On the northern fringe of the city centre and adjacent to the Sukhna lake, lies Chandigarh's Rock Garden, an internationally famous creation. It nestles amidst 20 acres of woods in the form of an open air exhibition hall, theatre, a treasure trove and a miniature maze all rolled into one vast fantasy.

It is without doubt, a tourist spot that is a must on the itinerary of every visitor to Chandigarh, whether the visit is for business or pleasure or just passing through.

THE COLLECTION

This fantasy land is a vast open air museum that showcases a vast array of natural rock forms and stones. Collection of this material was a major taskfor Nek Chand. He collected these stones from the Shivalik foothills and neighbouring riverbeds on his bicycle over a period of seven years (1958 to 1965).

for urban and industrial waste, the creator picked up pieces of foundry,

lime-kiln and metal workshop wastes and shaped them with his creative genius, resembling human, animal or abstract forms.

These pieces have beeninnovatively displayed as sculpture in the garden. Also, on display are shapes sculptured by using a variety of discarded materials such

as frames, mudguards, forks, handle bars, metal wires, play marbles, crowns of soft drink bottles, porcelain, auto parts, broken bangles, pieces of slate, burnt bricks and even human hair recovered from barber's shop.

For the purpose of construction Nek Chand salvaged a variety of debris from

demolished structures, waste from lime kilns, discarded street lights, electrical fittings, broken sanitary ware, crockery, etc., thus

demonstrating how urban and industrial waste can be fruitfully recycled and used in creative pursuit.

THE KINGDOM

The layout of the Garden is based on the fantasy of a lost kingdom. The moment one enters the garden, the small entrance doors that make the head bow,

not only create an ambience of royal grandeur but also endow one with humbleness. One has to pass through a variety of doorways, archways, vestibules, streets and lanes of different scale and dimensions,

In the true style of a 'kingdom' the Rock Garden has fourteen different chambers, like

the forecourt, housing natural rock- forms, a royal poet's and a musician's chamber complete with a pond and a hut; the main court

(Durbar) where the king's throne adorns the place with natural stone-forms depicting Gods and Godesses lining the place; a swimming poolfor the queen etc. Another phase of the garden comprises the grand palace complex, minars, waterfalls, an open air theatre, a village, mountains, overbridges, pavilions and areasfor royal pleasures. The tree and root sculpture offers a powerful counterpoint to the existing vegetation.

The Teej festival, when the Rock Garden assumes afestive look, holds a special attractionfor tourists ... the young damsels partake in the fun and frolic by swaying on the giant swings, while others adorn their hands with traditional Mehandi (henna), amidst joyful songs and dances.

As you stroll through the Rock Garden, enjoying the awe inspiring creation, you may find yourself face to face with the unassuming, down to earth artist, inflesh and blood, working or supervising his kingdom

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