubs and Bars: After having an amazing day in the city, if you are planning what to do in Chandigarh at night then the first and foremost thing to consider is the energetic nightlife of the city. The Wild West Pub & Bar, Buzz, Peddlers and Paara Club are some of the places where you can have fun and dance through the night.

- Devour the Dhaba Food: If you went to Chandigarh and did not gobble an Aloo Paratha at a Dhaba in the night, did you even visit Chandigarh! There are plenty of dhabas in Chandigarh that accepts guests the whole night so you can get to a Dhaba and enjoy a full meal at any time in the night.

- Visit the Spooky Haunted Bridge: If you are one of those who loves the adrenaline rush then you must spend some time at the Sector-16 Haunted Bridge. As the legend goes, the bridge became haunted after a student committed suicide. Now it is considered to be home to paranormal activities as a lady with a lamp is often sighted here. Although the place is not a tourist spot, going here is one of the most thrilling things to do in Chandigarh.

Nik Baker’s: One of the most sought restaurants of Chandigarh is Nik Baker’s where you can have all sorts of quick bites. Whether you grab a sandwich or have tequila-filled chocolate, this place won’t fail you.

Backpacker’s Cafe: Backpackers Cafe is fit for travelers with its chilled-out ambiance and travel guide and maps for the decoration. The credit for the place’s popularity goes to the finger-linking food that it serves for breakfast. You can chomp on Bangers and Mash or go for the other cuisines on the menu such as Quiche Lorraine, Club Sandwiches or Chicken Burger.

Virgin Courtyard: The blue and white decoration of Virgin Courtyard with an open-air dining and garden lanterns is soothing to eyes, but the real pleasure is in savoring the authentic Italian dishes of this place. The baked ravioli and pizzas are among the many must-try foods on the menu.

Whistling Duck: With ample space and sunlight, the Whistling Duck is a decent place to have a heartful meal. There is a separate bar in the restaurant that serves beer and cocktails. The hype about this place is true to a great extent as it severs finger-licking delicacies, which should be tried at least once while in Chandigarh.

There are many small and big markets, and malls to shop around in Chandigarh but the market that truly feeds the desires of shopaholics is in Sector 17. Also known as the ‘Pedestrian's Paradise’, the market has an exclusive collection of shops that varies from selling books to clothes, all in one place! There are places for foodies, for party animals and the decent shoppers.

The place is adorned with neon lights, sculptures, and trees as well as having no traffic while shopping is another added perk. A number of trade shows, concerts, and other events are hosted frequently in the market thus, it gains a lot of tourist attention. Therefore, shopping at Sector 17 is one of the best activities to do in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh is famous for being the cleanest and greenest cities which not only have a healthy environment but also wide roads and systematic arrangement of houses in sectors. The city is also recognized as the Tricity, for the inclusion of its neighboring cities, Mohali and Panchkula.

The man-made gardens, lakes and historic museums are the principal attractions of the city.

Yes, Chandigarh is an expensive city but it is not as costly as the metropolitan cities. There are both posh and economical places in the city. Nevertheless, if you plan your trip well you can enjoy a fun trip without spending too much. 

The best market to shop for all kinds of stuff in Chandigarh is Shopping Plaza in Sector 17. From big brands to small stores, you can find everything you need.

There are shops of carpets, apparel, books, handicrafts and many more. Other than this, many restaurants are also situated in Sector 17 of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh is one of the safest cities to find in India. There are police stations in every sector and patrolling is done every now and then to ensure safety.

Apart from being a shoppers’ stop and a hub of restaurants, Sector 17 is popular for the National Gallery of Portraits in Sector 17B.

This sector not only is a haven for shopaholics but the art lovers can also savor the photographs and manuscripts from the historical era in Sector 17.

You can buy the prettiest range of Punjabi Dupattas and Juttis for females in Chandigarh. You can also get the best quality Jams & Juices, Woolen Garments, Handlooms, and artifacts from the local markets.

Chandigarh city is definitely worth visiting as there are many fun activities to do and places to explore.

Amritsar is 225.5 km away from Chandigarh and can be reached in approximately 3 to 4 hours by train and bus on Nh344A or NH3. There are several private travel agency buses and taxis available to reach Amritsar to Chandigarh.

The fastest and affordable way to do so is by taking a bus which would take 3 hours and 16 minutes.