'''Chandigarh''' [http://chandigarh.nic.in/] is a very beautiful city in India. It is the capital of ''both'' Punjab and Haryana, but the city itself is not part of either state, being a '''union territory''', i.e. administered directly by the Central government.
Understand
The most striking thing about the city is the expanse of resplendent blue sky with the mountains in the backdrop. When you are approaching the city, you would see the jagged skyline of the Shivalik Hills looming large over the city and the faint image of an old temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi( 15 km form Chandigarh) from which the city got its name.
The political position of Chandigarh is quite ambiguous for anybody not knowing the city well. It is the capital to two northern Indian states Punjab and Haryana besides being a union territory in itself. The birth of this modern, youngest and happening city was an act of anguish and drama that took place at the time of partition of India and Pakistan. Lahore, the historical capital of Punjab was ceded to Pakistan and Chandigarh was conceived to be a symbol of India's freedom.
The government of the state decided to build a new city at the foot of the Shivalik hills. Architects Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki drew the initial plans in New York. When the latter died in an air crash in 1950, the work was entrusted to renowned Swiss architect Edouard 'Le Corbusier' Jeanneret who created Chandigarh as a city of "Sun, Space and Verdure" to fulfill basic functions of working, living, and care of body and spirit. Today, the city is home to more than 9 lakh people living in harmonious conditions that are considered to be the best in the country.
One can see architectural genius in the neat geometrical design of residential quarters, reinforced concrete structures and self-contained area layouts. Chandigarh is divided into 47 self-contained sectors. Each sector of the city is designed with its own shops, academic, and health care buildings, and places of worship, open spaces, greenery and the residential areas.
The city is divided into four major work areas. In the north, the capital complex, consisting of the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and High Court, with the hills as a background dominating the city. Sector 17, which is the city and district centre, houses the administrative and state government offices, as well as shopping malls, banks and other offices. The west contains the university, and institutions of engineering, architecture, Asian studies and medicine. Finally, the east zone, which is the industrial area of the city. Chandigarh is one of the few planned cities in India, the others being Gandhinagar in Gujarat and Dispur in Assam.
In 1966, the Hindi speaking areas were split from the Punjabi speaking areas of the state to form a new state of Haryana. Chandigarh, however, continued to be the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. In a strange anomaly, the city itself was not made part of either state to avoid dispute, but was brought under direct rule by the Central Government, as a '''union territory'''. It was agreed that in 1986, the city would pass to Punjab. But this has been indefinitely delayed because Haryana insists on getting some territory in return, and the two states have not been able to agree on it.
'''The basic geographical and demographic profile of Chandigarh is as under:'''
{| border="1.5" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" align="center"
(Rural population-92120 (10.2%),Urban population-808515 (89.8%))
Get in
By Plane
Kingfisher Airlines [http://www.flykingfisher.com], Indian Airlines [http://indian-airlines.nic.in/], Jet Airways [http://www.jetairways.com], GoAir[http://www.goair.in/] and MDLR Airlines [http://www.mdlrairlines.in/] connect to the city.
Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir and Jet Airways offer a direct flight from Mumbai and Delhi. Tickets cost around Rs 3,000 (ex Delhi, including taxes) for most of the airlines while MDLR is usually the lowest. Recently MDLR Airlines began to offer connections to Ranchi and Kolkata via Delhi. Kingfisher Airlines offers direct flight to Jammu, Srinagar(Via Jammu), Delhi(twice daily) and further connects to Kolkata via Delhi. GoAir has recently started a connecting flight to Goa
Chandigarh has a Domestic Airport about 8 km (5 mi) from city centre. The Airport shall be upgraded to an International Airport and work on that front has commenced since January 2008.
By Train
There is frequent service to and from New Delhi. The popular trains connecting New Delhi include 'Kalka(Chandigarh) Shatabdi Express' (twice daily) and the economical Chandigarh Jan Shatabdi Express(Una(H.P) to Delhi). Shatabdi Express is quite popular and it is better to have an advanced reservation at least 2-3 days prior to the journey.
