Chandigarh

The City Beautiful – Chandigarh – has added another leaf to its long list of themed gardens and parks — the Japanese Garden, a 13-acre recreation zone with water bodies, Pagoda and statues of Buddha.

The Japanese Garden, located in Sector 31 of the city, was thrown open to the public last month. The first phase of the garden has four water bodies with bridges built over them, a Pagoda and statues of Buddha.

Other structures like the entry gate and lanterns add to the uniqueness of the garden built on Japanese architecture.

According to Chandigarh Deputy Mayor and area councillor Davesh Moudgil, “The garden is unique and has the potential to emerge as a key tourist destination in the city. It has been attracting a large number of city residents too.”

Chandigarh, the post-Independent India’s first planned city, boasts of a number of gardens that are spread over its length and breadth. It is the common capital of states of Punjab and Haryana.

The city’s most famous garden is Rose Garden, spread over an area of 30 acres showcasing more than 800 varieties of rose and an assortment of medicinal plants.

Though having nothing to do with greens or flowers, then there is the famous Rock Garden, built of industrial and home waste, which was formally inaugurated nearly four decades ago and each year attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Its creator Nek Chand celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this month.

Then there are Fragrance Garden, Terraced Garden, Bamboo Garden, Garden of Herbs and Shrubs, Butterfly Park, Garden of Palms, Bougainvillea Garden, Moonlit Garden, Leisure Valley, Animal Garden, most of which are maintained by the city’s Municipal Corporation.

These gardens along with many others add to the beauty of the City, designed by legendary French architect Le Corbusier.

According to a Chandigarh Tourism Department official, the city had last year received nearly 11 lakh domestic and more than 4.50 lakh foreign tourists and the numbers have certainly increased this year, with many of them paying a visit to its famous gardens.

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