WikiConference India 2016/City

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Chandigarh on Indic Language Wikipedias: (English, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Newari, Punjabi (Gurmukhi), Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu)

Chandigarh is a city in northern India, located near the foothills of the Sivalik range of the Himalayas, covering an area of approximately 114 km, which serves as a Union Territory and also the capital of Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. Mohali, Panchkula and Chandigarh are collectively known as Chandigarh Tricity, with a combined population of over 2 million.

The city of Chandigarh is one of the early planned cities in the post-independence India. After the independence of India, the Punjab Government decided to build a new city at the foot of the Shivalik hills. American planner Albert Mayer and Polish architect Mathew Novicki drew the initial plans in New York. When the latter died in an air crash in 1950, the work was entrusted to the Swiss-French architect Edouard 'Le Corbusier' Jeanneret who created Chandigarh as a city of "Sun, Space and Verdure", to fulfill the basic functions of working, living, and care of body and spirit. Chandigarh is the first smoke-free city in the country and also was declared as the second cleanest city in India under Swachh Bharat Survekshan in 2016.

Commercial Hub : Chandigarh has been rated as the “Wealthiest Town” of India. The RBI ranked Chandigarh as the Third largest deposit centre and seventh largest credit center nationwide as of June 2012.

The government is a major employer in Chandigarh with three governments having their base here i.e. Chandigarh Administration, Punjab government, and Haryana government. A significant percentage of Chandigarh’s population, therefore, consists of people who are either working for one of these governments or have retired from government service mainly Armed forces. For this reason, Chandigarh is often called a "Pensioner's Paradise". Ordnance Cable Factory of the Ordnance Factories Board has been set up by the Government of India. There is about 15 medium to large industries including two in the Public sector. In addition, Chandigarh has over 2500 units registered under small-scale sector. The important industries are paper manufacturing, basic metals and alloys and machinery. Other industries are relating to food products, sanitary ware, auto parts, machine tools, pharmaceuticals and electrical appliances. Yet, with a per capita income of Indian Rupee symbol.svg 99,262, Chandigarh is the richest city in India. Chandigarh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $2.2 billion in current prices.

Chandigarh ranks first in India in the Human Development Index, quality of life and e-readiness. The main occupation here is trade and business. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the availability of an IT Park and more than a hundred of government schools provide job opportunity to people.

Three major trade promotion organisations have their offices in Chandigarh. These are Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, (FICCI) the Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which has its regional headquarters at Sector 31, Chandigarh.

Chandigarh IT Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park) is the city's attempt to break into the information technology world. Chandigarh's infrastructure, proximity to Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and the IT talent pool attracts IT businesses looking for office space in the area. Major Indian firms and multinational corporations like Quark, Infosys, Dell, IBM, TechMahindra, Airtel, Amadeus IT Group, DLF have set up base in the city and its suburbs. According to a 2014 survey, Chandigarh is ranked 4th in the top 50 cities identified globally as "emerging outsourcing and IT services destinations" ahead of cities like Beijing.

Places of interest

Panorama of the Sukhna Lake in the morning.

The garden is most famous for its sculptures made from recycled ceramic

Sukhna Lake : Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, India, is a reservoir at the foothills of the Himalayas, the Shivalik hills. This 3 km² rainfed lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills. Originally the seasonal flow entered the lake directly causing heavy siltation. To check the inflow of silt, 25.42 km² of land was acquired in the catchment area and put under vegetation. In 1974, the Choe was diverted and made to bypass the lake completely, the lake being fed by three siltation pots, minimising the entry of silt into the lake itself. The newly created Garden of Silence is situated here. The lake was created by en:Le Corbusier and the Chief Engineer P L Verma. To preserve its tranquility Corbusier insisted that it be forbidden to motor boats and the top of the dam (promenade) prohibited to vehicular traffic. The lake is fringed by a golf course to the south, and en:Nek Chand's famous en:Rock Garden of Chandigarh to its west.
Rock Garden : The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a sculpture garden in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden after its founder Nek Chand, a government official who started the garden secretly in his spare time in 1957. Today it is spread over an area of 40 acres (161874.25 m²). It is completely built of industrial and home waste and thrown-away items. Iconic Rock Garden creator Late Nek Chand,The 90-year-old Padma Shri awardee has millions of fans across the globe. The garden is most famous for its sculptures made from recycled ceramic waterfall and path at Rock Garden, Chandigarh. It is near Sukhna Lake. It consists of man-made interlinked waterfalls and many other sculptures that have been made of scrap and other kinds of wastes (bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, etc.) which are placed in walled paths. In his spare time, Nek Chand started collecting materials from demolition sites around the city. He recycled these materials into his own vision of the divine kingdom of Sukrani, choosing a gorge in a forest near Sukhna Lake for his work. The gorge had been designated as a land conservancy, a forest buffer established in 1902 that nothing could be built on. Chand’s work was illegal, but he was able to hide it for 18 years before it was discovered by the authorities in 1975. By this time, it had grown into a 12-acre (49,000 m2) complex of interlinked courtyards, each filled with hundreds of pottery-covered concrete sculptures of dancers, musicians, and animals. His work was in danger of being demolished, but he was able to get public opinion on his side. In 1976 the park was inaugurated as a public space. Nek Chand was given a salary, a title ("Sub-Divisional Engineer, Rock Garden"), and 50 laborers so that he could concentrate full-time on his work. It appeared on an Indian stamp in 1983. The Rock Garden is still made out of recycled materials. With the government’s help, Chand was able to set up collection centers around the city for waste, especially rags and broken ceramics. When Chand left the country on a lecture tour in 1996, the city withdrew its funding, and vandals attacked the park. The Rock Garden Society took over the administration and upkeep of this unique visionary environment. The garden is visited by over 5,000 people daily, with more than 12 million visitors since its inception.

