Chandigarh

Chandigarh is India’s first planned city, distinct from the rest of the country with its organised layout. Chandigargh whilst being the capital of both Haryana and Punjab, is not actually part of either state, but is a union territory, administered directly by the central government. The government of the state decided to build a new city  in the beautiful setting at the foot of the Shivalik hills, with the expanse of blue sky and the mountain backdrop. They appointed Architects Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki to draw up the initial plans. After they died in an air crash in 1950, the work was entrusted to renowned Swiss born, French architect Edouard ‘Le Corbusier’ who created Chandigarh as a city of “Sun, Space and Verdure”. The city feels much more familiar to the western traveler and is a distinct change from the often chaotic cities of India. Chandigarh sits alongside  Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, a lush natural landscape on the northeastern shore of Sukhna Lake. The sanctuary is home to a great collection of flora and fauna and home to a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. The Sanctuary is also a renowned spot for birdwatching with over 150 varieties of birds.