#sector17chandigarh | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

preeya-herlittlespace · 5 years ago

Text

To Chandigarh!(The City Beautiful)

I was out trekking in the mountains of Manipur with a few local ladies when I received a call from the husband. “Listen posting has already arrived; you need to stop with your treks and start packing”. “Yeah alright! But I really don’t wanna go from this place”, I said sadly as I hung up. I really did not want to, I loved Manipur. The slow village life, the people and their warmth, the mountains and their trails I loved everything about it. After spending one year in Leh and more than two years in Manipur finally, the MS branch had mercy on us and decided to send us to a city. Oh wait, it wasn’t really that way, we had to come back to the unit and luckily/unluckily for us, the unit was posted to a city. Why unluckily you ask me… well, after spending more than three years in isolation in the mountains we weren’t really sure we would be able to cope up with the city life. Too much traffic, too much noise, and too many people were a little too much for us to handle(maybe). However, with a heavy heart and truck full of trunks, we landed in Chandigarh – The City Beautiful! The first few weeks went cribbing about how I hated being away from the mountains and how I missed the life and people there and deciding if I would be able to like Chandigarh ever. …………………………………. But that was ten months ago and here I am now, sitting in a little village in Assam craving for that delicious eggs benedict from my favorite little café in my favorite city as I sip on some mess wali cold coffee. Determined I am going to list down everything that I have explored and loved about Chandigarh! You know that’s the thing about ‘army life’ and ‘army wives who love army life’, we move on! We move on faster than we can think and find happiness in little things. We might just end up exploring your hometown and find places you never knew existed! We make the most of the little time that we have in a place and find joy in little things. So always… always trust the list of an army wife 😉 The City Beautiful Let me start by saying, I absolutely loved Chandigarh and now I do miss the place(I did turn into a city girl eh… ). The city has wide roads, the people are good, the place is safe and Himachal with its beautiful mountains is just stone’s throw away! You just cannot not like the place and everything about it. But the best part about the place was the food(oh my I am drooling already!), the place has some amazing food joints and café culture there has my heart! So while I start with the names of my fav cafes, here is the list of categories I have mentioned below – List of best cafesOther eating joints and for those date nightsBest desert placesPlaces I loved to shop in the cityTailors to the rescueExhibitions and melasWeekend getaways P.S – In my nine months stay I must have missed out on so many more good places and stuff… do enlighten if you think. Maybe I get to cover those in my next visit to my favourite city (for now) The List Of Best Cafes In Chandigarh The Mediterranean themes, the French décor, the quirky paintings and classy wall hangings, Chandigarh has some really beautiful and cozy cafes and the food is finger-licking good! In my eight months stay, I did explore quite a few and I loved most of them. So here is a list of my favorite cafes in the city and a few recommendations on what you might like to order. Scola Café Previously known as the Gusto Kitchen and Kaffe, this little café in the inner market of Sector 7 serves one of the best Irish coffee and eggs benedict in the city! Very Mediterranean in style and whimsical décor with kettles and books and succulents here and there, the café has a very casual and cozy feel to it. Even the washroom with a flower basket on a bicycle adds to the pretty feel.

Tattlers Café This sister concern of Backpacker’s Café, which is one of the oldest cafes in Chandigarh. They have quite a few cafes under their wings but Tattlers stood out for me. The enthralling décor with floral-themed cutlery this place was like a dream. I loved every nook every corner of the café, very tasteful and very classy! Definitely one of the prettiest cafes in the city! Coming to the food… a little heavy on the pocket but the quantity and the quality makes up for it. Must try their bruschetta(mushroom and the chicken), absolutely yummm!

FourFolks Café Oh my where do I start, I love love love this place. I went there for a get-together with the unit ladies and we all fell in love with this place in the first sight! This place was made for friends to hang out together. Its cozy, bright, friendly, warm with very modern décor. The best part about this place is you can go with your group of friends, hogg on their delicious food and it won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Must try their soups, pizzas, and desserts.

Caffé Tonino This fancy café with a very modern layout is the newest café in town. We landed here by chance on the very second day of its opening and left very impressed with the staff, food and décor. A little higher on the price, this café would fit better like a fine dining restaurant but their coffee and pizzas are drool-worthy!