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden : is a botanical garden located in Chandigarh, India and spread over 30 acres (120,000 m2) of land, with 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species. Named after India's former president, Zakir Hussain and created in 1967 under the guidance of Dr M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first chief commissioner, the garden has the distinction of being Asia's largest. The garden has not only roses, but also trees of medicinal value. Some of the medicinal plants that can be spotted here are bel, bahera, harar, camphor and yellow gulmohar. The rose plants have been planted in carved-out lawns and flower beds.

Gurudwara Amb Sahib : Gurudwara Amb Sahib is a historical shrine and Gurudwara situated in Sector 62, Mohali. It commemorates the visit of 7th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Har Rai. The word 'Amb' in the name of gurudwara has been kept on the name of fruit Amb (Mango). The Gurdwara is situated in phase 8 of mohali, The nearest buildings are Fortis Heart Hospital, Puda office and Punjab school Education board office. The gurdwara is situated on the main road of mohali near amb chownk of 7 phase.

Fateh Burj or Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial is a 328 ft tower is dedicated to the establishment of the Sikh rule in India in 1711.

Pinjore Gardens : Pinjore Gardens or Yadvindra Gardens are situated at 20 KM from Panchkula and they are spread in about 250 acres. According to Hindu theology, the Pandava brothers rested in Pinjore during their exile. It is an example of the Mughal Gardens style, and was built by Patiala Dynasty Rulers. The garden is in the village of Pinjore lie 22 km from Chandigarh on the Ambala-Shimla road. Pinjore, where the Bhima Devi Temple Complex is located, is approachable by road, rail and air from all parts of the country. It is well connected with Chandigarh, which is the capital of both Haryana and Punjab, India states, at a road distance of 20 kilometres (12 mi). Chandigarh is a Union Territory administered by the Government of India. It is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Kalka, on the road to Shimla.

Food

Vegetarian Dishes : Sheer korma, Shahi Paneer, kadhai Paneer, Punj Ratani Dal (a combination of five lentils), Choley ( Usally tasted with Naan), Dal Handi/ Dal Makhani (sabzi of pulses) and Sarson ka Saag (Mustard leaved curry).
Non-vegetarian Dishes : Bhuna Ghost (Lamb based Food item), Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Tandoori Fish, Amritsari Fish, Lamb Briyani, Chicken Briyani, Reshmi Tikka, Keema Naan, Pork Pickle and Malai Tikka.
Bread & Flour Preparations : People in Chandigarh also prefer large varieties of flour and bread preparations. Few of the significant items are Tandoori Roti, Naan, Lachha Paratha, Kulcha, Chapatti or Phulka, Mooli Paratha, Aloo Paratha, Bhatoora and Poori.
Sweet Dishes : The prominent and quite different sweet is Roh Di Kheer, a dish prepared by boiling rice in the juice of sugarcane. Few of the other well known sweet dishes are Jaleb, malpua and baalushahi.

