Chandigarh: Rock Garden
On
the northern fringe of the city center 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 aminiature maze all rolled into one
vast fantasy of art.
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.
The
Collection :
This fantasy land is a vast open air museum
that showcase a vast array of natural rock forms and stones. Collection of
this material was a major task for 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). He is today ranked globally among
the foremost creators of our times.
Since the site where Rock
Garden stands today was also used as a dumping ground 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 been
innovatively displayed as sculptures 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,
each one opening into a new array of displays or courtyards and chambers
lending an air of suspense, anxiety and curiosity at every corner ...at
every turn.
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 a
hut, the main court (Durbar) where the king's throne adorns the place with
natural stone - forms depicting Gods and Goddesses lining the place, a
swimming pool for the queen etc. Another phase of the garden comprises the
grand palace complex, minars, waterfalls, an open air theatre, village,
mountains, overbridges, pavilions and areas for royal pleasures. The tree
and root sculpture offers a powerful counterpoint to the existing
vegetation. An open air theatre and a vast pavilion with a center stage
are other highlights of the Rock Garden where art and culture blend amidst
the rustic and exotic environs of the garden.
The Teej festival,
when the Rock Garden assumes a festival look, holds a special attraction
for 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, in flesh
and blood, working or supervising his kingdom.
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Rock Garden