Chandigarh is known for its beautiful rock sculpture garden, called Nek Chand, named after its founder. The 64-acre rock garden consists of sculptures made from various waste materials, which are the result of his meticulous creation process, and looks like an open-air gallery.
When Nek Chand Saini first set foot in Chandigarh, it was an abandoned wasteland used by the Indian government to dispose of industrial and household waste from nearby cities. He was given a job by the government related to waste management.
In 1957, Nek Chand officially began work on his dream project: turning trash into useful materials for his works. He collected discarded materials such as metals to create the shapes of humans, animals and other imaginary creatures. He started his work secretly in a hidden corner of the forest area, where construction was not allowed. He also collected uniquely shaped rocks from nearby rivers and lakes to enrich his material sources.
Within a few years, Nek Chand had a large collection of scraps, which he used to create hundreds of sculptures. He worked on his sculptures on weekends and gradually increased his work speed, whenever he had free time, even at night. Eventually, he completed the construction of his secret kingdom of huts, palaces, pavilions and hundreds of other sculptures.
Nek Chand kept his construction hidden for years to avoid the prying eyes of people, especially local authorities. But today the rock garden is one of the most popular tourist attractions in India (after the Taj Mahal), with more than 5,000 visitors every day.
When you come to the rock garden, walking along the garden, you will notice sculptures with different shapes. These are magical creatures with mythical nature that have been created from bottles, glasses, bricks, stones, ceramic pots, porcelain, broken electrical equipment… Along with those things, you also cannot take your eyes off other sculptures such as musicians and dancers. All are made from waste. It is hard to believe for those who have never visited this place, because no one can think that these waste materials are ideal materials for the garden.
The garden attracts a large number of visitors not only because of the uniqueness of the sculptures with diverse ideas, but also another important aspect, which is the sculptures that exude the beauty of nature and honor the spiritual cultural heritage of the Indian people. The animal statues here show the rich diversity of wildlife and some architectural relics in India are also included in the author's sculptures, making the Nek Chand rock garden even more prominent, not only the external beauty but also the internal meaning. This has left a deep impression on visitors when visiting here.
Adding to the beauty of the garden are streams and waterfalls that weave around the buildings and walkways. You will also see walls made of beautiful terracotta pots. Walking on the shady cobblestone paths, one might feel like entering a maze or a magical and enchanting fairyland. A garden without any flowering plants, is the site of the traditional Teej festival held every year.
Nowadays, people still appreciate Nek Chand's creativity, instead of treating waste in the usual way, he turned them into useful materials. Recycling and using waste both protects the environment and creates wonderful sculptures. As a result of his hard work, his works are now known and admired by the whole world.
Nek Chand Saini and his works
Considered an embodiment of new and unusual imagination, the rock garden in Chandigarh city is a rare work of art, which cannot be equated or compared with anything else in the world.
