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Chandigarh sightseeing by cab

Chandigarh in 2 days: what to see, in what order

Two days covers the city and Panchkula. Day one is the Capitol Complex tour, the Government Museum, the Rose Garden, the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, about 18 km. Day two is the Mansa Devi temple, the Cactus Garden, Gurdwara Nada Sahib with lunch at the langar, and Pinjore Gardens, about 57 km.

9 places75 km by cabtimed against opening hours
How long do you have?
Day 1

Capitol Complex, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake

Leave at 09:25 for the 10:00 Capitol Complex tour (be at the desk by 09:45 with photo ID). The Government Museum in Sector 10 at about 11:40, then lunch. The Rose Garden at about 14:00, the Rock Garden at about 14:45, and Sukhna Lake from about 16:30, in time for sunset in winter. About 18 km by cab, back by about 17:45. Go Tuesday to Friday: the museum shuts on Mondays and the Capitol tour stays outside at weekends. Sector 17 Plaza is a short walk for the evening.

09:25 to 17:455 places18 km by cab
  1. 1Capitol Complex
  2. 2Government Museum and Art Gallery
  3. Lunch
  4. 3Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
  5. 4Rock Garden of Nek Chand
  6. 5Sukhna Lake
  7. Back
  1. Leave central Chandigarh
  2. 1

    Capitol Complex

    1 h 45 min here
    Capitol Complex
    Photo: duncid, CC BY-SA 2.0

    The heart of Le Corbusier's plan for Chandigarh and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour walks you past the High Court, the Palace of Assembly and the Secretariat, big concrete buildings with bold colours, and to the Open Hand, a metal hand that turns in the wind and is the city's symbol.

    Le Corbusier's cityGuided tours only, free, at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00, about 90 minutes. Register 15 minutes early with photo ID (a passport for foreigners). Monday to Friday the tour goes inside the buildings; at weekends it stays outside. Closed on public holidays

    Tip: Carry photo ID: the guards check it before the tour. There is little shade on the open plaza, so carry water and a cap. The Assembly is closed to tours while it is sitting.

  3. 2

    Government Museum and Art Gallery

    1 h 15 min here
    Closed on Mondays
    Government Museum and Art Gallery
    Photo: Sanyam Bahga, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A Le Corbusier building in Sector 10 with Gandhara Buddhas, Pahari miniature paintings and modern Indian art. Next door, the Architecture Museum tells how Chandigarh was planned, with the first sketches and models, and the Natural History Museum has dinosaur fossils found nearby.

    MuseumsOpen 10:00 to 16:30, closed on Mondays. The Natural History Museum and the Architecture Museum next door keep 10:00 to 17:00

    Tip: One ticket area, three museums: pick the Architecture Museum if you have only 30 minutes. Bags may have to go in the cloakroom.

  4. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  5. 3

    Zakir Hussain Rose Garden

    40 min here
    Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
    Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of the biggest rose gardens in Asia, about 30 acres in Sector 16 with over 1,600 kinds of roses, lawns and fountains. Outside the flowering months it is still a green walk in the middle of the city.

    Gardens, lakes & hillsOpen 05:00 to 21:00 every day; free

    Tip: Come in February or March for the flowers. In summer the roses are cut back and the garden is mostly green.

  6. 4

    Rock Garden of Nek Chand

    1 h 45 min here
    Rock Garden of Nek Chand
    Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A maze of courtyards, waterfalls and narrow paths built in secret by Nek Chand, a road inspector, from broken plates, bangles, tiles and bits of old buildings. Thousands of figures made from scrap line the walls. It now covers about 40 acres.

    Le Corbusier's cityOpen 09:00 to 18:00 from October to March, 09:00 to 19:30 from April to September, every day. Adults ₹30, children ₹10

    Tip: The paths are narrow and have low arches: wear good shoes. Leave about two hours; it is bigger than it looks from the gate.

  7. 5

    Sukhna Lake

    1 h here
    Sukhna Lake
    Photo: Navneet Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A man-made lake at the foot of the Shivalik hills, with a long walk along the dam where the whole city comes in the evening. You can take a paddle boat or a shikara, or just sit and watch the hills turn pink.

    Gardens, lakes & hillsOpen 05:00 to 21:00, free. Boats for hire in the day, about 09:00 to 18:00

    Tip: Weekend evenings are crowded; a weekday is calmer. The Rock Garden is about 10 minutes' walk, so you can leave the cab at one and walk to the other.

  8. Back at central Chandigarh
Day 2

Mansa Devi, Nada Sahib and Pinjore Gardens

Leave at 09:30 for the Mansa Devi temple at about 10:00, then the Cactus Garden at about 11:20, before its 13:00 break. Gurdwara Nada Sahib at about 12:20, with lunch at the langar, the free community meal. Pinjore Gardens at about 14:20 for a walk down the terraces. About 57 km by cab, back by about 16:30. Works on any day; skip the Navratri fair weeks at Mansa Devi.

09:30 to 16:314 places57 km by cab
  1. 1Mata Mansa Devi Temple
  2. 2Cactus Garden
  3. 3Gurdwara Nada Sahib
  4. Lunch
  5. 4Pinjore Gardens
  6. Back
  1. Leave central Chandigarh
  2. 1

    Mata Mansa Devi Temple

    1 h 15 min here
    Mata Mansa Devi Temple
    Photo: Aerorahulraj, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of the best-known temples of the goddess Mansa Devi in north India, on the edge of Panchkula below the Shivalik hills. The temple complex was built in the early 1800s, and the walls of the old shrine have painted panels.