Popular long distance trains include:
Paschim Express (daily) to Mumbai
Kalka Mail (daily) to Howrah
Dehradun-Chandigarh Madras Express (Monday) to Chennai
Kerala Sampark Kranti (Wednesday) to Kochuveli ( Kerala)
Chandigarh Lucknow Express (daily) to Lucknow.
Chandigarh-Jaipur Garib Rath has been announced in the 2008 Railway Budget.
Also a high speed rail line will be built from Amritsar-Delhi via Chandigarh. The train is to run 350 km/h and will get passengers from Chandigarh to Delhi in 50 min and Amritsar in 1 hour and 50 mins.
By car
Chandigarh has an equally good connectivity via road. It is a 4-5 hour drive from Delhi, the road comprising mainly of NH 1 is quite good. Chandigarh serves as a gateway to the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Important Distances :
New Delhi - 260 km (160 mi)
Shimla - 110 km (68 mi)
Manali- 320 km (200 mi)
Dehradun - 175 km (110 mi)
Amritsar - 250 km (155 mi)
By bus
Chandigarh is served by two bus terminals.
The Inter State Bus Terminus in Sector 43 ,provides connectivity to all major destinations in the neighbouring states Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Jammu, and Delhi.
Delhi is extensively connected with bus service every 15 minutes offered by Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, Haryana Roadways, Punjab Roadways and Himachal Roadways. Volvo A/C buses are also run on Chandigarh-Delhi section and offer connection to the Airport and towns like Gurgaon. The fares of Volvo buses are usually comparable with the Shatabdi Express.
The Inter State Bus Terminus at Sector 17 offers connectivity to all major towns of Haryana and Delhi.
Get around
By Bus
The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) provides local bus Transport service in Chandigarh and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali. There are two Local bus Terminals at Sector 17 and Sector 43. The bus service is frequent and efficient and runs from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. It is very economical with a single point to point fare of Rs. 5 regardless of the distance. The map of Chandigarh showing all the bus routes is printed on the back of each ticket. The travel is generally hassle free, though there might be rush on some particular routes during morning and evening peak hours.
The Chandigarh tourism also runs a special '''Hop On Hop off''' double-decker bus which takes you around for a tour of all the main spots in the city including Sukna Lake, Punjab University, and the Secretariat. Having bought one ticket, a person can board or disembark as many times in a day as he wishes. This provides him flexibility to see the places of interest and spend as much time as he wishes at a particular spot of his choice. It starts its journey from Hotel Shivalikview in Sector 17 near the Bus Terminal.
'''Fare:'''
Point to Point Rs 10/-
One Trip Rs 25/-
Half a Day Rs 50/-
Full Day Rs 75/-
For Booking contact : '''Citco Tours & Travel Wing''', ISBT, Sector 17, Tel : 5055462, 2703839.
By Taxi
There are not many private local taxi services in the city. The private taxi operators can be located at Taxi stands in Commercial market of every sector. UT administration has started a fully air conditioned cab service. The cabs are available at the door step on giving a call. The cabs are stationed at important places including Railway Station and Airport. The cabs are fully air-conditioned and extremely comfortable. They serve Chandigarh and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali. All the taxis are brand new, air conditioned/air heated and driven by the uniformed drivers. Taxis are also have a complaint book and any passenger can lodge a complaint with State Transport Authority if services provided to him are not found up to the mark. The cabs are continuously monitored through GPRS technology whereby their locations are monitored by their respective control rooms.
There are no charges for first KM except for the meter down charges. '''Rate''' Rs. 15/- for the first kilometer and Rs. 15/- for the subsequent kilometers.
By Auto Rickshaw
Auto Rickshaw are not quite popular in the city although are easily available at Bus Terminals, Railway Station, and Auto Stands in the commercial market of every sector. It is very unlikely that they would operate with a meter so negotiate the price before engaging one.
By Cycle Rickshaw
Cycle rickshaws are three-wheeled pedal powered rickshaws with seats in the back to seat passengers and a driver in the front. They are good for short distances, or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a bus/taxi/auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws can be easily spotted in all parts of the city. You should negotiate the price before boarding one of these. Ask the locals to help if you doubt the charges demanded.
