On 31st Dec, I visited  Rose Garden Sector 16, Chandigarh also known as  Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. Its a botanical garden located in Chandigarh, India and spread over 30 acres (120,000 m) of land, with 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species. Named after India's former president, Zakir Hussain and created in 1967 under the guidance of Dr M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first chief commissioner, the garden has the distinction of being Asia's largest. 

The garden has not only roses, but also trees of medicinal value. Some of the medicinal plants that can be spotted here are bel, bahera, harar, camphor and yellow gulmohar. The rose plants have been planted in carved-out lawns and flower beds.

Apart from serving as a host of other events, the Zakir Rose Garden serves as the venue for hosting the annual Festival of Gardens, a major cultural event of the city during the month of March. Celebrated mainly as a tribute to the magnificence of the rose itself, the attractions include food, drinks, joyrides, and contests of varying nature, such as photography, gardening, landscaping, bonsai, and Rose Prince and Princess. The contests are open to the residents or institutions from nearby places.

 These trees are called "Kachnaar" beautiful petals spread everywhere in Garden

 And its entrance from outside

 We enjoyed the last day of the year, wind was so chilling that day but warm Sun helped a lot. Hope you also enjoyed watching. Two different pocket cams were used here, Samsung and Fuji.
See Rose Garden through Satellite : http://wikimapia.org/170482/Rose-Garden-Chandigarh

If you want to see the real India, you should be in rural India. I have travelled to many villages in India. They are rich in culture, people are content with their needs unlike Urban families.

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This young boy was herding his cows along roadside, I stopped and asked him for a snap.

Oh see how young they are, similar in all India kids help their mothers in house work. Note, she is carrying water pot over her head. She must have travelled a long way to get this.

In many areas seen this common commuting vehicle, we can say Indian "Jugaad".Their own alternate solution to costly cars, which they can afford to travel. Look carefully this is quite interesting, ride is like open jeep.

This family is arranging for their live stock. I love visiting rural places and keep on doing so again and again.