Rose Garden

Zakir Rose Garden in Chandiarh is Asia's largest Rose garden.This garden was created in 1967, under the expert guidance of Dr M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first Chief Commissioner, and is named after India's President, Zakir Hussain. It is spread over an area of 30 acres and have 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species of roses. Its collection includes not only natural varities but also many of the hybrid varieties developed through tissue culture. Some of the varities are considered very rare ones. Best time to visit this garden is during Feb-March. During this period it is in full bloom. There is also a festival dedicated to this Garden which is celebrated in end of February or beginning of March, which is one of the major attractions among the residents of chandigarh and surroundings. During which many compititions, contests and cultural shows are organised accompanies with stalls spread along the Jan Marg on the strech between Sector 17 and Sector 16.

Apart from serving as a host of other events, the Zakir Rose Garden serves as the venue for hosting the annual Festival of Gardens, a major cultural event of the city during the month of March. Celebrated mainly as a tribute to the magnificence of the rose itself, the attractions include food, drinks, joyrides, and contests of varying nature, such as photography, gardening, landscaping, bonsai, and Rose Prince and Princess. The contests are open to the residents or institutions from nearby places.