Casa Bella Vista Before I start telling you about the next pretty little café let me introduce you to this little café heaven in Chandigarh – Welcome to Sector 10! One of the fanciest corners in Chandigarh, this little area has almost 8 to 10 cafes side by side and it feels like a different country altogether! Mostly crowded with fancy cars parked outside, this place ought to be in your list of places to visit in Chandigarh. Casa Bella Vista happens to be the vegetarian’s paradise! A pure veg café with the most exquisite Italian menu, this place is worth a try. The food is complemented with a very casual and beachy décor which looks really lovely and is an apt place for a casual date night.

Café JC’s Yet another beautiful little place in Sector 10, this place lies just beside Casa Bella Vista. The stunning décor and the delicious food make it popular among tons of other cafes around and this place is definitely worth the hype. With beautiful zen-like seating outside and a modern interior, this one in one of the most crowded cafes in this sector. I loved their grilled chicken and salads.

The Willow Café Another gem in this very lane is The Willow café. Also, a sister concern of the Backpacker’s Café this café has a warm Victorian feel to it. The floral wallpapers, the very classy and vintage looking glass cupboard with pretty little showpieces and the decorative wall plates with rooster steal your heart! Try their keema pao and burgers. Hedgehog Café Ever heard of Illiterati café in Mcleodganj?! It is one of the most talked-about cafes in Himachal and I can assure you the café was love at first sight! The hedgehog café in the streets of sector 7, Chandigarh took me back to that feeling. If you thought books and paintings were too old school for décor, think again! Ever think of days when you want to just sip on some good hot mocha, bite on some delicious sandwiches while you sit with your favourite book?! This might be the place you were looking for.

Art & Ko Another stunning little cafe you cannot miss. Tucked away in a little corner of Sector 34 market in Chandigarh, this quaint and artsy cafe is truly a hidden gem in the city! Rustic doors decorated with ample greens, tasteful wooden seating with beautiful paintings(that are on sale), this place is an art lover's paradise. Try their pizzas!

To name a few others that are worth trying out - Café NomadBackpackers café Brooklyn CentralThe Brooks Other Eating Joints And For Those Date Nights If you love good food, Chandigarh won’t disappoint you. Those little thelas with street food to those fancy high-end restaurants, the place has both and they are good if not the best. Bansal Amritsari Kulcha When I think of Punjabi food, I think of Amritsari kulcha chole even before I think of sarsa ka saag. And I still drool over that little ‘Chungi wala kulcha’ from Green Avenue in Amritsar(I am craving as I write)! While I keep comparing all kulcha places to my fav chungi wala, this place in Panchkula was decent for my taste buds. The best part… they serve 56 varieties of Kulcha and I have tried quite a few :D Must try their gobi methi kulcha!

Shiv Karthik Restaurant Want a taste of south Indian food in the sardar land?! Head to Shiv Karthik in Punchkula Sector 20. This pure veg south Indian restaurant serves really good south Indian food and I love their family size huge crispy dosa(I forgot the name). Chef’s Squad There are days when I crave those extra spicy ‘indian style chinese’ and I was glad when I found this little place for those days. It’s a tiny little place in the inner markets of Dhakoli and they prefer orders through Zomato and Swiggy. This place hands down serves one of the best spring rolls and I love their crispy corn and spinach too! Sector 9 Chandigarh Okay, this is not the name of a food joint but I had to mention this sector as a whole! This was our late-night food place in the months of our stay. There are numerous little food joints next to each other and the best part about them is they remain open till midnight! You know those days when you did not make dinner and its too late to swiggy as half the places won’t deliver, head out to this food heaven. From Thai and Chinese to biriyanis and kebabs this place has everything. Roam around, check out their menus and decide which one you like most! A must explore place for foodies. Coming to the fancier places… you know for those date nights – Cottage Looking for a place for the perfect date night with candle lights and beachy vibes?! Cottage might be just the place for you. A very high-end Victorian décor and an outside seating that gives you a feel of a pretty seaside shack, this beautiful place serves good food too! Try their starters menu and stew.

