Essentially a sculpture garden, this is the kind of place which you would definitely like visiting and exploring. What makes this place really interesting is the fact that this garden has been completely made of scrap and various kinds of waste materials such as glasses, bangles, electrical wastes, etc. Situated near Sukhna Lake, what this place has to offer to people is just pure pleasure. The exquisite sculptures serve as an opportunity to get to know this city in an in-depth manner.
It is worth knowing that Rock Garden also goes by the name of its founder, Nek Chand’s Rock Garden. And perhaps the best thing which you will find here is its really beautiful waterfalls. On average, this place is visited by around 5,000 people on a daily basis.
Well, there is every reason to visit this charming place in Chandigarh. The waterfalls, the fun moments with your loved ones, and the art of this place are reasons enough in themselves to explore these gardens. Apart from this, the fact that these gardens were made single-handedly by just one person, acts as a cherry on the top while exploring this place.
Rock Garden remains open from 9 am to 7 pm from April to September, and 9 am-6 pm from October-March. The charges are INR 5/person for adults and INR 3/person for children.
History of Rock Garden
It is said that in his spare time, Nek Chand started collecting different materials from the demolition sites which were around the city at that time. What he did was that he recycled these materials as per his own vision. For this, he chose a gorge in a forest near Sukhna Lake.
Earlier, this gorge was designated as a land conservancy which was established sometime around the year 1902. However, what he did was illegal and by the time the authorities were able to discover his work in 1975, it had grown approximately into a 12-acre place. And by now, this place was filled with interlinked courtyards and hundreds of pottery-covered sculptures of dancers, musicians, and animals.
Then in the year 1976, this park was opened for the public. Apart from this, Nek Chand was also given a salary as well as a title so that he could work full-time. With the Government’s help, Chand was able to expand this place and also was able to set up centers for collecting waste, especially rags and ceramics.
Major Attractions in and Around Rock Garden
1. Smriti Upvan
It is an interesting place to explore near the Rock Garden. This place is beautiful with trees and is a hub for deers. What is more essential to know is the fact that the trees here are planted by people in the memory of their loved ones. Overall, it is a great place to spend some real quality time around with your family and friends. It is one of the best places to visit in Chandigarh.
2. Open Hand Monument
Constructed by the famous architect Le Corbusier this is the emblem of the Government of Chandigarh. It symbolizes the hand to give peace and prosperity. This structure stands at 26 meters in length and weighs around 50 short tons.
3. Government Museum And Art Gallery
The museum consists of different sculptures of North India. It includes collections of Gandharan sculptures, and Pahari & Rajasthani miniature paintings. It is a great opportunity in itself for the people to explore the cultural nuances of this city.
4. Sector 17 Market
Right from domestic items to clothing, the market consists of a prodigious amount of shops that cater to the needs of one and all. If you consider yourself a shopaholic then this is the kind of place which must be on your travel bucket list.
How to Reach Rock Garden
A famous sculpture garden in Chandigarh, this place is all about discovering Chandigarh in a completely new light. Also known as Nek Chand’s Rock Garden after its founder Nek Chand Saini. It is said that he had started this garden in complete secrecy in 1957. And now, in today’s times, this place is spread over an area of 40 acres. Rock Garden is situated at a distance of 247, 1,665, 1,764, 2,418 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Let’s see how you can reach here by the following routes.
By Air
Chandigarh Airport (IXC) is the nearest airport to Rock Garden. It is located 25-30 km from this place. The Chandigarh Airport is a custom airport serving Chandigarh Airport along with its nearby areas like Mohali, Haryana, Mohali. After deboarding at the airport, you can take a cab to reach here.
Many airlines operate to and fro from this airport like Go Air, AirAsia, Air India, Vistara, and many others.
- Delhi - Board Air India, Vistara, Go Air from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.2,500
- Lucknow - IndiGo, Air India, Vistara from Lucknow Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.4,000
- Amritsar - Board Air India, Vistara, IndiGo from Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport The airfares are starting from Rs.4,000
- Jaipur - Board Air India, IndiGo flights from Jaipur Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.4,500
- Patna - Board Go Air, Air India, Vistara from Patna Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.5,000
By Train
Your best option to reach here would be the Chandigarh Railway Station. From here, this station is located at a distance of 7-8 km. This train station has good connectivity with other nearby Indian cities. Situated at a height of 330 meters, the Chandigarh Railway Station is amongst the top 100 booking stations of Indian Railways.
Coming with fully computerized reservation facilities, telephone booths, reception centers for tourists, this railway station is very modernized. Here is the train route to reach here from various nearby places. And as you deboard the train, you can easily take some means of public transportation like a cab to reach this place.
- Delhi - Board Kalka Shatabdi Express from New Delhi Railway Station and deboard at the Chandigarh Railway Station
- Lucknow - Board LKO CDG Express from Lucknow NR junction and deboard at the Chandigarh Junction
- Ludhiana - Board Intercity-Express from Ludhiana Junction and deboard at the Chandigarh Junction
- Jaipur - Board JP CDG Intercity from Jaipur Junction and deboard at the Chandigarh Junction
- Agra - Board Unchahar Express from Tundla Junction and deboard at the Chandigarh Junction
By Road
The road connectivity to Rock Garden, Chandigarh is very good. Here is the route you can take from various places to travel here.
- Delhi - 247 km via NH44 or NH9
- Agra - 478 km via NH44 or Yamuna Expressway
- Jodhpur - 724 km via NH52 or NH62
- Gwalior - 613 km via NH44 or Taj Express Highway
- Jaipur - 510 km via NH48 or NH44
- Udaipur - 900 km via NH58 or NH48
You can also consider traveling here by interstate buses. From Delhi, it would cost you about Rs.500. From Agra, it would approximately cost you Rs.1,000. From Gwalior, it would cost you about Rs.1,000. From Patiala, it would cost you about Rs.150.
As per your need, you can also opt for luxury, sleeper, or regular buses.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rock Garden
Q1. who created the famous rock garden of chandigarh?
A1. The rock garden which is also known as the sculpture garden was created by Nek Chand Saini.
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