Pinjore Garden- Chandigarh

The best place around Chandigarh where you can just chill out all through the year be it summer, winter or autumn is perhaps the Pinjore Garden, one of the favourite tourist spots of the city. One can enjoy the beauty of this local being right next to the hills. What a breathtaking experience to relish one’s vacation!!

The history has stories to tell you about this rock garden- it has both Mughal relationship as well as Hindu Mythology connection. Pandavas, the Hindu Mythology characters are believed to have stayed here for a while on their way to Himalayas. Hence, the garden was named as Panchpura, which later came to be known as Pinjore. The Mughal Garden hails its origin from Nawab Fidai Khan who belongs to the clan of Late Aurangazeb. Thus not only a holidaymaker, but also a historian and an archeologist hang around this majestic garden!!

Pinjore, the Town
With a population of almost twenty five thousand, the township of Pinjore is a small residential township that offers both the silence and calmness of a small locale as well as the educational and recreational opportunities of a big city, with Chandigarh just a stone’s throw away from the place.  At an altitude of about one thousand eight hundred feet and overlooking the Shivalik mountain range in a beautiful valley, the pollution free place offers every opportunity to uplift one’s mind and spirit. The visit to the town is always stimulating for the brainwave that makes ideal for the location of an academic institution. Delhi Public School (DPS) situated there has, thus, all the advantages. The infrastructure is well built and suiting the requirements of the students.

The township is famous across the world mostly for the great garden, which has a great tradition behind it. The famous Yadavindra Gardens of Pinjore was designed by Fidai Khan of the Moghul era. Khan was the foster brother of Emperor Aurangzeb, and had designed other famous creations including the Badshahi Mosque of Lahore, in present day Pakistan. The garden is considered to be one of the oldest in north India and perhaps the loveliest as well. It has been named after the late king of princely state Patiala of Punjab, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh. 

The Garden
The main entrance of the Pinjore garden opens to the highest terrace. There are a total of seven terraces which descend gradually to the far off boundary of the garden. The gardens also accommodate the Rajasthani Mughal-style Shish Mahal. Next to it is the Rang Mahal as also the Jal Mahal with a square fountain. Also famous is the well arranged fountains that are also aptly lit in the night. The illumination of the garden in the night also attracts a lot of people especially with the garden kept open till 10pm. There is also a mini zoo, which interest both children and adults alike.

The palace also has a very spacious open courtyard. As one descends through the terraces you would find the cypresses and flowerbeds leading to dense groves of fruit trees. The last structure of doorway has been made into an open air theatre. The garden has a stiff outer wall which was the old fort walls. Around here is the present day zoo located.

Stretched across a vast area of 100 acres, this garden is displayed in a sloping site. Once you reach the Chandigarh city, the Pinjore garden is just 20 kilometers away. It is situated in the Ambala Shimla away. The fountains and pavilions of the garden are indeed a feast for the sight. The Japanese garden and the zoo add more beauty to the garden.

The Mango-festival
The mango festival conducted annually during the mango season magnetizes a whole lot of tourists. The peak time for the tourists is this mango season during July and the Baisakhi season or the spring. Special entertainment programs are organized during this time. The wide variety of mangoes that is displayed is worth seeing. Thus, the garden is an amalgamation of waterways and green patches.
 
Where To Hang Out…
The sheesh mahal, jal mahal and rang mahal which was part of the Mughal gardens have been converted for the accommodation of the visitors. Obviously, the visitor gets to reside in the majestic suites of the old time Maharajas and Maharanis. One can also snack on ‘garam garam khana’ from nearby eating joints and restaurants, which are also earned a name for them.

The conference hall of the area is well furnished with presentation arrangements and other needful setups. This attracts a lot of organizations to assemble for important meetings and gatherings.

The Exquisiteness …
The numerous terraces will surely give a panoramic view for all the tourists. This feature of the garden resembles it to the Hawa Mahal in the Rajasthan Architecture. Interestingly, all the doorways are arched serving a treat to all the architectural students reaching here. The garden is built on the charbagh design with central waterway passing through it. The well grown the trees like cypress, magnolia and traditional palm adds beauty and lushness to the garden.

Pinjore Garden is facing the Shivalikhills. It surely creates a center of attention for all the visitors. And it gestures the travellers to take the road high up the mountains. The garden is well lit in the lit during night. The fruit trees in the green patches on either sides of the waterway gives the dwellers as well as visitors to savor the rich treat of all the fruit chats. The entertainment park built recently is also an added attraction there for the kids.

Thus Pinjore Garden offers a variety of colours in one palate. It is a must see for each tourist who wishes to gain a repose for the body as well as the soul. The beauty of the place is that it has something great to offer to people of every age- the young, the middle aged and the aged.