    Temples & gurdwarasOpen 05:00 to 21:00 in winter, 04:00 to 22:00 in summer

    Tip: During the two Navratri fairs (spring and autumn) the queues run for hours: go at opening or avoid those weeks. Leave shoes at the stand by the gate.

  3. 2

    Cactus Garden

    45 min here
    Cactus Garden
    Photo: Pankajkukreti03, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden in Sector 5, Panchkula: one of the largest cactus collections in Asia, with thousands of kinds in glasshouses and rock beds.

    Gardens, lakes & hillsOpen 09:00 to 18:00 with a break from 13:00 to 14:00 (October to March); 09:00 to 19:00 with a break from 13:00 to 15:00 in summer. ₹10?

    Tip: Some map listings show it as closed; call or check the district site before you go. If it is shut, spend the time at Nada Sahib.

  4. 3

    Gurdwara Nada Sahib

    45 min here
    Gurdwara Nada Sahib
    Photo: Gaganspidey, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A gurdwara on the bank of the Ghaggar river where Guru Gobind Singh is said to have rested in 1688 on his way back from the battle of Bhangani. Big white halls and a calm courtyard.

    Temples & gurdwarasOpen all day, with langar every day?

    Tip: Cover your head and leave shoes at the stand; scarves are given at the gate. Langar, the free community meal, is open to everyone.

  5. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  6. 4

    Pinjore Gardens

    1 h 30 min here
    Pinjore Gardens
    Photo: Giridhar Appaji Nag Y from Bangalore, India, CC BY 2.0

    A Mughal garden from the 1600s, also called the Yadavindra Gardens, laid out in seven terraces that step down the hill with water channels, fountains and small palaces. The Rang Mahal and Sheesh Mahal sit along the main walk.

    Le Corbusier's cityOpen 07:00 to 21:00 (some listings say 22:00) every day; ₹20 to ₹25

    Tip: Walk down to the lowest terrace and back up: it takes longer than it looks. Fountains run mostly in the evening and at weekends.

  7. Back at central Chandigarh

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. City roads are wide and quick, but the Zirakpur and Kalka highway is slow at rush hour and on Friday and Sunday evenings, when Shimla traffic passes. The roads up to Morni and Kasauli are narrow and winding, so allow more time than the map gives. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for these 2 days

Call or message a local Chandigarh operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

2 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

We are still listing Chandigarh operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Capitol ComplexGuided tours only, free, at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00, about 90 minutes. Register 15 minutes early with photo ID (a passport for foreigners). Monday to Friday the tour goes inside the buildings; at weekends it stays outside. Closed on public holidaysThe 10:00 tour, on a weekday, when it goes inside.1 h 45 min
Government Museum and Art Gallery10:00 to 16:30, closed on Mondays. The Natural History Museum and the Architecture Museum next door keep 10:00 to 17:00Late morning, after the Capitol Complex.1 h 15 min
Zakir Hussain Rose Garden05:00 to 21:00 every day; freeFebruary and March, when the roses are out; the Rose Festival is in late February.40 min
Rock Garden of Nek Chand09:00 to 18:00 from October to March, 09:00 to 19:30 from April to September, every day. Adults ₹30, children ₹10Afternoon, then walk on to Sukhna Lake.1 h 45 min
Sukhna Lake05:00 to 21:00, free. Boats for hire in the day, about 09:00 to 18:00Late afternoon into sunset, about 17:25 in winter and 19:30 in June.1 h
Mata Mansa Devi Temple05:00 to 21:00 in winter, 04:00 to 22:00 in summerEarly morning, before the queues.1 h 15 min
Cactus Garden09:00 to 18:00 with a break from 13:00 to 14:00 (October to March); 09:00 to 19:00 with a break from 13:00 to 15:00 in summer. ₹10?Late morning, before the 13:00 break.45 min
Gurdwara Nada SahibOpen all day, with langar every day?Any time; stay for langar at lunch.45 min
Pinjore Gardens07:00 to 21:00 (some listings say 22:00) every day; ₹20 to ₹25Late afternoon into dusk, when the fountains and lights come on.1 h 30 min

More or less time in Chandigarh?

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Chandigarh in 1 day

Capitol Complex, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake

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Chandigarh in 3 days

Capitol Complex, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake · Mansa Devi, Nada Sahib and Morni Hills · Kasauli and Pinjore Gardens

See the 3-day plan →

All 20 places in Chandigarh

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

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Questions people ask

Is 2 days enough for Chandigarh?

Yes, for the main sights in the city and Panchkula. Add a third day for the Morni Hills or Kasauli.

Which order should the days go in?

Either. Put the city day on a Tuesday to Friday, when the museum is open and the Capitol tour goes inside the buildings. The Panchkula day works on any day.

Can I see Chhatbir Zoo instead?

Yes. The zoo is about 18 km south and takes half a day; it is shut on Mondays. Swap it for the Cactus Garden and Nada Sahib on day two if you are travelling with children.