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Chandigarh: Rock Garden

On the northern fringe of the city center and adjacent to the Sukhna lake, lies Chandigarh's Rock Garden, an internationally famous creation. It nestles amidst 20 acres of woods in the form of an open air exhibition hall, theatre, a treasure trove and aminiature maze all rolled into one vast fantasy of art.

It is without doubt, a tourist spot that is a must on the itinerary of every visitor to Chandigarh, whether the visit is for business or pleasure.

The Collection
This fantasy land is a vast open air museum that showcase a vast array of natural rock forms and stones. Collection of this material was a major task for Nek Chand. He collected these stones from the Shivalik foothills and neighbouring riverbeds on his bicycle over a period of seven years (1958 to 1965). He is today ranked globally among the foremost creators of our times.

Since the site where Rock Garden stands today was also used as a dumping ground for urban and industrial waste, the creator picked up pieces of foundry Rock garden, Chandigarh

lime-kiln and metal workshop wastes and shaped them with his creative genius, resembling human, animal or abstract forms. These pieces have been innovatively displayed as sculptures in the garden.

Also, on display are shapes sculptured by using a variety of discarded materials such as frames, mudguards, forks, handle bars, metal wires, play marbles, crowns of soft drink bottles, porcelain, auto parts, broken bangles, pieces of slate, burnt bricks and even human hair recovered from barber's shop.

For the purpose of construction Nek Chand salvaged a variety of debris from demolished structures, waste from lime kilns, discarded street lights, electrical, fittings, broken sanitary ware, crockery, etc., thus demonstrating how urban and industrial waste can be fruitfully recycled and used in creative pursuit.

The Kingdom
The layout of the Garden is based on the fantasy of a Rock Garden, Chandigarh

lost kingdom. The moment one enters the garden, the small entrance doors that make the head bow, not only create an ambience of royal grandeur but also endow one with humbleness. One has to pass through a variety of doorways, archways, vestibules, streets and lanes of different scale and dimensions, each one opening into a new array of displays or courtyards and chambers lending an air of suspense, anxiety and curiosity at every corner ...at every turn.

In the true style of a 'kingdom' the Rock Garden has fourteen different chambers, like the forecourt, housing natural rock-forms, a royal poet's and a musician's chamber complete with a pond a hut, the main court (Durbar) where the king's throne adorns the place with natural stone - forms depicting Gods and Goddesses lining the place, a swimming pool for the queen etc. Another phase of the garden comprises the grand palace complex, minars, waterfalls, an open air theatre, village, mountains, overbridges, pavilions and areas for royal pleasures. The tree and root sculpture offers a powerful counterpoint to the existing vegetation. An open air theatre and a vast pavilion with a center stage are other highlights of the Rock Garden where art and culture blend amidst the rustic and exotic environs of the garden.

The Teej festival, when the Rock Garden assumes a festival look, holds a special attraction for tourists the young damsels partake in the fun and frolic by swaying on the giant swings, while others adorn their hands with traditional Mehandi (henna), amidst joyful songs and dances.

As you stroll through the Rock Garden, enjoying the awe inspiring creation, you may find yourself face to face with the unassuming, down to earth artist, in flesh and blood, working or supervising his kingdom.