With given the honor of being ‘the first planned city of India after Independence’ Chandigarh is famous for its modern and urban infrastructure around the world. A Chandigarh one day trip is widely sought after mainly among North Indians because the city is oozing with bustling markets, lush gardens, a number of incredible attractions, and a wide range of delectable delicacies offered!
I have gone to Chandigarh many times and no matter when I visit there, the city feels like a different place each time, and there are a lot of things to do in this gorgeous landscape.
Things to do in Chandigarh One Day Trip
The city of Chandigarh was built by a French architect called Le Corbusier and it was named after Goddess Chandi (The Goddess of Power). It was the dream city of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and is also known as ‘The City Beautiful’.
Tip: Know more about Le Corbusier’s life and work here.
The city is divided into 47 self-contained sectors connected with well-paved roads and a ton of roundabouts. Each road is embraced by the shade of various trees with separate cycling paths highlighted on the pavements.
Fun Fact: There is no sector 13 in Chandigarh because its architect Le Corbusier found that number to be very unlucky.
Here are 9 things to do in Chandigarh for one day!
1. Visit the Iconic Rock Garden
Start your day by visiting the Rock Garden and witnessing the beautiful and unique sculptures made from recycled matter such as broken glass, ceramics, and industrial and household wastes.
I have only seen the Rock Garden once despite the many visitations to the green city of India, and let me tell you, it was mindblowing! I was in awe of all the time and wondered how throwaways can be reused and recycled in such an efficient way.
Did you know?: This establishment was the brainchild of artist Nek Chand who also received many awards for this creation including Padma Bhushan (third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India).
- Timings: 9 am-7 pm (all week)
- Entrances: Rs 30 (Adults), Rs 10 (Toddlers)
2. Elante Mall: Splurge a Little
Moving further with the Chandigarh itinerary, the Elante Mall awaits!
Elante Mall is the third biggest shopping mall in India with over 200 retail outlets, a giant food court with international cuisines, and 8 screens theatre making it on the list of top must-visit places in Chandigarh for one day trip.
To be honest, you can spend your whole day roving from outlet to outlet and still finding new stuff to purchase, or watch a movie with the best sound system, and after getting exhausted from all the shopping, there is a variety of food options available at the food court for you to cram down.
- Timings: 11 am-10 pm (all week)
3. Get Enchanted by The Government Museum and Art Gallery
The Chandigarh one day trip is incomplete without taking a look inside the Government museum and art gallery. This place is filled with ancient sculptures, archeological artifacts, and splendid collections of artwork.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and learned a lot about Indian history, and for those interested in history this place is a compelling visit in your Chandigarh city tour.
- Timings: 10 am-5 pm (Tue-Sun)
- Entrances: Rs 30
4. Spend Some Time at The Japanese Garden
Located in sector 31, this garden features Japanese-inspired architecture, ponds, waterfalls, pagoda towers, golden bamboos, a meditation center, etc. thus making it one of the most unique places in Chandigarh for one day trip.
- Timings: 10 am-9 pm (all week)
5. Take a Stroll in The Rose Garden
Well, there are a lot of gardens in Chandigarh, that’s for sure…
You need to visit this magnificent garden! Spanning over 30 acres of land, the Rose Garden is the largest of its kind in all of Asia. This park exhibits over 1600 species of roses and around 32,500 varieties of trees and shrubs. The fragrant aroma and the riot of colors from all those opulent roses are a sight for your sore eyes to witness.
This garden is always the last stop on my Chandigarh one day trip and I make sure to take at least one round of the garden.
Tip: The best time to visit the Rose Garden is between Feb and March when the flowers are fully bloomed.
- Timings: 6 am-10 pm (all week)
- Entrances: Rs 50
6. Boating at Sukhana Lake
Sukhana Lake is actually a reservoir located at the foothills of the Shivalik Ranges and is a popular Chandigarh city tour attraction. Most locals visit the lake in the evening as it proffers a majestic sunset view and boating.
They close the boating services by 6 pm, and I, who have some punctuality issues just got there in the nick of time and practically begged the in charge there for a boating experience.
Luckily they accepted my crying and begging, but it gets pretty crowded there at this time, so plan your Chandigarh one day trip accordingly.
…And after boating you can just stroll by the lake or sit on a bench and watch the sunset.
Timings: 5 am-9 pm (all week)
7. Explore the Local Markets and Eat Street Food (A Must-Do in Chandigarh One Day Trip)
It will be cruel if all you do is scramble to different tourist places in Chandigarh for one day trip and not explore its vibrant local markets, and gobble up its piquant street food.
Visit the biggest market there, the Sector 17 Plaza, also known as the ‘Heart of Chandigarh’. It is the commercial and shopping hub of Chandigarh covering over 240 acres of land.
