Our city has the finest restaurants which serve a variety of international cuisines but nothing beats the tandoori roti and butter chicken of the dhabas that gives you a gastronomic experience that is one of its kind. Similarly, when we arrive at a party or a club we show off our “gangsta” dance moves while drake or Niki Minaj are crooning in the background but 30 minutes into the party and we are killing it with our bhangra on a badshah or a Yo Yo Honey Singh track. Basically, this city and its people are downright “Desi” at heart and absolutely proud of it.

So there are a few things that one should not miss when visiting this city.

A visit to Panjab University & the celebrated student Centre or “Stu-c”

This University is my alma mater but I truly feel that this landmark place is totally worth a visit not only because of its historical and architectural significance but just to experience the bustling energy and the aura of this place. Also, you cannot miss the lip-smacking food of stu-c which is a mini food court for students and I’m not bluffing when I say that you can satisfy your palate as well as your tummy under 150 bucks at this place.

Sukhna lake- Our very own Marine Drive

The Sukhna lake is Chandigarh’s prized possession and a walk along this reservoir during the evening with the cool wind blowing in your face gives the most soothing feeling. Being a famous tourist attraction, it is thronged by sketch artists, vendors of all kinds, street musicians and other entertainers to attract the crowd. The facility of boating is also available but nothing beats the serene sunrise and the beautiful sunset at the lake which adds to its scenic beauty.

The Himalayan Expressway and Timber trail

The smooth highway that connects Chandigarh to Shimla offers a fun drive through the mountains. The timber trail resort nestled in the hills of parwanoo acts as the perfect pit stop for the city dwellers looking for a weekend getaway. The main attraction of this resort lies in the 1.8 km cable car ride to a mountain top with its breathtaking and picturesque view of the mountain scenery.

The Sector 8-9-10 Gehri Route

While talking of drives, it shall be catastrophic not to mention the sector 8-9-10 stretch which is full of youngsters cruising in their fancy cars with the music blaring. The lively atmosphere of this area grows on you and uplifts your spirit.

A stroll through the Rock Garden and the Rose garden

Chandigarh is full of gardens and open spaces but the world famous Rock Garden is one of its Kind. It is considered as the brainchild of the renowned artist Nek Chand who built sculptures from scrap and recycled waste material to create art. These sculptures situated in the garden are a work of ingenuity and beauty which tends to leave people awestruck. Similarly, Rose Garden is a paradise for nature lovers and gardening enthusiasts with the variety of exquisite flowers and other flora on display.

Experience culture at Tagore Theatre

The highly acclaimed Tagore theatre hosts the finest plays and theatrical performances in the country.  Local as well as international artists can be found mesmerizing the audience by exhibiting their talent here.  This place is sheer bliss for dramatics and theatre fanatics and the recitals here are a visual treat for the eyes.

Shopping Spree at sector 17

The first thing anybody associates with Chandigarh is sector 17. It is glorified in many songs as well and rightly so because it pretty much forms the essence of this city. No mall or Branded shopping complex can compare to the shopping experience you get in this place. The vivacious vibes which this place exuberates is infectious and you cannot help feeling a sense of happiness while visiting sector 17. From phulkari and Punjabi juttis to high-end fashion accessories, you will find anything and everything here.

I can go on and on about a hundred other things to do in Chandigarh because there is so much more to this city but I’m going to sign off with one last thought that Chandigarh is indeed city beautiful in every way, you got to breathe it, live it, experience it and you shall surely fall in love with it!

The post Chandigarh Diaries: Things You Absolutely Must Do While Visiting City Beautiful appeared first on Chandigarh Bytes.

Jaspal Bhatti Humour Festival

The U.T. Department of Cultural Affairs is organising the “Jaspal Bhatti Humour Festival”, in memory of the late comedian, on March 3-4-5, 2017 at Tagore Theatre.

The 3-day event will see performances by some of the finest comedians and performers from across the country. In the past, “Jaspal Bhatti Humour Festival” has featured popular comedians like Deepak Raja and Amit Tandon, as well as the AIB trio of Rohan Joshi, Ashish Shakya and Gursimran, performing and captivating the Chandigarh audience.

Jaspal Bhatti: Some Facts

• Jaspal Bhatti was a very popular Punjabi Television personality and comedian, known for his satirical commentary on the problems faced by the common man.
• Born on 3 March 1955 at Amritsar, Punjab, he spent a major part of his life in Chandigarh.
• An Electrical Engineer by education, Jaspal Bhatti graduated from the Punjab Engineering College(PEC), Chandigarh.
• He became insanely famous for his “Flop Show”, that used to air on Doordarshan. The “Flop Show”, and many more of his acts are still enjoyed and admired by his fans.
• Jaspal Bhatti died in a fatal road accident in 2012, aged 57.
• The veteran comedian is fondly remembered as ‘The King of Comedy’, and was granted the third-highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan(posthumously), in 2013.

Event Details: Jaspal Bhatti Humour Festival

• Dates: March 3-4-5 2017
• Days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
• Timings: 06:30 p.m. Daily.
• Venue: Tagore Theater, Sector 18, Chandigarh.
• Tickets: Entry Free!!

So Chandigarh, get ready for the three super-evenings of rib-tickling humor and hilarious comedy!! The list of performances this year will be revealed soon! Watch out this space for updates.

The post The Jaspal Bhatti Humour Festival, Chandigarh appeared first on Chandigarh Bytes.

But is it ever too late? You can never be too grown up for anything. After all, age is just a number. To fulfil your wishes of seeing a puppet show, I have an exciting news to share. The 15th International Puppet Festival is coming to Chandigarh! Yes, you read that right!

Chandigarh will host the 15th edition of the International Puppet Festival at Tagore Theatre from 3rd to 6th February. The festival is organised by Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust annually at different parts of the country. Artists in the field of puppetry come from all corners of the world to perform here. And the best part? The tickets to the festival are absolutely free!

The line-up for the show is also available on the Trust’s Facebook page.

On the first day of the event, the show ‘The Theft of Sita’ will be performed by Sanggar Paripurna Puppet Theatre. The group is from Indonesia and performs regularly at various international festivals. The act will be a modern spin to the epic mythological drama ‘Ramayana’ through a puppet show.

The second day will see the famous Fairouz Just as Puppet Theatre from Palestine on the stage. They will be performing ‘Home, Sweet Home’ which is based on 2 traditional Palestinian folk tales. This show has also been a hit at their various performances worldwide as it is filled with fun, adventure and fantasy of many mischievous puppets.

Further, the third day’s performance will have an Indian theatre group on stage. The Kuch Kuch Puppet Theatre will perform ‘Hamara Circus’ at Tagore Theatre exclusively. This act will see lots of interesting things and objects coming to life.

The fourth and the final day of the event will perhaps have the most beautiful show of all. ‘The Lantern Festival’ will be performed by Chin Fei Feng Marionette Theatre Troupe from Taiwan. This act will showcase the New year celebration of Taiwanese and Chinese through puppets.

So Chandigarh, what are you waiting for? Clear out your schedules from 3-6 February from 6:30 pm onward and revel in the world of puppets!

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