Although called the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, this wonderful place is hardly a garden. It’s not a museum either. The creator once called it his kingdom. More accurately, it is a temple of wonders that amazes each and every visitor.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Although called the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, this wonderful place is hardly a garden. It’s not a museum either. The creator once called it his kingdom. More accurately, it is a temple of wonders that amazes each and every visitor.

1/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Although called the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, this wonderful place is hardly a garden. It’s not a museum either. The creator once called it his kingdom. More accurately, it is a temple of wonders that amazes each and every visitor.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The park dates back to the 1950s, when the self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand began collecting oddly-shaped stones on the banks of the nearby rivers.

2/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The park dates back to the 1950s, when the self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand began collecting oddly-shaped stones on the banks of the nearby rivers.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Chand did not have enough means to afford proper materials, so he used garbage and debris to build his “kingdom.”

3/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Chand did not have enough means to afford proper materials, so he used garbage and debris to build his “kingdom.”
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The artist deliberately made the archways low to force visitors to bow to the “gods” of his garden – the sculptures of people and animals.

4/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The artist deliberately made the archways low to force visitors to bow to the “gods” of his garden – the sculptures of people and animals.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Sculptures made of other people’s garbage decorate the park.

5/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Sculptures made of other people’s garbage decorate the park.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Chand’s creation was likely a reaction to the planned city the Swiss architect Le Corbusier was designing in Chandigarh as a symbol of modernity and progress.

6/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Chand’s creation was likely a reaction to the planned city the Swiss architect Le Corbusier was designing in Chandigarh as a symbol of modernity and progress.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The construction and demolition sites found throughout Chandigarh at the time proved a treasure trove for Chand, who never lacked for materials.

7/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The construction and demolition sites found throughout Chandigarh at the time proved a treasure trove for Chand, who never lacked for materials.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Today, the Rock Garden is a sprawling 160-square-meter park with artificial waterfalls, ponds and sculptures.

8/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Today, the Rock Garden is a sprawling 160-square-meter park with artificial waterfalls, ponds and sculptures.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov But the highlight of the garden is the sculptures themselves.

9/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
But the highlight of the garden is the sculptures themselves.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov Nek Chand’s sculptures can be found in both folk and modern art museums in the United States and Europe.

10/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
Nek Chand’s sculptures can be found in both folk and modern art museums in the United States and Europe.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The artist’s works are bought by both private Western collectors and galleries.

11/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The artist’s works are bought by both private Western collectors and galleries.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov In 1983, a postage stamp featuring Rock Garden sculptures was issued in India.

12/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
In 1983, a postage stamp featuring Rock Garden sculptures was issued in India.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The park is one of the most popular places in Chandigarh, drawing nearly 5,000 visitors a day.

13/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The park is one of the most popular places in Chandigarh, drawing nearly 5,000 visitors a day.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The sculpture garden is a testament to the power of talent, dedication and a dream.

14/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The sculpture garden is a testament to the power of talent, dedication and a dream.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov The kingdom the artist created for his native city.

15/15
© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Pakhomov
The kingdom the artist created for his native city.