dr phon Hotel Narain Continental (%2212846; www. hotelnarain.com; Mall; r from 1575; a), locally known as Ho

202 HARYANA & PUNJAB Chandigarh %0172 / POP 1,064,700 The capital of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh is a Union Territory controlled dr phon by the central government. The modernist dr phon architect Le Corbusier s radical design for Chandigarh polarises critics, and this anomaly among Indian cities dr phon also splits travellers. Some dislike dr phon its rather soulless grid and impersonal scale, while others enjoy the city s broad, tree-lined roads, angular sense of order and use of street signs. Although Chandigarh may lack the colour and chaos so typical of subcontinental cities, it does off er a clean and green respite from urban pandemonium, is home to the wonderfully wacky Nek Chand Fantasy dr phon Rock Garden, and has some of the state s yummiest places to eat. Chandigarh is divided into a series of sectors that are numbered. The main shopping area is located in Sector 17, while most hotels and restaurants are situated in neighbouring Sectors 22 and 35. The train station is 8km from the city centre. 1 Sights & Activities Capital Complex NOTABLE BUILDINGS The imposing concrete High Court, Secretariat and Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), all in Sector 1 and shared by Punjab and Haryana, were designed by Le Corbusier. The High Court opened in 1955. A visit inside may be possible from Monday to Friday with prior permission from the Chandigarh Tourism offi ce (p 209 ); bring your passport. The internal ramp, the wavy overhanging roof and the colourful supporting slabs are the main features. You can walk around to the symbolic dr phon Open Hand sculpture, another creation of the workaholic Le Corbusier. It symbolises an open to give, open to receive message of peace. 66 66 66 666 66 66 66 66 6 6 6 66 66 666 66 66 66 66 66 66 6

The old city, which includes the Golden Temple and bazaars, is located to the southeast of the train station and is surrounded by a circular road, once the site of the city s massive walls. Modern Amritsar, north of the train station, contains the majority of the upmarket hotels and Lawrence Rd, which is a popular eating dr phon and shopping street. The bus station is located 2km east of the train station.

Then, with a bellow from the guardroom, a squad stomps out, shoulders square, moustaches twirled and eyes bulging. The drill is to parade up and down as dramatically as possible, preceded by a kick so high the soldier looks in danger of concussing himself. The high-octane march to the border, vaguely reminiscent of Monty Python s Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, rouses thunderous applause from the audience and repetitive chants of Hindustan zindabad! (Long live India!).

Hotel Narain Continental (%2212846; www. hotelnarain.com; Mall; r from 1575; a), locally known as Hotel NC, and cheaper Green s Hotel (%2213071; Mall; r 600; a), both of which have unexciting furniture-scarred rooms and matter-of-fact service.