The City Centre was sited in the middle, and two linear parklands ran from the northeast to the southwest. Mayer sought to create self-sufficient city, restricted in size and surrounded by green belts. Areas were clearly demarcated for business, industry and cultural activities. In August 1950, his co-planner Nowicki died in a plane crash and Mayer withdrew from the project.
Chandigarh was conceived as the capital of Punjab, in lieu of the lost capital at Lahore. But Punjab was divided a second time in 1966, and Chandigarh is today the capital of the States of both Punjab and Haryana. However, the city does not belong to either. Chandigarh is a Union Territory, administered by the Government of India. Chandigarh belongs to its people. They love the city, and are proud of the quality of life it continues to provide
This vision of Chandigarh, contained in the innumerable conceptual maps on the drawing board together with notes and sketches had to be translated into brick and mortar. Le Corbusier, eminent architect and urban theorist, was selected to carry forward this task. He retained many of the seminal ideas of Mayer and Nowicki, like the basic framework of the master plan and its components: the Capitol, City Centre, besides the University, Industrial area, and linear parkland. Even the neighbourhood unit was retained as the basic module of planning. However, the curving outline of Mayer and Nowicki was reorganised into a mesh of rectangles, and the buildings were characterised by an ‘honesty of materials’. Exposed brick and boulder stone masonry in its rough form produced unfinished concrete surfaces, in geometrical structures. This became the architecture form characteristic of Chandigarh, set amidst landscaped gardens and parks.
Chandigarh is one of the major tourism destinations in Punjab, which is known for its amazing colonial buildings, manicured gardens, parks, serene lakes, lively markets and vibrant culture. Chandigarh tourism has decided to adopt some novel and innovative measures to promote Chandigarh as major tourist hub in North India. Chandigarh tourism has opened several information offices all over the city, which provide all kind of travel information to tourists. The Chandigarh tourism website has Chandigarh tourism Guide that offers details about the city hotels, attractions, heritage, and transportation.
Tourists can get to see some of the greatest architectural creations in Chandigarh. The city has had far-reaching impact, ushering in a modern idiom of architecture and city planning all over India and has become a symbol of planned urbanism. It is as famous for its landscaping as for its architectural ambiance.
Our Other Information about Haryana state are as follows :
- Culture of Chandigarh
- Peoples of Chandigarh
