# The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life - Link: https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/ - Published: 2021-03-04T10:55:15+05:30 - Author: Rahul Goyal Chandigarh was the dream city of India’s first Prime Minister, Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru. The first planned city in India was designed by the most famous French Architect Le Corbusier. Chandigarh was the best experiment and a prime example of modern architecture and urban planning in the 20th century. The history of [Chandigarh has so many things that make the city beautiful.](https://chdlife.com/the-city-beautiful-chandigarh/) ✍️ _By [Rahul Goyal](https://chdlife.com/author/rahul/) · Chandigarh Life_ ## Table of Contents * [Few Highlights About the History of Chandigarh](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#few-highlights-about-the-history-of-chandigarh) - [Picture credit: yourstory.com](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#picture-credit-yourstory-com) * [Contemporary City](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#contemporary-city) - [Picture credit: pinterest.com & twitter.com](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#picture-credit-pinterest-com-twitter-com) * [Educational and Cultural institutes](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#educational-and-cultural-institutes) - [Picture credit: pinterest.com](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#picture-credit-pinterest-com) - [Picture credit: photo journey & jai-pur.com](https://chdlife.com/learn-about-the-rich-history-of-chandigarh/#picture-credit-photo-journey-jai-pur-com) ## Few Highlights About the History of Chandigarh ![Chandigarh Life logo with the tagline Chandigarh City leading Infotainment & Lifestyle Media](https://chdlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Chandigarh-Life-Logo.webp " The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life 1") The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life 5 ### Picture credit: yourstory.com The city has beautiful locations at the foothills of Shivalik. There are many historical places in Chandigarh to visit. It is derived from the name of the beautiful temple, Chandi Mandir. ‘Chandi’ is derived from the name of Goddess Chandi, regarded as the most powerful Goddess At the time of partition in 1947, [Punjab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_India) was divided into two parts. At the time, Punjab’s capital was Lahore, which came under Pakistan after the division. It was in the western part of Punjab. The Eastern part of Punjab was offered to India. But there was a big problem, the Eastern part was not commercially administered, and there was no cultural centre. So, the Government of India decided to choose a suitable area in Punjab to make a capital. There were several options in front of the Indian Government, including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Phillaur, Ludhiana, Ambala, Karnal, and Shimla. But they found the Chandigarh area to be the most suitable site. It was a magnificent site to develop a new capital. The area was located at the foot of the Himalayas. Chandigarh was a house of thousands of Hindus and Sikh refugees from primarily Muslim populated country Pakistan. The area of Chandigarh connects three states Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal. On November 1, 1966, Chandigarh received the status of Union territory. This city is the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana. Its predominant languages are Punjabi and Hindi. ## Contemporary City ![Contemporary City](https://chdlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Contemporary- City-1024x576.webp "The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life 2") OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA ### Picture credit: pinterest.com & twitter.com The dream city Chandigarh has a well-developed infrastructure and low population. This planned city has 60 rectangular sectors that perfectly divide the town. With broad roads, Chandigarh mostly remains free from traffic. All the government buildings sit in the Northern part of the city. In contrast, in the southeast, there is an industrial area; this area separates the residential area. This separation is made with the help of a Greenbelt planted with mango trees. Southern sectors of Chandigarh city are the populated areas. Hinduism is a predominant religious group in the city with a healthy population of Sikhs. You can find people from more religious groups like Muslims, Christianity, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in the city. ## Educational and Cultural institutes ![Chandigarh Life logo with the tagline Chandigarh City leading Infotainment & Lifestyle Media](https://chdlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Chandigarh-Life-Logo.webp " The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life 3") ### Picture credit: pinterest.com There are many famous educational and cultural groups in Chandigarh such as: * [Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.](https://chdlife.com/pgi-chandigarh/) * Punjab University, founded in 1947 * Punjab Engineering College * The Government College of Arts * The Government Medical College and Hospital * Local Museum Houses of Chandigarh has a great collection of Gandhara sculptures, Pahari, and Sikh Paintings ![Two gentlemen riding the boat in a lake in an archival picture - history of chandigarh]( https://chdlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/two-men-rowing-boat-lake-archival- chandigarh-1024x576.webp "The Rich History of Chandigarh | Chandigarh Life 4") ### Picture credit: photo journey & jai-pur.com The city is home to beautiful gardens; some of them are [Rock Garden](https://chdlife.com/rock-garden-chandigarh/), Rose Garden, Garden of Fragrance, and Silence Garden. [Sukhna Lake](https://chdlife.com/sukhna-lake-chandigarh/) is another popular tourist attraction, which was once home to Harappans. This beautiful city comprises so much more that it is impossible to cover in an essay. While I shall continue writing more about Chandigarh, in the meanwhile, you guys must go out and explore the authenticity of your city. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the history of Chandigarh? Chandigarh was planned in the early 1950s as the new capital of Punjab after Partition, designed as a modern city by the architect Le Corbusier. ### Who designed Chandigarh? The city’s master plan and key buildings were designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, with Pierre Jeanneret and others. ### Why is Chandigarh called ‘The City Beautiful’? Its planned grid layout, abundant greenery, wide roads and modernist architecture earned Chandigarh the nickname ‘The City Beautiful’. ### How did Chandigarh get its name? Chandigarh is named after the Chandi Mandir temple dedicated to the goddess Chandi, located nearby. ### 🛍️ Show your love for the City Beautiful Proud of Chandigarh? Grab our colourful [**‘I ❤️ Chandigarh’ fridge magnet**](https://chdlife.com/i-love-chandigarh-sign-magnet/)( ₹299) — a cheerful little tribute to the City Beautiful for your home or as a gift. [Shop the magnet →](https://chdlife.com/i-love-chandigarh-sign-magnet/) ## Explore More in Places to Visit * [Top 10 Beautiful Gardens in Chandigarh to Visit in 2026](https://chdlife.com/gardens-in-chandigarh/) * [Top Couple Places in Chandigarh for a Perfect Date](https://chdlife.com/top-couple-places-in-chandigarh-for-a-perfect-date/) * [Top Government Museums in Chandigarh: Heritage in Design & Art](https://chdlife.com/discover-6-top-government-museums-in-chandigarh/) * [Top Must-Visit Places in Chandigarh: The City Beautiful](https://chdlife.com/top-7-must-visit-places-in-chandigarh/) * [Top Things to Do in Chandigarh: Blend of Urban Charm and Natural Beauty](https://chdlife.com/top-things-to-do-in-chandigarh/)