Virgin Courtyard The same lane of Cottage leads to another beautiful place called the Virgin Courtyard. Almost the same vibe and ambiance but a little louder music, this place is my second favorite for date nights. Must try their chicken gorgonzola and cacciatore ravioli.

Hunka Hunka Town A simple and appealing décor, soft music, good cocktails, and good food. At times I like places where I can go with friends, sit comfortably, sip on my cocktails and make a conversation and so I loved this place! Also, they have a pretty fancy menu and serve great tacos! For that fun Saturday nights – ( the ones I have been to and liked) Beach and Brew - My absolute favorite!MoleculeQizoThe Brew EstateMinistry of bar exchangeSector 7 Social Best places for you sweet cravings I am not really a sweet lover but I do like indulging at times… here are a few that are good. Peggy Ice-cream Love ice creams and worry about your health too?! Then Peggy is the right place to go. Real fruit kulfis, popsicles, ice creams, and sundaes this place has unique take on your summer favorites! This little place in Sector 10 is a must-visit.

Get desertedNik BakersFour Folks – this café has some really yumm deserts! Places To Shop! What is life without indulging in a shopping spree once in a while!? Chandigarh is the place that made me fall in love with salwar suits and Indian wear. The place has some beautiful collection of clothing materials and some places don’t even burn a hole in your pocket. Here are a few of my favourite shopping spots in the city - Shastri Market in Sector 22 Looking for suit pieces, cushions, curtains, anything and everything… Shastri market has it all! You absolutely cannot miss this place. There are beautiful phulkaris, full suit pieces, shoes, upholstery, planters, jute curtains, you name it and you find it here! Take the whole day in hand and set out to explore the gallis inside.

Suvasa in Sector 9 A little heavy on the pocket but this place is the definition of classy! A lover of block prints and pastel colours, in this place you will find some of the most beautiful collection of clothes, upholstery and home décor items. A few other places I loved - AmarSons in Sector 22Kohinoor and Gulatis in Sector 17Patel Market in Sector 15 Tailors To The Rescue! Every woman needs her personal Sabyasachi but sometimes when you don’t have tons of money but million-dollar ideas, the local tailors work pretty well :D However, the tailors in Chandigarh are exorbitant enough to give a feel like you actually have a Sabyasachi making your clothes. I tried a few of them in the city and though all their prices are equally high, I loved the work of the ones mentioned below – Rishi Tailors (Sector 17 Chandigarh) - 9878003715Suumaya Boutique (Sector 25 Panchkula) – 9780067632Kritz Tailors - 7011203891 Exhibitions and Fairs Now coming to my favourite part of living in the city! Chandigarh has these beautiful exhibitions and melas and some of them are too good to miss! From beautiful home décor items to sarees, Pakistani suits and pieces of jewelry, you find everything here. The best thing about picking stuff from these exhibitions is that they end up being really unique and generally they aren't so heavy on the pocket a well!

While there are numerous exhibitions happening all over the city, here is a list of the ones that I loved – Vanity Fair in Whispering WillowsSilk Fab in Himachal BhawanFab Asia in Himachal BhawanCustomized Dreams at Lake ClubThe annual fair at Kalagram(a must visit)Trade Fair at the Parade Ground in Sector 17 While the above-mentioned ones are my favourite, there are hundreds of them happening the whole of the winter season. The main places are generally – Himachal BhawanKisan BhawanCDCL Building (give your number to them and they will inform about every sale and exhibition that happens in their premises) Keep an eye on the events on Facebook and check the newspaper and radio for the news of events around the city. Also, there are quite a few wedding exhibitions that happen which are really heavy on the pocket and too gaudy for my liking. You might want to check them out as well. Weekend Getaways While Chandigarh city itself has the beautiful Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, and Rose Garden, etc as places to go for holidays but then Weekends and long vacations are the time to unwind! With Himachal and Delhi, both just a stone's throw away on either side, you have a choice according to your mood/liking. You might just choose to drive down to Delhi, for a happening weekend and a crazy shopping spree or you have the choice of cutting off from the crazy world and soothe your soul in the mountains. And the list of places to choose from is endless.

Read the full article

0 notes