Things to do in Chandigarh
-
A
Shangri-La Plus
A Chinese restaurant with high prices and slow service but generous servings when they arrive. Try the yaki gyoza - dumplings with hot garlic sauce.
reviewed
-
B
Nek Chand Fantasy Rock Garden
Entering this Chandigarh icon, a 25-acre garden, is like falling down a rabbit-hole into the labyrinthine interior of one man’s mind. Created by Nek Chand, cleverly using recycled junk and organic materials, the garden is a curious maze of interlinking courtyards, twisting walkways and staircases suddenly emerging into valleys with crashing waterfalls or amphitheatres overrun by figures made of china shards. No material is wasted, from electrical sockets to colourful wire, glass and even broken bangles, in the legions of men, animals, archways and walls, with broken-art faces around almost every corner.
reviewed
-
Copper Chimney
The boti kebab (charcoal-grilled marinated mutton) is spicy, succulent goodness, the tandoori gobi (cauliflower) is clay-oven magic, and the ‘sizzling brownie’ is chocolatey bliss. Chic interior.
reviewed
-
C
Khadi Ashram
Homespun textiles and herbal beauty products (soaps include water-lily, aloe-vera and mint).
reviewed
-
D
Phulkari
Government of Punjab emporium with everything from handicrafts to jootis.
reviewed
-
E
Le Corbusier Centr
Le Corbusier Centre will especially appeal to those interested in urban planning. Through old documents, sketches and photos it chronicles the work of Chandigarh’s chief architect, Le Corbusier. There’s a black-and-white photo of a suit and bow tie–attired Le Corbusier on a paddle boat, as well as some fascinating letters, including one from Jawaharlal Nehru to the Chief Minister of Punjab dated November 4 1960, part of which states ‘I do hope that you will not overrule Corbusier. His opinion is of value.’
reviewed
-
Nik Baker’s
Chandigarh’s top bakery, with fresh bread (multigrain, linseed, ciabatta, sunflower, rye etc), snacks (quiche, mushroom panini, chicken croissants) and pastries (lemon tarts, blueberry cheesecake, brownies). There’s also gelato ice cream (the brownie-fudge is mmmmmagical). Birthday cakes (from Rs390) can be baked with at least a day’s notice. Smaller branch at Sector 9-D.
reviewed
-
F
Oriental Lounge
Below AB’s restaurant, this chi-chi lounge-bar is a most civilised spot to slow the pace. There’s Heineken (Rs180 per can) and mint tequilas (Rs250), among other things, while the impressive pan-Asian food menu has glass noodle soup (Rs75), crab cakes (Rs240) and ‘Tickle Me Honey’ (Thai honey-marinated pork chops; Rs190). Happy hour is from noon to 6pm.
reviewed
-
Barbeque Nation
The novelty at this wood-esque restaurant is small grills embedded in each table, allowing diners to partake in the cooking of their meals. The food, however, isn’t quite as sexy. There’s a good veg/nonveg buffet (lunch Monday to Saturday/Sunday per person Rs309/450; dinner daily Rs450) which includes BBQ Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean fare.
reviewed
-
G
Lava Bar
With lava lamps and a retro vibe, this small bar celebrates an ‘amoebic ambiance in a hot modern way.’ Rejoice this fact with expensive bubbles (Dom Perignon; Rs22,000) …or, maybe not…thank heaven there’s plenty of (affordable) pale ale (Corona beer; Rs300). DJ from 7pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Orchid Lounge
This elegant lounge-bar-restaurant is a fancy place to dilly-dally over a bottle of Grover’s Sauvignon Blanc (Rs800) while perusing the ‘Oriental’ menu. Tempting choices include the sweet-and-sour fish with lemongrass and kafir-lime leaves, pad Thai, and broccoli, baby corn and cashew nuts in chilli plum sauce.
