In the 40 twentieth century Nek Chand , an official of the city of Chandigarh, north India, began to clear a small plot on the edge of the jungle to make a garden. Skirted with rocks this small clearing and then began to create sculptures. Soon the area covering several hundred hectares of sculptures arranged in interconnected courtyards. As the story Nek Chand worked in secret, and when the sculpture garden was discovered in 1975, authorities determined that it should be demolished. However, the public began to visit the site that was seen as an enchanted realm, and so escaped the pillory. In addition, Nek Chand received a salary and a staff of fifty employees to engage in the Rock Garden!
Today the Rock Garden Nek Chand covers over 25 ha. with thousands of sculptures located in large mosaic courtyards linked by walled paths and cliffs, in a combination of large buildings and beautiful waterfalls, is considered one of the wonders of the modern world, the greatest artistic achievement since the construction of Taj Mahal in India , visited by over 5000 people every day.
It is administered by Nek Chand Foundation, dedicated to supporting the work of artist and awareness of the Rock Garden in the world and his message of peace and friendship. In 2001 he was visited by representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States and the Foundation was able to settle in this country.
Visitors interested to know that the thirty acres of palaces, pavilions and courtyards and the series of stone sculptures were mostly built with leftover construction materials and debris from buildings that were demolished for the construction of the city of Chandigarh according to the vision of the great architect Le Corbusier. Recall that Chandigarh is the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana, located in the northwestern region of India bordering Pakistan.
Nek Chand Sani or the Rock Garden is located in Sector 1 of the city of Chandigarh , is open daily from 9 to 19pm. between summer and from 9 to 18pm. in winter, there are discount tickets for children. It is very easy to reach from New Delhi by train with the Shatabdi Express that two or three trips per day, the tour takes about three hours.
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