Chandigarh is a city and union territory of India. Located approximately 165 miles (265 km) north of New Delhi, the region is bordered by the state of Haryana on the east and the state of Punjab on all other sides. It is located in the south-west of the Siwalik Range (Shivalik Range) from the Indo-Gangetic Plain between two seasonal hill ranges, the Sukhna and Patiali rivers. The land is a flat and fertile tract of alluvial soil, and its rural fields produce crops such as wheat, maize (maize), and rice. Temperatures can exceed 120 °F (about 50 °C) in the summer months (April to June), while temperatures can drop to 30 °F (about 2 °C) in the winter months (November to February) with frequent rain showers. Monsoon season (July to September) is hot and humid.
Chandigarh city, located in the area of Chandigarh, has several towns and a number of surrounding villages. The administration of the government of the region is provided by the Governor of Punjab, who is assisted by a senior officer; Both are appointed by the national government. Chandigarh city is the capital of Chandigarh region, Haryana and Punjab states. The name Chandigarh, meaning “stronghold of the goddess Chandi”, is derived from the Chandi temple, which is dedicated to the goddess and is located near the town of Mani Majra. Area Union Territory, 44 sq mi (114 sq km). pop City, (2001) 808,515; Union Territories, (2001) 1,063,000; City, (2011) 960,787; Union Territories, (2011) 1,054,686.
History
With the partition of India in 1947, the former British province of Punjab was split into two parts. Much of the western part, including Lahore, the Punjabi capital, went to Pakistan. The eastern part was ceded to India, but without an administrative, commercial or cultural centre. Consequently, plans were made to find a suitable site for the capital of the new Indian Punjab soon after partition. The Government of India considered several options, including Amritsar, Jalandhar (Jullundur), Phillaur, Ludhiana, Shimla (Shimla), Ambala, and Karnal, and in 1948 selected the present site of Chandigarh. It was hoped that a magnificent new state capital, naturally situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, would become a symbol of modernity, heal the wounded pride of Indian Punjabis, and house thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees fleeing Muslim-majority Pakistan.
The city was planned by the Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier, assisted by Maxwell Fry, Jane Drew and several Indian architects and town planners. Construction began in the early 1950s and most of the city was completed in the early 1960s. The project ultimately required the resettlement of 21,000 people in 58 villages.
The Union Territory of Chandigarh was formed on November 1, 1966, when the Indian Punjab was reorganized along linguistic lines into two new states—mainly Hindi-speaking Haryana and Punjabi-speaking Punjab. Spread between Haryana and Punjab, the city of Chandigarh was made the joint capital of the two states and the union territory. Under the Punjab Accord of 1986, the entire Union Territory was to become part of Punjab, while both agricultural producers in Punjab, mostly Hindi-speaking areas of Fazilka and Abohar, were to be transferred to Haryana; At the beginning of the 21st century, however, this plan had not yet been implemented.
Contemporary cities and regions
Chandigarh city covers more than half of the Union Territory, with well-developed infrastructure and relatively low population density. It consists of more than 50 rectangular areas, separated from each other by wide streets that carry the city’s high-speed arterial traffic. The main government buildings are in the northern part of the city. In the south are industrial areas, separated from residential areas by a greenbelt planted with mango trees. Major industries in the city are electronics, pharmaceuticals, ceramic plumbing fixtures, and electrical appliances.
Most of the population of the region is concentrated in the southern region of Chandigarh city. Hindus are by far the dominant religious group, although Sikhs are a significant minority. Muslims, Christians and Jains are also sprinkled. Hindi and Punjabi are the most spoken languages in this region.
The region has several notable educational and cultural institutions, including the Punjab University (established in 1947), Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Punjab Engineering College, Government College of Art and Government Medical College and Hospital. There are also several specialized art academies. The local museum in Chandigarh has a rich collection of Gandhara sculptures and Pahari and Sikh paintings, while archaeological excavations in the area have yielded artifacts from the ancient Indus Civilization (c. 2500–1700 BCE), particularly pottery. The city is also known for its extensive rose garden and its unusual rock garden, which has many sculptures made from broken objects by self-taught artist Nek Chand.
Chandigarh is full of sports and entertainment facilities. In the north east is the large, artificial lake Sukhna, which has become the main place for walks and evening entertainment in the city. There are also several government-aided sports complexes and community centres. This field is for athletes competing at many national and international levels in hockey, cricket, rowing and other sports