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Places of Interest in Chandigarh

Sukhna Lake
A manmade lake spread over 3 square kilometers on the northern border of the city. At the entrance to the park one reads Corbusier's Edict of the Lake."The founders of Chandigarh have offered this lake and dam to the citizens of the new city so that they may escape the humdrum of the city life and enjoy the beauty of nature in peace and silence".

The tree-shaded promenade around the lake is a favorite spot to stroll and enjoy the tranquil ambience. Paddle-boats and yachting are another pleasant diversion....or one may simply relax at the cafe run by the Chandigarh Tourism Development Corporation.

The lake and its heavily wooded shores constitute a nationally protected wetland. This is a favorite spot for bird watchers. From December through February, aside from scores of local species, one can see many species of aquatic birds from Central Asia and Siberia that find the lake a pleasant place to pass the winter. The lake also has a full length water course, developed in 1989 when the city hosted the 1989 Asia Rowing Championship.

Leisure Valley
Leisure Valley runs through the entire length of the city, 8 kms long, about 400 metres broad at its widest points, oriented north-east to south-west following the course of an existing seasonal stream.
Sections of Leisure Valley are known by the following separate names.

Bougainvillea Garden
Open on all days. 20 acres, Sector 10
The garden is devoted to hundreds of bougainvillea varieties. The creepers cover a wide assortment of arches, bowers, pavilions and arcades. Fitness Trails wind through this garden, designed to give each person who completes the route a complete exercise regimen by the time they reach the end. The annual Bougainvillea Show is held here.

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Government Museum and Art Gallery
An important building designed by Le Corbusier, in the moving spirit behind its eventual construction in 1968 was Dr. M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first Chief Commissioner, and himself an art scholar. Ratna Mathur Fabri, an outstanding Indian designer made the museum furniture, display screens, showcases and frames.

The present museum (earlier housed in temporary quarters) opened on May 6,1968.In 1949 the collection of the Central Museum, Lahore, was divided between India and Pakistan. India's share, the core collection of this museum, included 619 Gandhara sculptures and 92 ancient sculptures from other periods, as well as 447 miniature paintings (mainly from the Punjab Hills but with some Persian, Mughal and Rajasthani works in addition). Besides there were small collection of objects in stucco and terra cotta metal, ivory, lacquer, ceramic, enamel and fabric.

Over the past 40 years more than 9,000 objects have been acquired, the total number of works now exceeds 10,000. A guide to the museum, a catalogue of contemporary art, a catalogue of Brahmanical sculptures and series of picture postcards are on sale in the museum lobby. Art scholars may consult more than 6,000 books and journals in the museum's reference library. All the manuscripts of Dr. M.S. Randhawa are also preserved here. The museum's documentation section has an extensive collection of photographs and slides. Documentation of the Gandhara Collection has been computerised: computerised documentation of other collections is underway.

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