See
'''Rock Garden''' [http://www.nekchand.com] designed by Nek Chand. One day 36 years ago, Nek Chand, a humble transport official, began to clear a little patch of jungle to make himself a small garden area. He set stones around the little clearing and before long had sculpted a few figures recycled from materials he found at hand. Gradually Nek Chand's creation developed and grew; before long it covered several acres and comprised of hundreds of sculptures set in a series of interlinking courtyards. After his normal working day Chand worked at night, in total secrecy for fear of being discovered. When they did discover the garden, local government officials were thrown into turmoil. The creation was completely illegal - a development in a forbidden area. However, rather than demolishing the garden, they decided to give Nek Chand a salary so that he could concentrate full-time on his work, plus a workforce of fifty labourers. The park is open daily from April to September between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Between October and March, it is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.
'''Sukhna Lake''' Located in Sector 1, the Sukhna Lake is an artificial reservoir. A popular place to hang out, one can expect to find residents of the city jogging or strolling along the banks. There is a walking path, a cafeteria, shops and a mini-amusement park and paddleboats. The Sukhna Lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream that flows down from the Shivaliks. Storks and cranes make migratory stops at the lake. The lake, incidentally, has Asia's longest water channel for rowing and yachting.
'''Rose Garden''': The city houses the largest rose garden in Asia. It also hosts annual rose festival which is quite popular among local population.
'''The Capitol''' Most of the capitol complex is fenced off due to tight security, the open hand is accessible and from there you can see the main buildings, albeit in the distance. If you want a closer look at the Capitol, you need permission from the Tourist Bureau, in the _eDeluxe Administration building_f in Sector 9. Please note the capitol and bureau are only open on M-F. The tourist bureau is not well signed, you_fll need to ask. It_fs in the single story building out the back. Bring your passport and prepare for the beginning of the most amazing experience in Indian bureaucracy. All in all I spent three hours in total of which 50 minutes was spent looking at architecture. The tourist bureau gives you three letters giving you permission to visit the three main buildings of the Capitol complex, The Secretariat, the High Court and the Assembly.
'''The High Court''' - The letter is fine for looking around the High Court just show to security at the entrance, around the back, but if you want to take photos you need to surrender your camera, and head in to fill out some more forms in the protocol office, and the take the forms back to security to get your camera back. It_fs worth it as the building is amazing, and extremely photogenic. You can_ft take any photos indoors.
'''The Secretariat''' - To check out the Secretariat, it_fs a little harder. First you need to find _ereception_f, which is just a small building out the back and show them your letter to get a visitor permit, then you need to see security who will let you in, then you need to see the main security officer inside, who will send you up to the registrar who will then send you back to the main security office. Thankfully you are escorted through most of this confusing, overly complex procedure, usually by a junior soldier with large machine gun. Whole process takes about 30 min. to an hour. Once it_fs all clear you can go up to the roof, check out the geranium gardens, and take in an expansive view of all of Chandigarh. Then they_fll let you have a look out the front, which is more interesting.
'''The Legislative Assembly (both for Punjab and Haryana)''' - Ran out of time, so make sure you have a whole clear weekday to appreciate all the capitol buildings.
'''Pinjore Gardens''' - Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens are 20 km (12 mi) from Chandigarh, 15 km (9 mi) from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh Shimla road. Taxis and buses ply regularly between Pinjore and Chandigarh. Pinjore lies on the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges. The fascinating Mughal Gardens one of the most popular picnic spots. A mini zoo, plants nursery, a Japanese garden, historic palaces and picnic lawns await tourists.
'''Museum and Art Gallery''' - Located in Sector 11, the museum and the combined art gallery is an interestin palce to go to. Artefacts range form the Harrapan Period relics to the paintings and coins from different areas and time periods. Fossils of the local dinosaurs found in the region.
<b>The Chandigarh Museum</b>, which is just next door, provides an interesting aspect on how Chandigarh was founded. It begins with the principles on which Chandigrh was built, selection of the Architects, the design for the people etc.
