Chandigarh

Chandigarh ([tʃə̃ˈɖiːɡəɽʱ]^ⓘ Punjabi: ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, Hindi: चंडीगढ़) is a city in India. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 1,026,459 inhabitants.

The city serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. However, it does not belong to any of these states, but is administered directly by the federal government.

The city's first architect was the Franco-Swiss Le Corbusier, who developed the main government buildings and also cultural buildings such as the Government Museum and Art Gallery. Associated with Edwin Fry and Jane Drew, he carried out the project for the new capital of Punjab in 1951. Today, Chandigarh has the largest concentration of works by Le Corbusier.

The Chandigarh Parliament Complex was declared by UNESCO in July 2016 as a World Cultural Heritage Site. The UNESCO inscription was made under the title 'The architectural work of Le Corbusier, an outstanding contribution to the modern movement'. The buildings of the Capitol Complex include the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Punjab and Haryana Secretariat and the Assembly Palace, along with the monuments Open Hand, Martyrs Memorial, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadow, and Rock Garden.

The city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. The union territory has one of the highest Human Development Indexes.

The government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in India damaged the image of local government as voters felt they did not receive the desired help in obtaining hospital beds and medical oxygen from their constituents. elected representatives. Acting councilors were accused of not being accessible when the public needed support. Complaints were raised that the local government did not take any major relief measures.

The population of Chandigarh has a high level of literacy, close to 97%. There are numerous renowned schools and institutes in the city. It is also the headquarters of various higher education centers.

The population of the city is 1,026,459 inhabitants. Of these, 80.8% practice Hinduism and 13.1% Sikhism. 4.9% of the population is Muslim.

Etymology

The name Chandigarh is an acronym of Chandi and Garh. Chandi refers to goddess Chandi, the warrior form of goddess Parvati and Garh means strength. The name is derived from Chandi Mandir, an ancient temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Chandi, near the city in Panchkula district.

History

Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the construction of the city to show the modern spirit of the new Indian nation. After the division of Punjab into three states (Punjab, Hariana and Himachal Pradesh) the city was left out of the three.

Chandigarh was the only urban project executed by Le Corbusier. Apart from the general urban planning of the city, with its layout of streets, housing areas, parks and gardens, etc. There are several unique buildings of interest in the area called 'The Capitol', in the northern part of the city:

• The Chandigarh Assembly
• The Palace of Justice
• The Secretariat Building, the work of the Swiss architect Le Corbusier
• Monument to the Open Hand

Demography

Chandigarh's evolution rate between 1901 and 2011

Gallery

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  Palace of the Assembly (Le Corbusier)

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  Gandhi Bhavan at Panjab University