Daveybot's online life / india2006

Daveybot posted a photo:

The High Court building at the Chandigarh capital complex.

Here's the problem, you see: the space between these buildings is just way too big. It's like a landing strip. No-one would walk across this ridiculously proportioned plaza!

...And in fact no-one can. A few years back one of the politicians was assassinated outside the entrance of the General Assembly building, and ever since the majority of the capital complex has been closed off to visitors. (the building behind the fence there being the one exception, and I do recommend a visit if you get the chance!) We had to get a letter of introduction from the Chandigarh Tourist Office (lovely people - very helpful) to get into the others, and of course we were the only visitors there. The buildings are great - really great, but the space around them is a wasteland, made even more redundant by the fact that you cannot walk from one building to the other. In the scorching heat the concrete is flaking away (it wasn't that high-grade to start with, I fear) and because of the lack of people outside the buildings, all the pools and gardens lie empty and unmaintained.

It has some truly awesome potential, this place, and I really loved visiting. Inside the light and materials are truly stunning, but outside it's all being allowed to decay far too quickly.

Daveybot posted a photo:

The High Court building at the Chandigarh capital complex.

Here's the problem, you see: the space between these buildings is just way too big. It's like a landing strip. No-one would walk across this ridiculously proportioned plaza!

...And in fact no-one can. A few years back one of the politicians was assassinated outside the entrance of the General Assembly building, and ever since the majority of the capital complex has been closed off to visitors. (the building behind the fence there being the one exception, and I do recommend a visit if you get the chance!)

We had to get a letter of introduction from the Chandigarh Tourist Office (lovely people - very helpful) to get into the others, and of course we were the only visitors there. The buildings are great - really great, but the space around them is a wasteland, made even more redundant by the fact that you cannot walk from one building to the other. In the scorching heat the concrete is flaking away (it wasn't that high-grade to start with, I fear) and because of the lack of people outside the buildings, all the pools and gardens lie empty and unmaintained.

It has some truly awesome potential, this place, and I really loved visiting. Inside the light and materials are truly stunning, but outside it's all being allowed to decay far too quickly.

Daveybot posted a photo:

The General Assembly building at the Chandigarh capital complex.

Here's the problem, you see: the space between these buildings is just way too big. It's like a landing strip. No-one would walk across this ridiculously proportioned plaza!

...And in fact no-one can. A few years back one of the politicians was assassinated outside the entrance of this building, and ever since the majority of the capital complex has been closed off to visitors. We had to get a letter of introduction from the Chandigarh Tourist Office (lovely people - very helpful) to get in here, and of course we were the only visitors there. The buildings are great - really great, but the space around them is a wasteland, made even more redundant by the fact that you cannot walk from one building to the other. In the scorching heat the concrete is flaking away (it wasn't that high-grade to start with, I fear) and because of the lack of people outside the buildings, all the pools and gardens lie empty and unmaintained.

It has some truly awesome potential, this place, and I really loved visiting. Inside the light and materials are truly stunning, but outside it's all being allowed to decay far too quickly.

Daveybot posted a photo:

After the nightmare that is New Delhi train station, I couldn't believe the lightness and calm of this polace. Wonderful.

Daveybot posted a photo:

Shame the pools are empty and the external spaces are being left to decay, but it's still got some oomph behind it! Fantastic concrete on the inside and outside (it's really gritty and crude) and the quality of light in the foyers and debating chamber are stunning.

Daveybot posted a photo:

To gain access to Chandigarh's capital complex, you need to obtain an official letter of introduction from the Chandigarh Tourist Office. We wandered in and they quickly took down our visa detils and photocopied this typewritten letter. Initially I merely mocked the idea that knowing someone's visa number prevents them from being a terrorist (we were never searched and no other questions were asked), but upon reading the letter I instantly took a liking to the whole of Chandigarh and its inhabitants, who are rightly proud of their unique town.

Subject: Grant of Permission

Sir, Reference subject cited above,
The bearer of this letter is a Foreign tourist from ........ accompanying with other members intended to visit the Architecture of Vidhan Sabha Sectt., High Court from inside and also to have a round of the entire Capital Complex. Since the tourist is involved in the Architecture, please allow him/her alongwith other members accompanying to have a proper glimpse of the architecture of le corbusier, By allowing, the Chandigarh Tourism will get boost and publicity about the architecture of Le-Corbusier especially in the Capital Complex.

Please allow him/her to take pictures of the govt. buildings from outside and instruct the guard on duty accordingly please. The necessary introduction letter is issued free of cost.

Yours Faithfully.

...Involved as I am with 'the Architecture', I can honestly say I've never been anywhere where people are so keen for me to do what I like best - look at their buildings! I still have this rather faded letter, and it's definitely one of my favourite souvenirs of the trip!

Daveybot posted a photo:

The General Assembly building at the Chandigarh capital complex.

This is the side entrance, really, as the front entrance has now effectively been made redundant by closing off the gigantic plaza. Shame - it's got one of the biggest doors I've ever seen, but I daresay it now never opens.

Daveybot posted a photo:

Daveybot posted a photo:

Chilling out at the general assembly building.

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Genius!

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Just round the corner from the capital complex is one of the strangest things I've ever seen: an enormous rock garden full of animals, people, and other strange grotto-like creations which are all the work of one guy. It reminded me a little of the Watts towers, and was certainly a surprise to come across!

Daveybot posted a photo:

I couldn't get a decent shot of the whole of the general secretariat building, but that's a small part of it in the background. It's huge.

Daveybot posted a photo:

I think they're eagles, or possibly red kites. At any rate, the city of Delhi is absolutely filled with em. They're everywhere, at close proximity, and one of my classmates even got scratched by one when he got too close to its nest on the hotel roof!

Cool but crazy stuff.

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Geddit?

Daveybot posted a photo:

Part of the capital complex of New Delhi. I actually found the whole place a bit depressing, really. Relative to the rest of the country it's so empty and lifeless, and the air quailty of Delhi means you can barely see one row of buildings from the other.

Still, fancy stuff.

Daveybot posted a photo:

I simply cannot describe the air in central Delhi. It makes you want to cough up most of your organs at once. It stinks, it's almost opaque, and it's actually heavy. We didn't see the sun once during our stay, and the stuff even follows the main roads out of the city for miles.

This was the view from our hotel, and it's a shame I didn't get around to taking a couple of shots at night - the piles of burning manure and rubbish really add to the atmosphere! Ahhh, noise and stench and air you can barely see through aside, I loved Delhi - it sure is busy, though!

Daveybot posted a photo:

Again, thanks to the truly terrible air quality of Delhi for making this shot possible!

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Two rupees each. They were good, too.

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...Possibly. Not entirely sure.