Facts
Chandigarh with the highest income per capita in India is home to biggest brands. It is a shopper's paradise. The main hot spots for shopping are markets of Sector 17,Sector 22,Sector 35 and Manimajra. However don't expect to get good bargains as most of the shopping places here are costlier when compared to Delhi or other places.
Do enjoy the planned city with tree lined roads, big and beautiful roundabouts, several gardens and on the top it - a great set of people.
Visit the Sukhna Lake in the evenings/early morning for an enriching pleasant experience.
Visit Nek Chand's Rock Garden to take a walk through a magical kingdom made entirely out of recycled materials.
Enjoy a round of boating on Sukhna Lake's enigmatic waters. Shikaras are also available.
Plan a day's trip to nearby hill station of Kasauli, Solan or Shimla.
Visit Kalagram on Manimajra-Chandigarh road. It has exhibition of various handicrafts and decorations from various parts of the country. It also houses the innovative and famous "Condom Bar", whose theme is centred on condoms.
Movies
The city has several cinema halls with the classical single screen format. Catch a movie at any one of the halls all of which are air conditioned and well maintained.
The city has three Malls with 4 screen multiplexes. These are Fun Replublic(Fun Cinema) in Manimajra, DLF DT Cinema in IT Park and Centra Mall(PVR Cinema) in Phase 1, Industrial Area. Many others malls and multiplexes are coming up in Chandigarh soon.
PRESS
The city has a expansive presence of nearly all leading national dailies which bring out their City based editions. Major among these are The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Tribune ,The Indian Express, Amar Ujala(Hindi), Dainik Bhaskar(Hindi). The Tribune is one of the oldest print Newspaper in circulation has its headquarters in Chandigarh and is widely popular in the region.
Theatre
The city has rich theatre culture with regular performances by societies and groups from all over India. Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 plays host to most of the performances.
Amusement/Water Parks
FunCity -20 Km (12 mi) from Chandigarh on the Panchkula - Barwalla Nadha Sahib Gurudwara Highway near Ramgarh .
Thunderzone - A 30 Min. drive from Chandigarh, located in Landran, Mohali.
Geri Route
This is probably something that is found in every Indian City but perhaps the whole of Chandigarh coherts in unision to the Stretch starting from the Sector 8 mid sector Road, crossing Hotel Mount View and then towards Sector 11 mid sector road and ending on the road in front of Sector 11. This stretch on any evening would be full of guys and girls out to catch an eyeful of the other sex.
Learn
Chandigarh has evolved into an education hub for competitive exams. Thousands of students from nearby states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh attend coaching in Chandigarh. The city has delivered excellent results in recent years in all spheres especially the IIT-JEE, CAT, CBSE-PMT and the Civil services.
Chandigarh is also home to several renowned centres of higher education:
'''PGIMER - Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research'''. It is one of the premier medical research institutes of the country and serves a wide array of patients from the neighbouring states.
'''Punjab University''' - With a beautiful campus, Punjab University is one of the most sought after universities by students from the northern region.
'''Punjab Engineering College '''- The alma matter of NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the institute continues to climb up national rankings and has been designated as a deemed university.
'''C.C.E.T.- Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology'''-Formerly known as the polytechnic, had been upgraded to include the bachelors degree in engineering, in 2002. The college has the reputation of being the only Engineering college affiliated with Punjab University AND run by Chandigarh Administration. As of now it provides B.E. in the field of Computer Science & Technology, Electronics & communication, Mechanical and Civil Engineering.
'''UIET-University Institute of Engineering and Technology'''-This is a prestigious engineering institute started by Panjab University in 2002 to provide education in engineering and its associated fields to the growing number of students from around the city.
'''Government College of Art '''-This Institution is a platform where the method of practice of Art can be learnt by the up coming artists to bring out their creative talents. It is the only nucleus institution of its kind in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir. Affiliated with Punjab University.
'''Chandigarh College Of Architecture'''-What is not so well known is the fact that the 20th century's greatest architect also succeeded in getting Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) established as an integral part of the great Chandigarh Experiment. Affiliated with Panjab University.
'''Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH)''' - It is a constituent establishment of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India) doing research in microbial biotechnology. It offers doctorate degree in different fields of biotechnology such as protein science and engineering, fermentation technology, immunology and cell biology, bioinformatics, genetics. It houses one of the world best bioinformatics research center.
