Capitol Complex

A UNESCO World Heritage site, The Capitol Complex is the administrative core of the city of Chandigarh and hence differs from a usual public square.

The vast promenade houses The High Court, The Secretariat & The Assembly buildings in addition to certain complementing sculptural elements such as The Open Hand, The Tower of Shadows & The Geometric Hill designed by Le Corbusier and placed along an axial symmetry. Constructed in raw concrete, in keeping with the ethos of Brutalism, these structures reflect an architectural honesty—where material, form, and structure are expressed without ornamentation.

Black and white photo of a concrete building with empty square window openings arranged in a grid pattern.

Black-and-white photo of a modern concrete building with large overhanging roof, columns, and water in foreground.

A black and white photo of a large sculpture of a bird, perched on a concrete pedestal, with a cloudy sky in the background.

The walk explores these monumental structures through the dimensions of scale, proportion, aesthetics & composition highlighting the relationship between the built form and the open spaces. It hence discusses how architecture can embody democratic ideals, institutional power, and cultural identity within a modernist framework.

*As the Capitol Complex is a high-security zone, entry is only permitted through government-organized tours held at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Each tour is accompanied by a government guide, security personnel, and fellow visitors.