A list of some options for an easy access is given below :

38 Food Paradise,Shop No. 54-55, Sector 38-C, Chandigarh - 014

9 Eleven, Bay Shop 379, Sector 44-D, Chandigarh - 047

Baithak Restaurant, Mani Majra, Chandigarh - 101

Bhoj Vegetarian Restaurant, SCO 1090-91, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh - 022

Catch 22, SCF 14, Sector 22, Chandigarh - 022

Chaplin Fast Food, Shop No. 49, Sector 34-C, Chandigarh - 022

Chawla's, Sector 8-B, Chandigarh - 018

Chawlas 2, Booth No. 178, Sector 40, Chandigarh - 036

Chop Sticks, SCO 1085, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh - 022

Club Cuisine, SCO 96-97, Sector 17-C, Chandigarh - 017

Eatopia Fast Food, Booth No. 111-112, Sector 9-C, Chandigarh - 009

Fine Dine, SCO 397, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh - 036

Goldie's Roost, Sector 8-B, Chandigarh - 008

Golfers PAR 72, SCO 425-426, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

Gopal's Sweets & Restaurant, Sector 15-D, Chandigarh - 015

Gopal's Sweets, Restaurant & Pastry Shop, SCO 459-460, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

Gopal's Sweets, Restaurant & Pastry Shop, SCO 20-21, Sector 8-C, Chandigarh - 018

Jullundur Hotel & Restaurant, SCO 1052-53, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh - 022

Kabab Mahal, Shop 398, Sector 44-D, Chandigarh - 047

KFC Restaurant, SCO 425-426, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

KFC Restaurant, Sector 8, Chandigarh - 018

Kumar Rasoi, Shop NO. 206, Sector 37-C, Chandigarh - 036

Lazeez, Sector 37, Chandigarh - 036

Icy & Spicy, Sector 36, Chandigarh - 036

McDonald's Family Restaurant, Dhillon Complex, Manimajra, Chandigarh - 101

McDonald's Family Restaurant, SCO 457-458, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

Moti Mahal Delux, SCO 179-180, Sector 17-C, Chandigarh - 017

Nirula's, 172-173, Sector 9-C, Chandigarh - 017

Nukkar Dhabha, Booth No. 2459-A, Sector 22-C, Chandigarh - 022

Orchid Lounge, Sector 34, Chandigarh - 022

Pind Balluchi Restaurant, SCO 2459-2460, Sector 22-C, Chandigarh - 022

Purple Rice, SCO 468-E, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

Sandal Sweets & Fast Food, SCF 10, Sector 27-D, Chandigarh - 019

Sher-e-Punjab, SCO 497-98, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

Subway, DLF Mall, Chandigarh - 101

Subway, SCO 41, Sector 11-D, Chandigarh - 011

Subway, SCO 143, Sector 17-C, Chandigarh - 017

Subway, SCO 497-498, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh - 022

The Manor, SCO 18, Sector 26, Chandigarh - 019

Toshib Fast Food, Shop 48, Sector 34-C, Chandigarh - 022

Uttam Fast Food & Restaurant, SCO 62, Sector 46-C, Chandigarh - 047

Wood House, SCF 20, Sector 10-D, Chandigarh - 010

Yummy-Yummy Food Court, SCO 383-384, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh - 036

Zinc, SCO 47, Sector 26, Chandigarh - 019

Safety

The stats given below are bases on the stats of NUMBEO.

Crime Index : 37.83
Safety Index : 62.17

Crime rates in Chandigarh, India
- Level of crime 37.50 Low
- Crime increasing in the past 3 years 65.91 High
- Worries home broken and things stolen 39.77 Low
- Worries being mugged or robbed 37.50 Low
- Worries car stolen 43.18 Moderate
- Worries things from car stolen 42.05 Moderate
- Worries attacked 33.33 Low
- Worries being insulted 21.59 Low
- Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin colour, ethnic origin or religion 9.52 Very Low
- Problem people using or dealing drugs 41.67 Moderate
- Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft 45.65 Moderate
- Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery 36.96 Low
- Problem corruption and bribery 61.96 High

Safety in Chandigarh, India
- Safety walking alone during daylight 89.77 Very High
- Safety walking alone during night 59.09 Moderate

How to Reach Chandigarh?

By Road

There is an excellent road linkage of Chandigarh with its neighboring states Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi. There are two national highways, namely, No. 21 (Ambala-Kinnaur) and 22 (Chandigarh-Leh) that serve this union territory by connecting it with other parts of the country. Volvo Buses are available for/from International Airport, New Delhi and ISBT New Delhi.

By Train

The city is well connected with major cities New Delhi, Shimla, Amritsar via train. There are five trains, namely, Shatabdi Express and Himalayan Queen that link Chandigarh with Delhi. There are also direct trains to/from Mumbai, Lucknow, Shirdi, Jaipur and Amritsar.

By Air

The city is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, Srinagar and Amritsar via air.