Enjoy gol gappas, samosas, chole bhatures, and softies, as well as spend on electronics, clothes, and shoes, and the best part is you can find anything suited to your price point.
Some of the other local markets to visit are:
- Palika Bazaar
- Shastri Market
- Sadar Market
8. Experience the Nightlife
Chandigarh offers some of the craziest nightlife experiences! As the city lits up in the twilight, the locals get out of their houses and the whole city gathers a certain elegance.
As for partying, you should head to Sector 26 or Sector 7 which are known for their immaculate pubs, clubs, bars, and lounges, which are sure to give you a hangover in the morning and an exorbitant bill amount.
Some of the best clubs that I’ve visited are:
Tip: Most of the bars and clubs close down at 1 am.
9. Eat at The Local Restaurants and Cafes
Not only Chandigarh is full of attractions but it is also famous for its mouthwatering food. Chandigarh has a massive menu of delicacies but being the capital of Punjab, it offers a wide range of Punjabi cuisines that are to die for!
Your Chandigarh one day trip will not be fulfilling until you try Punjabi dishes such as butter chicken, dal makhani, paneer tikka, rajma chawal, sarson ka saag, etc.
Many restaurants and cafes are meticulously built and offer affordable food of utter deliciousness. Some of them are:
- Pal Dhaba
- Swagath Restaurant & Bar
- Whistling Duck
- The Willow Cafe
- Books n’ Brew
Other Places in Chandigarh for One Day Trip
Chandigarh is a huge city and you need at least 2 days to see all the glory of this place. There are a lot of attractions and places that I’ve left out as it is only a one day trip in Chandigarh, but if you find some extra time or wish to stay there for some more days, these are the places you could check out:
- Cactus Garden
- Le Corbusier Center
- Capitol Complex
- One Hand Monument
- Pinjore Gardens
Where to Stay in Chandigarh
Even though it is only a Chandigarh one day trip, you need a place to rest after all the exhaustion from roaming and exploring.
Because this city is well-developed, has flawless infrastructure, and well-maintained monuments, it attracts a lot of tourists from distant parts of the world. So, Chandigarh has extensive hotel chains from luxury to affordable:
Luxury
Mid Range
- Lemon Tree Hotel
- Ramada Plaza
- Hotel Mountview
Affordable
- Hotel KLG Starlite
- Hotel Diamond Plaza
- Hotel Shagun
How to Reach Chandigarh
By Car:
The city of Chandigarh excels at its infrastructure and so does its roads. Moreover, it is well connected with all the surrounding cities like Mohali, Panchkula, Ambala, etc with good quality highways. So, for a Chandigarh one day trip, travelling via car is the best option.
By Bus:
As mentioned above the roads in Chandigarh are well-paved and are well-connected with nearby cities, therefore getting there by bus is a good and the cheapest option. There are 2 main bus stands and they are in Sector 17 and Sector 43.
From there on, auto-rickshaws can be easily found for getting around the city.
By Plane:
The nearest airport to the city is called Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, which is 13 km south of the city. The airport doesn’t have many international flights but mainly boards domestic flights
Getting Around
Because the public transportation in Chandigarh is really good, you can easily take the interstate buses for your Chandigarh city tour. Also if you want more flexibility, you can opt for auto-rickshaws.
How Much Does Chandigarh Cost
Chandigarh is a moderately expensive place, with cheap transport facilities. This is a city that can cater to prodigals who are willing to splurge, as well as those who are on tight budgets.
Plus hey! if you are on a Chandigarh one day trip, this is gonna cost a lot less.
- Hotels: Rs 1500-Rs 10000/night
- Hostels: Rs 1000-Rs 5000/night
- Food: Rs 500-Rs 1000/meal
- Travel: Rs 500- Rs 1500/day
- Entrances: Rs 500- Rs 1500/day
Best Time to Visit Chandigarh
Chandigarh remains pleasant throughout the year, but it can be a little unpredictable during monsoon as the city is surrounded by Aravali hills, so there is a possibility of getting stuck in heavy rainfall.
The best time to visit the green city would be from January to March as the weather starts to warm down and the season starts to transition from winter to spring. The temperature ranges between 15° C to 30° C and the flowers and the trees start to bloom, which makes it the perfect time for a Chandigarh one day trip.
What Do You Think of This Chandigarh City Tour?
Chandigarh is a beautiful place that everyone should visit, and I’ve listed down all the things and the places I visited on my Chandigarh one day trip. What did you do on your Chandigarh trip? Mention in the comments section below!
And if you are wondering what to pack for a one day trip, check out my packing list for a day trip here.
