Chandigarh
has the distinction of having
a unique world acclaimed Rock
Garden. It consists of art objects
of art objects, fashioned from
industrial and urban waste. It
is situated between the Capitol
Complex and Sukhna Lake in Sector
1.
The Rock Garden
has become almost a heritage
site. Artists and connoisseurs
from all over the world flock
to see this unique and amazing
creation. The concept is daring,
the appeal perennial. visitors
leave in admiration, only to
return again.
The creator of
the Rock Garden, Nek Chand,
was a Road Inspector in the
Engineering Department of Chandigarh
Capitol Project. He roamed the
Shivalik Foothills and picked
up stones resembling bird, animal,
human and abstract forms. He
brought them on his bicycle.
The first seven years ( 1958-65
) were spent collecting natural
material, urban and industrial
waste. Gradually his collection
mounted to a staggering twenty
thousand rock forms of amazing
beauty. These were deposited
around a hut which he had built
for his work and contemplation.
He built the Rock Garden from
this improvised hut which was
located by the side of a stream...
S
U K H N A L A K E
The manmade
picturesque Sukhna Lake in the
foothills of Shivalik range in
an idyllic place for quiet communion
with nature and for offering water
sports activities such as boating,
yaching, water skiing etc. The
creation of Lake was one of the
greatest gift from Le Corbusier
and PL. Verma, Chief Engineer.
Sukhna is an inseperable
part of the City. Le Corbusier
had forseen that the residents
of the City would be drawn to
it for 'care of the body and
spirit'. The planners were deeply
attached to the lake (so much
so that Pierre Jeanneret's ashes
were immersed in the Lake in
1970 as per his last wishes
by his niece.)
Serious 'walkers'
pursue an exercise regime, families
enjoy an evening stroll, painters
and nature lovers mingle with
childern on roller skates to
partake of this extraordinary
amenty. Photographers and painters
love to capture the scenic beauty
of the setting sun, or the heavily
clouded monsoon sky, or the
early morning mist in winter
set admist the tranquility of
the lake.
