Garden
National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden
Usually just called the Cactus Garden: one of the largest collections of cacti and succulents in Asia, in Sector 5.
1 hour
Weekends
Days out in the Shivaliks
From the Cactus Garden in Sector 5 to the toy train at Kalka, sorted by distance from the city centre. Rate the ones you have been to.
Temple
Mansa Devi Temple
One of the most important Shakti temples in North India, at the foot of the Shivaliks in Mansa Devi Complex.
1 to 2 hours
Gurdwara
Gurdwara Nada Sahib
A historic gurdwara on the banks of the Ghaggar, where Guru Gobind Singh is said to have halted after the battle of Bhangani in 1…
1 hour
Temple
Chandi Mandir
The temple of the goddess Chandi that gave Chandigarh its name, next to the Chandimandir cantonment.
1 hour
Garden
Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore
A 17th-century Mughal garden laid out in terraces with water channels and fountains, later restored by the rulers of Patiala and …
Half a day
Nature
Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary
A forested wildlife sanctuary near Pinjore, once a hunting ground of the rulers of Patiala, with deer, birds and forest trails in…
Half a day
Heritage railway
Kalka-Shimla toy train
The narrow-gauge mountain railway from Kalka to Shimla, opened in 1903 and listed by UNESCO, climbing through more than a hundred…
A full day (5 to 6 hours each way)
Hills
Morni Hills
Haryana’s only hill station: a quiet range of the Shivaliks above Panchkula with small villages, pine and oak forest, an old fort…
A full day
Lake
Tikkar Taal
Twin lakes, Bada and Chhota Tikkar, in a bowl of hills beyond Morni, with boating and a Haryana Tourism resort.
A full day with Morni
Before you head for the hills
- Start early on weekends: traffic towards Pinjore and Kalka builds by mid-morning.
- Hill roads to Morni are narrow and winding. Avoid driving them after dark or after heavy rain.
- Carry water, snacks and some cash; shops are few once you leave the highway.