Hostels in Chandigarh

Chandigarh is both a city and a union territory located in the north of India. It is the capital of both the states of Punjab and Haryana and is located in the midst of the two. French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier created the master blueprint for the city. Consequently, upon arrival, a big welcome signs bids you welcome to “the city beautiful.”

Besides its well-planned construction and plentiful greenery, Chandigarh is also beautiful because of its cleanliness. It is considered one of the cleanest and the first smoke-free of all cities in India.

There are only a few hostels in Chandigarh for those needing single occupancy deals. For your best bets of finding a Chandigarh hostel to your liking, you should consider hotel establishments with the words “inn,” “palace,” “plaza,” or “villa” in their titles, where you can find a room for two persons at $10-$25 per night. Since Chandigarh is not a huge tourist destination, accommodations can be a bit more expensive. The most economic options cover just basic necessities.

Since this city was planned and divided into sectors, you should have an easy time finding your way around as you explore the different sights. Sector 17, for example, is the shopping center of Chandigarh. As you pursue some shopping for souvenirs, you might wish to take photos at the “dove of peace” fountain. At night, the musical fountain is of particular interest. As music plays, a laser light show illuminates the fountain and the water dances. Since statues are forbidden in the city, you will find a lot of fountains sprinkled around the peaceful streets.

Another stop on your itinerary might be the Rock Garden. Once upon a time, a man named Ned Chand found some rocks and scrap at a demolition site and used them to create sculptures resembling animals, dancers, and many other objects. He placed his growing collection of odd sculptures near Sukhna Lake. His secret garden was discovered by city officials and inaugurated as a public attraction in 1976. Today, Rock Garden is an expanse of about 40 acres of waterfalls, archways, and sculptures made of scraps from construction areas.

Another worthwhile attraction to visit is the Government Museum and Art Gallery located in sector 10. Here you will see a museum of natural history comprised of fossils and artifacts, an art gallery collection of sculptures, statues, and paintings, as well as section dedicated to Chandigarh’s architecture.

Before heading back to your Chandigarh hostel, you might want to make one more stop at Rose Garden, directly across from the museum. This is the perfect, tranquil place for an evening walk as you breathe in the delightful aroma of roses.

Handwritten by local expert for Chandigarh hostels Jakob Lombardi