Rock Garden Chandigarh

This sprawling amusement kingdom has been made completely from waste materials, industrial waste and thrown-away items, Created by celebrated artist Nek Chand, the garden highlights the value of materials many people consider trash.

Spread in an area of about 25 acres set in large mosaic courtyards linked by walled paths and deep gorges the garden is built by transforming into art, discarded tube lights, rusting oil drums, broken tiles, shattered china and sanitary ware, glass bangles, unused building material, discarded street lights, burnt bricks, electrical fittings and wires, caps from bottles, bicycle handle bars, and other scrap.

The Rock Garden Chandigarh is designed to look like a lost kingdom. Doorways and archways constructed out of discarded bags of cement seem to characterize the theme, and the scale is larger than life. The rock garden is a complex labyrinth, with paths, gateways, steps, waterfalls, courtyards, porches and buildings. Much of the material that the Rock Garden is made out of is concrete and found objects.

The rock garden proceeds in a chronological order of its creation, and in the unfolding shows the process of creation. Starting with a few natural forms and found objects like misshapen rocks, to minor landscape modification finally leading to a large scale architectural environment.

In the second phase Nek Chand created open courtyards, pathways decorated with sculptures, complete with the king’s and queen’s chambers. A large waterfall, a canal, an open air theatre, a miniature village was also included. These architectural spaces have become an interactive space, where plays, dance and music performances are held.

In the third and probably the final phase of development life sized horses and camels are being made again out of waste.

At least 5,000 sculptures are viewed by the same number of visitors each day.

The Chandigarh Rock Garden is now acknowledged as one of the modern wonders of the world.

Address:
The Rock Garden of Chandigarh
Sector No.1, Chandigarh, India
Tel: +91 172 740 645
Summer opening hours
(1st April to 30th September)
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Winter opening hours
(1st October to 31st March)
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The rock garden is open all seven days of a week. Entry prices are Rs. 5 for adults and Rs. 3 for children.

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