Chandigarh Rose Festival 2024
The 52nd Rose Festival also known as “The Festival of Gardens” will be held in Chandigarh from 23rd February 2024 to 25th February 2024 (in last week of February). This is a 3-day festival that is organized at the end of February or the first week of March. This is the perfect time when the plants and shrugs are in full bloom.
The annual Rose Festival is held at Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Sector 16 of Chandigarh. This festival is celebrated to showcase the fully blossomed roses and trees in the garden. people from all over the city and nearby states attend this festival in huge numbers. Along with roses, you will also witness the biggest festival of all time with Musical nights, and an Amusement park.
Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is the largest of its kind in Asia and also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chandigarh. The garden is named after India’s former President, Zakir Hussain was set up in 1967. The botanical garden spread over an area of 30 acres holds some of the rarest and most exquisite varieties of roses and is said to be home to 1600 varieties of flowers.
The rose plants have been planted in carved-out lawns and flower beds. The flower beds are laid out perfectly and along with every piece a wooden board exists to give you an overview of what you are viewing.
The garden was executed under the guidance of the first chief commissioner of Chandigarh Dr. M.S. Randhawa. Dr. Randhawa was a keen botanist, horticulture expert, civil servant, and vivid writer. To enhance the charm of an already picture-pretty view, this garden is laid out with water fountains that showcase a visual light performance in the evening.
Along with rose plants, the garden is the host of 32,500 varieties of trees and medicinal plants. Some of the medicinal plants that can be spotted here are bel, bahera, harar, camphor, and yellow Gulmohar. The garden host the annual rose festival in the month of February or March, celebrated with huge pomp and show.
The Rose Festival
The garden is decorated during the festival, especially the entrance. The flower beds are decorated and descriptive plaque are laid out for all visitors to know more about the species of roses they are seeing. Numerous events are organized during the festival like competitions of photography, painting, and choosing of the rose prince and princess for infants and rose king and queens for adults. These competitions are open to the residents or institutions from nearby places.
A lot of musical and dance performances are also held. The last day of the event is observed as a musical night, the renowned artists from the Punjab or Bollywood use to perform there. The fairground also has some of the most beloved rides for all kids and adults. The Ferris wheel gives the whole view of the rose garden from the top. Some exhibits like vintage car shows and traditional dance troupes are also shown during the festival.
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh also offers helicopter rides to visitors. The helicopters start flying from around 8 am till the sunset. They used to fly from the Sector 17 Parade Ground, go over Sector 17 Plaza, Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, and return to the Parade Ground.
The first thing to expect when entering the garden is the pleasant fragrance of a wide variety of roses that will accompany you throughout your walk around the garden. This pleasant awakening of senses that this scent gives you a heavenly experience and makes you fall in love with mother nature.
Suggested Read: Chandigarh – Culture and Tradition
