Chandigarh derives its name from a temple Chandi Mandir in the vicinity of the site selected for the city (deivy Chandi, goddess of power), and a fort or Garh beyond the temple, called Chandigarh.
Chandigarh was conceived as the capital of Punjab, in lieu of the lost capital of Lahore. But Punjab was divided a second time in 1966, and Chandigarh is today the capital of the states of both Punjab and Haryana. However, the city does not belong to either. Chandigarh is a Union Territory, administered by the Government of India.
Initially the Government of Punjab approached American town planner Albert Mayer who doing with architect Mathew Nowicki become the key planners for the new city. The master plan conceived by them had a fan- shaped outline filling the site between the two seasonal river– beds. At the northen edge of the city was the capital complex against the panoramic backdrop of the Shivalik hills.
The Open Hand is the official emblem of the city. The design of this emblem as of the monument was conceived entirely by Le Corbusier. There is probably no city emblem in the world quite like this one. ’Open to give and open to receive’ presumes an open mind.
Besides being the Union Territory, Chandigarh is also the capital of two important states viz., Punjab and Haryana, has gained importance among the most important cities of India.
The Union Territory of Chandigarh, with a population of more than 7.5 Lacs, is spread over in the 114 sq kms. The Union Territory of Chandigarh is comprising of 48 sectors. The sectors are known not by names, but by numbers. There is no sector 13 in Chandigarh. All the sectors are quite similar to the concept of ”Moholla”. Typically, each sector measures 800metres by 1200metres,or 250 acres. Each sector is surrounded broad roads, with no buildings opening on to them, The inner roads usually link with the shopping areas /other conveniences located within the sector.
Land area
The Union Territory of Chandigarh comprising 48 sectors is spread over in the 114 sq kms. The details of the land area with division is given in Table -2.1Table 2.1: CLASSIFICATION OF LAND
(Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Chandigarh 2002)
Items Area in Acres
(1 Acre=0.40468 Hectare)
Period (2001- 02)Total Reported area according to village papers 17361 Forest 525 Not available for Cultivation 11908 Other Un-Cultivated Land excluding fallow lands 596 Current fallow Land 79 Fallow land other than current Fallow 241 Net area sown 4012 Total Cropped area 6080 The Union Territory of Chandigarh being the planned city is full of trees. As per the details of the forest area and trees planted given in Table -2.2 reflect that 3245.30 hectors of land is declared as forest. During 2001 –02, 30104 number of seedlings were supplied to and 121024 trees were planted.Table 2.2: FOREST AREA
(Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Chandigarh 2002)
Items Units in Hectare/Nos.* 2001-02 Land under Forest 3245.30 Supply of seedings to public 30104 Trees Planted 121024