Work
Opportunity is available to work in the growing IT and BPO industry in the city.
Newly built IT park had been set up in the city which has proved to be a magnet for potential job seekers in this field.
Satellite town of Mohali is also home to several IT majors like Infosys, [http://www.webartindia.com Webart Softech ], Dell Inc. and more to name.
Most of the population here is employed in Government Services with administrative headquarters of all departments of the government of Punjab and Haryana being situated in Chandigarh.
Buy
There are plenty of Shopping Avenues in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is home to all leading brands and retail store chains.
Sector 17 is a fully commercial sector which houses all the major brands and shops that cater to wide array of taste and pocket.
Other popular shopping places are Sector 22, Sector 35 and Manimajra.
If you want to bargain hard for usual stuff try the Azad Hind Market in Sector 22. (Closed on Monday).
You can buy souvenirs in form of Coffee Mugs, Shirts etc. at the Sukhna Lake.
Eat
You can relish all type of cuisines from local Punjabi flavours to Continental cuisine.
Budget/Mid Range
Nearly all major Western fast food chains have registered their presence in Chandigarh.
Hot Millions - Sector 17, Sector 35
Backpackers - Sector 9
Pizza Hut - Sector 26, Sector 35
Oven Fresh - Sector 35, Sector 26
Dominos- Sector 17, Sector 34.
McDonalds - Fun Republic, Manimajra, Sector 35.
KFC - Sector 8.
Subway - Sector 17 and Sector 35.
Tehal Singh's - Sector 22. One of the best places to try the famous Butter Chicken of Punjab.
Chawla's - There is a whole Chain of Chawla's, the better ones being in Sector 8 and Sector 22. Well known for its amazing chicken preparations and perhaps the best in Cream Chicken. Certainly not to be missed by a foodie.
Apart from these, a variety of restaurants can be found in the sector 35 market. Ranging from traditional indian sweet shops(gopals) to burger joints like mcdonalds.
The city beautiful is full of fun.
Splurge
Black Lotus at the Taj Chandigarh, for exceptional Chinese fare, cooked by a Beijing imported chef.
Hotel Mountview & Shivalikview also offer specialized dining rooms and bars.
Orchid Lounge at Sector 34, for excellent Thai cuisine.
Drink
Coffee Shops
Barista, Cafe Coffee Day and Costa coffee(Panchkula, Sec 35) are popular Indian chain of coffee shops that can be found in Chandigarh at various places.
For a true Indian Coffee experience go to Indian Coffee house in Sec 17
Bars/Pubs
Chandigarh is often accused of a dull night life considering its status as a metro. One can enjoy good drink at various pubs/bars with combined restaurants at Sector 35,Sector 26 and Sector 17.The bars remain open till 12-1 in the night.
'Condom Bar'- a unique bar themed upon the condom, is operated by CITCO at Kalagram, Chandigarh-Manimajra road.
Sleep
Bed and Breakfast
The Chandigarh Administration has launched a bed and breakfast scheme for accommodating more tourists in Chandigarh. This scheme provides a reasonable and comfortable alternative to tourists and visitors in the city.The residential premises registered under this scheme are registered as establishments under two categories Gold and Silver. Rooms are available at Rs.900/- and Rs.700/-. Details[http://chandigarhtourism.gov.in/]
Budget
'''YMCA''', Sector 11
'''Yatri Nivas''' run by the CITCO
'''Hotel Chandigarh''', Sector 22
'''Hotel ParkView''' run by the CITCO in Sector 24
Mid-range
'''Hotel Aroma''' in Sector 22
'''Hotel KLG''' in Sector 43
'''Hotel Antheia''' in Sector 34, Ph. (91-172) 4687800,'''elantheia.com]
'''Hotel The Komfort Inn'''' in Sector 17 C.(91-172)2701614 http//www.hotelthekomfortinn.com
Splurge
'''Taj Chandigarh''' - Block No. 9, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh 160 017. Ph (91-172) 6513000 Fax (91-172) 6514000
'''Shivalik View ''' adjacent to the bus stand at Sector 17 run by CITCO
'''Mount View''' in Sector 10 run by CITCO.
