Amazing Creation of Nek Chand – Rock Garden in Chandigarh

The Rock Garden name implies to a garden is is design by using different shapes of stones. Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a place of showcasing art based on rocks and recycled waste materials. We went to Rock Garden from Sukhna Lake by walking 2km. But you can hire vehicle. Rock Garden was built secretly by Nek Chand using recycled products. The garden was officially inaugurated on July 7, 1988.

Rock Garden is open from April 1st to September 30th (from 9am to 7pm) during summer and from October 10th to March 31st (from 9am to 6pm) during winter. Entry ticket costs Rs.30 for each adult person and Rs.10 each for children (from 3 to 10 years age).

From the main road you enter a sub-road and from there you purchase the tickets. Sometimes you have to stand in queue if there are many tourists. It costs Rs.30/- for each adult person. You enter through small door

You can click photo riding a camel outside the Rock Garden

Nek Chand an engineer by profession created this garden in over 50 years.

Nek Chand and Rock Garden – a brief History

Here I am quoting from the information given in Rock Garden:-

“Nek Chand Saini was born in Barian Kalan, tehsil Shakargarah, district Gurdaspur of present Pakistan on 15th December, 1924. His hobby to collect natural stones and rocks begn from his school days and continued all his life.

The traumatic partition of 1947 left a deep scar on his mind and he longed for a world where Gods, Goddesses, humans, animals and birds would live in harmony with nature and each other. In 1951 he was transferred to Chandigarh as a road inspector in PWD Department.

Nek Chand started pursuing this dream world in 1958 when he first started collecting stones and waste materials such as sanitary ware, gravel, natural rock forms etc. He would carry them to present site on his bicycle and deposit them around a hut which he built for this purpose. He slowly and painstakingly transported chosen rockes and stones from the river Ghaggar on his bicycle and began assembling them into a dream kingdom that he had envisioned.

His commitment to his work was strong that he single-handedly continued on his secret project working evenings and holidays for years. With no formal training Nek Chand worked and converted these waste materials into thousands of beautiful sculptures using his artistic vision. In 1973 his creation was discovered by government officials with almost 2000 sculptures set in a unique landscape.

Being illegally constructed on forest land, the garden was acquired by the Government but appreciating its uniqueness, it was decided to preserve and develop it further. Nek Chand was provided with a group of workers and he continued to work with greater enthusiasm expanding the project to the present four phases till his death on June 12th 2015. Appreciating his unique creation he was bestowed with many awards and honors throughout his life like Padma Shree in 1984.

However, his biggest achievement was perhaps the widespread love and admiration he received owing to his gentle and humble nature.”

Entry of rock garden is like a maize. Broken tiles, broken cup-plates, small stones, broken glass bangles etc. are used to create amazing art-pieces. Some of the ways are in between two stone walls. Waterfalls on one side of the wall. Using cement, clay and stone some places look like old palaces. You can make portraits of yourself by one of the artists sitting inside Rock Garden.

The most beautiful part to me was artificial water fall. Above it palace kind of structures are made.. Walking through the path in between two stone walls will take you to a fairytale land. Beauty of Rock Garden cannot be described in appropriate words. I had visited Rock Garden in Darjeeling but I tell you creativity level of Rock Garden of Chandigarh is unparallel. Truly magical.

You listen to the sound of water falling from above and walk through the lane, you will admire Nek Chand more and more. Though not slippery but be careful as some of the places remain wet. The stairs, palace, waterfall will make you feel as if you are in another world! I found people clicking photos at each and every corner and making videos. And children were moving happily. Some structures look like artificial trees. Some ways are very narrow (two people cannot walk side by side). Some places are closed now. There is a nameplate with warning of keeping your head low as the height is less when you cross.

You have to climb down few stairs and walk through comparatively wider path seeing beautiful waterfall. There is a stage where cultural programs are performed on every Sunday. How a person single handedly created such a magical place is still unbelievable! You must visit this place to see Nek Chand’s amazing secret creation. Then you will see aquariums, Laughing Mirrors. Laughing Mirrors are very funny. In some mirrors your legs will appear longer compared to your body, in some your body is longer compared to legs, two reflections of yourself, in one mirror you will see carrying yourself on your shoulders, in some your legs are shorter.

If you are hungry there are fast food counters. There is a souvenir shop nearby.

Doll Museum is very cute part of rock garden. Different daily life activities, ladies carrying water from well, traditional arts, education, lady selling bangles etc. are very nicely presented through rag dolls. At one point I thought for a second someone was standing in front of me suddenly but it was a doll actually!

A collection of rag dolls even graced the rear lawn of the Governor House during a visit of Indira Gandhi, ex-Prime Minister of India.

Using same theme of Nek Chand there is a place to know the details of his work after coming out of Doll Museum. Few new construction works are going on.