Temples, Shrines And Spiritual Places Across Chandigarh

Chandigarh is a city and an Union Territory that also serves as the capital of the two neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab. The city is unique as it is not a part of either of the two states but is governed directly by the Central Government of India. Chandigarh is one of the early planned cities in post-independent India and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design. Planned and designed by the renowned Swiss-French architect ‘Le Corbusier’ and known as ‘The City of Beauty’, Chandigarh is undoubtedly the best planned Indian city featuring grand architecture and plenty of greenery.

The name Chandigarh is derived from ‘Chandi Mandir’, an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi, near the city in Panchkula District. The Chandi Mandir bustles with devotees especially during the Navratri festival. The city is also a center of various faiths as is evident from the numerous places of worship dotting the city.

One of the most famed temples in the city is the Sri Karthikeya Swami Mandir built in the Dravidian style of architecture and dedicated to Lord Murugan. Located in sector 31D, the temples features a stunning gopuram and exquisite carvings. The ISKCON Mandir situated in Sector 36B witnesses a heavy footfall of devotees, especially foreign tourists keen on gaining an insight into the Vedic way of life. Founded in the year 1979, the temple features daily sessions of bhajans and kirtans. The Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir in Sector 29A is another prominent site featuring a spectacular idol of Sai Baba. Established in 1995, the temple attracts hundreds of devotees mostly on Thursdays believed to be auspicious.

There are numerous legends about how the 550 year old Jayanti Devi Mandir located on a hillock called the Jayanti Majri came into existence. While some believe that that temple was constructed by the Pandavas, others believe that it was commissioned by the King of Hathnaur. Houses in this area are single-storeyed, because it is believed that building bigger homes will invite the wrath of Goddess Jayanti Devi. Shri Sidh Baba Balak Nath Mandir in Sector 29A is a renowned temple dedicated to Baba Balak Nath who is believed to be Lord Shiva’s incarnation. The ancient Saketri Shiva Temple in Panchkula features a total of seven, splendidly created temples. The exceptional spiritual ambience of the temple fills one with peace and hope.

The prominent Buddhist presence in the city is the Garden of Silence situated along the pristine Lake Sukhna. Featuring a majestic statue of Buddha surrounded by circular stairs, the serene place with lush greenery has specifically been created to facilitate undisturbed meditation.

Chandigarh is home to numerous famous Sikh Gurdwaras as well. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib located along the Zirakpur-Kalka Highway is believed to have been established at the spot where Guru Gobind Singh performed the miracle of revealing a water source on the request of his disciple. Gurudwara Koohni Sahi and Nada Sahib Gurdwara are other Sikh places of worship in the city.

It is rare to find a city that can be described as serene. Chandigarh is a rare example of a tranquil city that continues to make rapid progress without compromising on preservation of nature and quality of life. Do include a visit to Chandigarh on your next trip to experience the best of divine spirituality, magnificent architecture and refreshing greenery.