Contact
STD code for Chandigarh is 0172. When calling from overseas, dial +91 172 XXXXXXX.Same STD code is shared by Panchkula and Mohali. If you have a non-working phone number with only 6 digits try to add a "2" in front of it.
Chandigarh has one the highest cellular density in India. The city is served by all major cellular operators : Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, BSNL, Tata Indicom, Spice and Connect. The cellular connection provided covers the cellular network of state of Punjab and city limits of Panchkula district in Haryana.
If you don_ft have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of new government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages), a colour photo, and proof of local address (in Chandigarh) when buying a pre-paid card. If you do not have the appropriate paperwork, I would recommend asking a local friend to buy a pre-paid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.
PCOs are a good option. You will find them almost every 100 m. These are public pay-phones (post-pay) and there will be a person on the shop to take the payments. Check your bill generated (from the billing machine) and make the payment accordingly. Payments are always in Indian rupees.
Internet is cheaply and easily accessible via various cyber cafes operating in every corner of the city with rates ranging from Rs 15-Rs 30 per hour.
Major Cyber Outlets:
Reliance Web World: Operates through various centres in Sector 9,Sector 35,Sector 46 and more.
Sify Centres: Spread throughout the city.
Stay safe
Chandigarh is a safe city. With the lowest crime rates in the country you can feel safe at any hour. Police assistance can be found at the nearest police station or at the patrolling booths in every sector.
You can call following numbers for respective help : '''100 (Police)''', '''101 (Fire)''', '''102 (Ambulance)''', '''1073 (Traffic Police Helpline)'''.If you are calling from a mobile phone just add the STD code i.e. '''0172''' in front of the emergency numbers. This holds true for any Indian city.
Cope
Balance
India is often said to assault the senses, and can be overwhelming to travelers. Some of the Chandigarh may appear oddly familiar to Western visitors and idiosyncratic to the rest of India. Because of this, Chandigarh is a good place to visit if you need a break from the constant flow of India.
Hospitals
List of major hospitals and health care centres:
Post Graduate Institute (PGI), Sector 12.[http://pgimer.nic.in/]
Govt. Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh[http://gmch.nic.in/]
General Hospital Sector 16, Chandigarh
Fortis, Mohali[http://www.fortishealthcare.com/network_hospitals/fortis_mohali/fortis_mohali.html]
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Sector 34-A.
Mukat Hospital, Sector 34.
Silver Oaks Hospital, Phase IX, Mohali.
Army command hospital,Chandimandir,Panchkula
Govt. hospital,sector-6,panchkula
Saket hospital,sector 20,panchkula
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one, though Sector 16-C is considered the "pharmacy district" and offers a variety of shops to find your medication. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine ''Over the Counter'' drugs and ayurvedic medicine (proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, travellers' ailments, general infection, etc., But you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorized as ''Schedule H'' drugs.
You can locate 24-hour pharmacies at PGI and G.M.C.H, Sector 32.
General Amenities
General amenities for daily living like grocery shopping, laundry etc. can be availed all in one place in every sector's market complex. Each sector is self sufficient in that regard and serves almost all the needs of its residents.
Traffic Rules
There is a strict enforcement of traffic rules in Chandigarh. Wearing helmets (for male riders), and using seat belts are compulsory. Violators pay heavy penalties. No exceptions to these rules are made to cars from outside the state.
Get Out
Chandigarh is also based of motorbikes expeditions the are so many bikers club organise motorbiking and adventure activities.
Shimla which is just 110KM from Chandigarh by road.
Kasuali which only 90 minutes drive from Chandigarh can also be visited. It is a Hill station not very far from the city. If one is lucky, in clear weather it offers a staggering view of Chandigarh from the Himalayan Foothills.
Other Himachal hill stations such as Kullu & Manali, since it is a city which is a gateway to Himachal Pradesh. A trip by road to Kullu takes about 12 hours.
One can visit Pinjore Gardens that are within a range of 15-20 km (9-12 mile) from Chandigarh on the way to Shimla.