ABOUT CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh is located near the foothills of the Shivalik range of the Himalayas in Northwest India. It covers an area of approximately 114 km2 and shares its borders with the states of Haryana in the east and Punjab in the north, west and south. The surrounding districts are of Mohali, Patiala and Ropar in Punjab and Panchkula and Ambala in Haryana. The boundary of the state of Himachal Pradesh is not too far from its north.

Public buses run by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) provide local transport as well as inter-state transport services. Rickshaws are common for traveling short distances.

Chandigarh is well connected by road. The two main National Highways connecting Chandigarh with the rest of the country are: NH 22 (Ambala - Kalka - Shimla - Kinnaur) and NH 21 (Chandigarh - Leh). There are regular bus services to most major cites in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chandigarh has a railway station. Regular train connections are available to the national capital New Delhi and to some other junctions like Kalka, Ambala, Amritsar, Bhiwani, Lucknow, Patna, Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Trivandrum and Sri Ganganagar.

Chandigarh also has a domestic airport. Jet Airways, JetLite, Air India and Kingfisher Airlines operate regular flights from Chandigarh to New Delhi and Mumbai.

REACHING PANJAB UNIVERSITY

Chandigarh has two bus stands: ISBT Sector 17 (3 km from University; all buses to Delhi ply from here) and ISBT Sector 43 (8 km from University; buses to Punjab, Himachal, etc.).

Auto-rickshaws are available from Railway Station and Bus Stand (usually run with meter). There is an Auto-Taxi service also, called "Tuk-Tuk" (pink autos) which can be hired within city limits by calling 0172-4242424. Radio Taxi services are available at Airport, Railway Station and Bus Stand. These can be hired from the stands or by calling (operated by different companies) 0172-4646464, 0172-4141414. Airport to Panjab University Guest House would cost in one of the above taxis approximately Rs.250; from Station Rs.175 and from ISBT Sector 17 Rs.70.

CHANDIGARH WEATHER

Local weather report

Chandigarh weather during the period of the symposium will be a bit cold. Participants are advised to carry clothes accordingly.