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State: Haryana Country: India

CHANDIGARH, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Chandigarh, endowed with magnificent backdrop of the Shivaliks, sparkling gardens and a planned township, is one of the most beautiful and glamorous cities of India. With its lush green surroundings, blooming gardens, shady trees, wide roads, excellent communications and the most charming people, the city surely stands up to its name as the City Beautiful.

Chandigarh was conceived as the first planned city of independent India in the early 1950s. Declared the common capital of the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh is probably the cleanest and most pollution-free city in India. Natural beauty coupled with a multicultural population has given rise to an impressive line-up of gardens, galleries, museums complimented by some outstanding architecture.

The city enjoys wonderfully clement weather due to its location at the foot of the Shiwalik Hills, the outermost edge of the Himalaya. It boasts of broad boulevards, parks and lawns, a beautiful lake and is fast developing as a third home for the Information Technology industry after Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The Genesis Of The Planned City
After India's independence from British rule Punjab became a state without a capital. Though there was a temporary secretariat at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, the political leadership decided on the construction of a modern and accessible capital. This was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Dream City of modern India.
The plan for the city, which is sectioned into many sectors with separate residential, commercial and industrial areas was drawn up by the master-architect Le Corbusier with the help of his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, and that of the English couple Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew. Many of Indian architects, prominent amongst them, Chief planner Narinder S. Lamba & Chief Engineer J.C. Verma contributed to the building of this city.
Name Of The Young City
The name of the city is derived from Goddess of power known as Shri Chandika whose temple is on Chandigarh-Kalka Road. The temple is known by the name of Chandi Mandir. It is considered to be an ancient site and has major religious significance for Hindus.