I remember way back in 1968 I accompanied my father on a Sunday to visit Chandigarh from Ambala. As a tourist, my tiny frame watched with wonder the massive giant door with Le Corbusier's painting outside the Assembly hall. And I had first experience of getting into the lift and ride to the top floor of the Secretariat building. There was vast expanse of trees all around with very few buildings around. One could watch the Sukhna Lake and the Shivalik hill range.
In 1969 we shifted to Chandigarh, and I could never get to take our guests and visiting relations up the secretariat building, though we could visit the Open Hand and the plaza between Assembly Hall and the High Court building.
It came as a pleasant surprise to know that UT Tourism department has opened the doors to the Capitol Complex. Now those wishing to visit, can contact any of the Tourist Information Centres, and by showing one's identity can obtain a permission to visit the complex. The foreign tourists of course would be required to carry their original passport with valid visa.
The tourism department claims that the permit would be given within 5 to 10 minutes by the tourist office. That sounds great. It's time to revisit and explore the once-out-0f-bound Capitol Complex.
Renée Singh will present, at the CaféTheatre of Alliance Française, Sector 36, Chandigarh, her new book. 