reviewed
-
H
Zinc Lounge
Attached to the Noodle Bar, steely-suave Zinc attracts Chandigarh’s pretty people. There’s a show-off wine list that includes Indian, Australian, Spanish and French labels (house wine Rs250 per glass). Cocktailers can sup mint juleps, Cosmopolitans, margueritas and ‘Indian sangria’ (ginger-infused; Rs250).
reviewed
-
Piccadilly Blue Ice Bar & Restaurant
A contemporary, split-level bar-restaurant which is nice for an unhurried drink and bite to eat. A Kingfisher is Rs85/140 per 330/650ml and there’s also Long Island Iced Tea (Rs250) and Bacardi Breezers (Rs100). Menu items range from barbecued prawns and Thai fish curry to burgers and chicken stroganoff.
reviewed
-
Score!!!
An ‘in’ place when we were in town, this sleek sports bar – with dim lighting, soft leather couches and an extensive beverage menu – is good for a wind-down Kingfisher (Rs100 per pint) or pick-me-up tequila (Rs225). Shake your groove thing on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (DJ from 9pm).
reviewed
-
I
Museum
On the way to the High Court is a small, well-kept museum containing assorted memorabilia including original Le Corbusier sketches and the handcuffs worn by Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin. Most exhibits are on the 1st floor. On request, there’s an interesting (free) guided tour.
reviewed
-
Voodoo
A squeezy, dark drinking den with dance floor (DJ on Wednesday and Saturday from 9pm), where the city’s 20-somethings switch into top gear with BMW shooters (Baileys, Malibu and whisky; Rs225) and savour Sex on the Beach (vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry and orange juice; Rs200).
reviewed
-
Tourist Bus
A double-decker tourist bus runs two daily half-day trips from Hotel Shivalikview (buy ticket here; opposite) to the Rose Garden, Government Museum & Art Gallery, Nek Chand Fantasy Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. Schedules can be inconsistent, so check ahead.
reviewed
-
J
Swagath
Stellar Indian food with a focus on Mangalorean and Chettinad recipes. Seafood – prawns, squid, crab and a tasty fish gassi (coconut-based curry) – is artfully prepared, and the murgh malai tikka (clay oven–cooked marinated chicken) isn’t bad either.
reviewed
-
K
Moti Mahal
Scrummy North Indian favourites; the butter chicken, jeera aloo (spiced potatoes), chicken masala and palak paneer (unfermented cheese chunks in spiced pureed spinach) get the thumbs up. Good variety of piping-hot Indian breads. Branch at Sector 26.
reviewed
-
L
Sai Sweets
Apart from an awesome array of mithai (Indian sweets), humble SS has namkin (savoury nibbles) and more substantial snacks like plump samosas (deep-fried pastry triangles) and channa bhatura (fried Indian-style bread with spiced chickpeas).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
M
Government Museum and Art Gallery
Set in a garden dotted with sculptures such as a mini Eiffel Tower, the Government Museum and Art Gallery has a sizeable collection including embroidered phulkari wraps made by Punjabi village women, modern art and Buddhist sculptures from across Asia.
reviewed
-
N
Chandigarh Architecture Museum
The Chandigarh Architecture Museum uses photos, letters, models, newspaper reports and architectural drawings to provide revealing insights into the city’s planning and development. There’s an outdoor sound-&-light show.
reviewed
-
O
Mehfil
Indian, Chinese and Continental food served in comfortable surrounds, with the murg tawa (Punjabi-style chicken) and methi murg (chicken with fenugreek) among the standouts. Spice aficionados may find some dishes too tame.
reviewed
-
P
Hot Millions Salad Bar & Restaurant
Best of its city-wide branches and popular for its salad buffet (soups, veg/nonveg salads and desserts, Rs201 per person). The higgledy-piggledy à la carte menu has everything from Tex-Mex and Chinese to Indian and Italian. Laid-back vibe.
reviewed
-
Ruby Tuesday
If you’re cinema’ing at Fun Republic, grab a pre- or post-movie bite at this easygoing American-style diner known for its fat burgers, cheesy pizza and finger licking–good ribs. There’s also a food court on Fun Republic’s top floor.
reviewed
