Chandigarh

Open Hand Monument of Chandigarh

Chandigarh  is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city. Interestingly in Sikh Philosophy, 'Chandi' is derived from 'Chandi di Var', which is one of the finest Punjabi poetry written by Sri Guru Gobind Singh. This Var (ballad) is popularly sung by the Sikh soldiers on their way to battlefield. It is occasionally referred to as The City Beautiful. Chandigarh Capital Region (CCR), including Mohali, Panchkula, and Zirakpur, had a combined population of 1,165,111 (1.16 million) as per the 2001 census. Earlier the Chandigarh Capital region was also called 'Tricity' because of Panchkula and Mohali as adjacent cities but with the mushrooming of other towns like Zirakpur, Kharar etc.

As the first planned city of India, Chandigarh is known internationally for its architecture and urban planning. Chandigarh is home to numerous architectural projects of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Matthew Nowicki, and Albert Mayer. The city tops the list of Indian States and Union Territories with the highest per capita income in the country at Rs.99,262 at current prices and Rs.70,361 at constant prices (2006–2007). As per a study conducted by Ministry of Urban Development, Chandigarh has emerged as the cleanest city in India, while also topping the List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index.

Chandigarh is located near the foothills of the Shivalik range of the Himalayas in Northwest India. It covers an area of approximately 44.5 sq mi or 114 km². and shares its borders with the states of Haryana in the east and Punjab in the north, west and south. The exact cartographic co-ordinates of Chandigarh are 30.74°N 76.79°E. It has an average elevation of 321 metres (1053 ft).