Chandigarh

Covering an area of 56 square kilometres, Chandigarh is the first 'planned' city of India. The city site was selected in 1948 after a careful survey, including an aerial reconnaissance. The architectural style of the city is represented by the use of unfinished concrete, exposed brickwork and 'brise-soleil' (a lowered screen) that replaces the conventional verandah to keep sunlight away from walls and windows.
The city has neatly laid out roads and parks, and wide boulevards lined by endless rows of trees. Most of the buildings are closely spaced and laid out in continuous rows. This is called 'terrace housing'.

Government Museum and Art Gallery: This museum in Chandigarh tops the itinerary of tourists. It houses a very rich collection of Gandharan sculptures, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature paintings. This museum has four wings: the Art Gallery, the Natural History Museum, Chandigarh Architecture Museum and National Gallery of Portraits. It also has a spacious reference library, which helps scholars and students to meet their intellectual needs.

Capitol Complex: Designed by Le Corbusier, Capitol Complex is located in Sector 1, in Chandigarh, and consists of three main edifices, namely the Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly and the High Court

Open Hand:This is one of the most significant monument in Chandigarh. This giant hand in metal sheet rises 85 feet high from a sunken trench and rotates freely in the wind like a weather cock to indicate the direction of wind. The Open Hand is the official emblem of the Chandigarh city. The significance of open hand is that it conveys the symbolic message of peace and unity that is "open to give, open to receive".

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