Chandigarh's Rock Garden: forty acres of sculpture built by a road inspector out of the city's waste

Background

The Rock Garden at Chandigarh was "Crafted by a former road inspector, Nek Chand, in 1957" and is "also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden". The Ministry of Tourism records it as "Spread across a massive 40-acre wonderland" and "Meticulously divided into three distinct phases". Nek Chand worked on "the once-barren forest area near Sukhna Lake, transforming it into a hidden wonderland through a complex network of interlinked courtyards that spanned 12 acres". "For 18 years, Nek Chand's labour of love remained a closely guarded secret" until "its existence was unveiled to the authorities in 1975"; public support saved it from demolition, he was given "a team of 50 artisans", and "In 1976, the gates to this enchanting realm were opened". The garden now has "over 5,000 statues adorning its borders" and is "an open-air exhibition celebrating the best from waste", in which "terracotta pots, light fixtures, and even broken toilet pots are reimagined into extraordinary masterpieces", alongside "tiles, mirrors, broken bangles".