Chandigarh: The City Beautiful

Chandigarh stands as India’s first planned modern city, designed by **Le Corbusier**. It serves as a unique administrative capital for two states (Punjab and Haryana) while remaining a Union Territory. It represents the post-independence aspiration for modernity, characterized by its grid architecture, open spaces, and high human development indicators. * **Key Themes:** Modern urban planning, administrative federalism, and Le Corbusier’s legacy.