Chandigarh

Chandigarh city came into existence in 1952 when its foundation stone was laid. Also known as “The City Beautiful”, Chandigarh is one of the modern cities of India designed by the French architect Le Carbusier. The city got its name from a temple “Chandi Mandir” located near the city. “Chandi” is the deity – the goddess of power; “garh” means dwelling place, which translates into “dwelling place of the goddess Chandi.” In the ancient past, a wide lake existed where now Chandigarh is with its sloping plains. Eight thousand years ago, Harappan civilization developed in the area. Visit Chandigarh museum to discover more about the historic past of the city. While previously belonging to the state of Punjab before the city came into existence, the idea to develop a new city was conceived in 1948 by Government of Punjab, which was to become the capital of the state. In 1966, the city became the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana and was declared as a Union Territory.