Rock garden of Chandigarh

The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a sculpture garden in Chandigarh, India. There is an interesting story behind its formation.

In 1957, a government official called Nek Chand started constructing a garden in his spare time. For his garden Chand started collecting materials from demotion sites around the city. What he started doing was very unique because the garden consisted primarily of sculptures made from scrap and other wastes like bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, etc. He recycled these materials to create the divine kingdom of Sukrani, as visualized by him. He chose gorge in a forest near Sukhna lake for his work. The forest was part of a land conservation project established in 1902. So chand’s work was illegal. But he was able to hide it for 14 years before it was finally discovered by the authorities in 1975. By then the Chand’s garden had grown into a 12 acre complex consisting of interlinked courtyards consisting of ceramic sculptures of dancers, musicians and animals. The courtwards were separated by stoned walls.

The garden was in serious danger of being demolished but because of public pressure it was converted into a public park in 1976. Nek Chand was given a salary and a designation and a workforce of 50 workers to maintain the garden.

Today the garden covers 40 acres of land and is built completely of waste and throwaway items. With government’s help Chand set up collection centers all over the city to collect waste.

Nek Chand’s Rock Garden is a wonderland of strange figures, all made with expendable items. Today this unique garden attracts 5000 people daily.

 

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Images via Wikipedia

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Gardens of India, Nek Chand, Rock Garden