Small cities like my hometown of Chandigarh, on the surface, don’t seem to offer too much. Unlike Delhi which is just 270kms away, we don’t have an abundance of forts or monuments that speak of its glorious past, nor is it like its neighbouring cities of Punjab that are steeped in culture, but perhaps the charms of Chandigarh lie in its slow laidback life, its beautiful architecture, the greenery, the beauty of its everyday life. It is this daily romanticisation of mundanity that best describes Corbusier’s planned dream city.
Chandigarh continues to offer a cottage-core lifestyle with its museums, parks, the Sukhna lake and the perfect mountain backdrop. But if you really truly dig in your nails and try to know more about Chandigarh, it unfolds in a new city; one that has its own history, one that is as culturally rich and diverse as any other city and one that still offers the serenity of nature.
It is these sometimes unseen parts of Chandigarh that Chalo Chalein, a community walk project better opens up for you. So far they have held community walks to Sector 22 where the construction of Chandigarh began, the Sukhna Lake which is at the heart of Chandigarh and is a paradise for bird watchers (especially in the winter months when migratory birds frequent the area), the Patiala Rao Reserve Forest which is an interesting example of the urban ecology of the region and a spring cycle ride which reveals how different coloured evergreen plants demarcate the different sectors of the city, each with their own unique personality. Their community walks make for the best way to not only get to know the city of Chandigarh better but are also a great place to socialize with other enthusiasts.
Know more about Chalo Chalein here.
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