The Rock Garden is a sculpture garden in Chandigarh, India. Spread over an area of forty-acre (160,000 m²), it is completely built out of industrial & home waste and thrown-away items
The Rock Garden project was secretly initiated by Nek Chand around 1957 while working as a roads inspector for Chandigarh’s Engineering Department. It was discovered by the authorities in 1975 by which time it had grown into a twelve-acre complex of interlinked courtyards, each filled with hundreds of pottery-covered concrete sculptures of dancers, musicians, and animals. The authorities took over, and the garden was inaugurated as a public space in 1976. It is presently run by the Rock Garden Society. It is situated near Sukhna Lake. It consists of man-made interlinked waterfalls and and many other sculptures.
This creation has even appeared on the Indian stamp in the year 1983. This magic garden is another attraction for travelers built by Nekchand, with multicoloured pieces of useless stones and other throwaway. In summer it is open from 9.00 -13.00 hrs. and 1500-19.00 hrs. From October to March, they are open from 9.00-13.00 hrs. and 1400-18.00 hrs Location: This strange and whimsical garden is located in Sector 1 and is a premier tourist attraction.
The most powerful aspect of the gardens is that - thousands of animal or humanoid figures made out of discarded materials, which stand in rigid rows like silent static armies. It’s a series of interconnected rocky grottoes, walkways and landscaped waterfalls. All this demonstrates how urban and industrial waste can be fruitfully recycled and used in creative pursuit. It is the creation of Nek chand, who began the project in the year 1958, while working as a roads inspector for Chandigarh’s Engineering Department It is without doubt, a tourist spot, which is a must on the itinerary of every visitor to Chandigarh
The layout of the Garden is based on the fantasy of a lost kingdom. One has to pass through a variety of doorways, archways, vestibules, streets and lanes of different scales and dimensions, each one opening into a new array of displays or courtyards and chambers lending an air of suspense and curiosity at every corner, at every turn! During the Teej Festival, the Garden assumes a festive look, holding a special attraction for tourists. As one strolls through the Garden, enjoying the awe inspiring creation, one may find himself face to face with the unassuming artist Nek Chand himself, working at or supervising his 'kingdom'
