™ 1PCA Stadium (IS Bindra Stadium)
Mohali’s famous cricket ground, home of the Punjab Kings and host of World Cup and Test matches. Its low floodlight towers were designed to keep clear of the nearby airport’s flight path.
Mohali travel guide
Planned city of the Chandigarh tricity – cricket, gurdwaras and quiet Punjab farmland next door
📍 Punjab 12 places to visit 🏨 1 stay to book Updated 20 Oct 2026
Mohali, officially Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar), is the Punjab side of the Chandigarh tricity, sharing its sector grid, airport and green avenues. It is a handy base for Chandigarh’s Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, and its villages in Kharar tehsil, such as Madan Heri, offer calm farm stays close to the city.
History of Mohali
Mohali is officially named Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar after Sahibzada Ajit Singh, the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh, who fell at the Battle of Chamkaur in 1704. A few kilometres away, at Chappar Chiri in May 1710, the Sikh army under Banda Singh Bahadur defeated Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind – a victory now marked by the towering Fateh Burj.
Modern Mohali grew from an industrial estate set up in 1967 beside Chandigarh. The township’s foundation stone was laid on 1 November 1975, and it was planned in sectors and phases that continue Chandigarh’s grid. In 2006 it became the headquarters of the new SAS Nagar district, carved out of Ropar and Patiala.
Today Mohali is Punjab’s main IT and start-up hub, with IT City, Quark City and the international airport in Aerocity. It is also famous for the PCA Stadium, home of the Punjab Kings, while villages like Madan Heri in Kharar tehsil keep the farmland feel just outside the city.
Best time to visit Mohali
October–March is the best time to visit Mohali and Chandigarh – cool and sunny, with foggy mornings in December–January. April–June is very hot, and July–September brings monsoon rain.
Oct–Nov
Autumn · Pleasant, about 15–30°C
Best
Great for gardens, Sukhna Lake and cricket season. Air quality can dip around Diwali.
Dec–Jan
Winter · Cool, about 5–20°C, foggy mornings
Good
Sunny afternoons; fog can delay early flights and trains.
Feb–Mar
Spring · Mild, about 10–28°C
Best
The Rose Festival at Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is usually in late February.
Apr–Jun
Summer · Hot, often above 40°C
Avoid
Plan sightseeing early morning and evening, or head to the hills.
Jul–Sep
Monsoon · Humid with heavy showers
Good
Green and cheaper; waterlogging on some roads after heavy rain.
How to reach Mohali
✈️
Nearest airport
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh (IXC) – located in MohaliAbout 10–12 km from central Mohali (20–30 min by taxi); about 15 km from Chandigarh Sector 17
🚆
Nearest railway station
Mohali (SAS Nagar) station, Industrial Area Phase 11 · Chandigarh JunctionMohali station is about 5–6 km from the city centre and has a few trains to Delhi, Ambala and Amritsar. Chandigarh Junction (about 12–15 km) has many more trains, including the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat to New Delhi.
🚌
Bus stand
ISBT Sector 43, Chandigarh – CTU, PRTC, Punjab Roadways, HRTC and Volvo buses to Delhi, Amritsar, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Jammu. Mohali Phase 8 bus stand – local and PRTC/Punjab Roadways buses towards Kharar, Ropar, Patiala and Ludhiana. CTU city buses and app cabs connect Mohali, Chandigarh and Panchkula.
| From | Distance by road | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | About 260 km | 4.5–5.5 hours |
| Amritsar | About 230 km | 4.5–5 hours |
| Ludhiana | About 95 km | 2 hours |
| Patiala | About 65 km | 1.5 hours |
| Kasauli | About 65 km | 2 hours |
| Shimla | About 125 km | 3.5–4 hours |
| Dharamshala | About 245 km | 6–7 hours |
| Manali | About 300 km | 8–9 hours |
Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic and weather.
Famous places to visit in Mohali
2Gurudwara Sri Amb Sahib
A historic gurdwara linked to Guru Har Rai, who is said to have offered his devotee Bhai Kuram ripe mangoes here in mid-winter – the name means “mango”. Calm marble courtyards and a sarovar.
3Fateh Burj, Chappar Chiri
A 100 m victory tower – among the tallest in India – marking Banda Singh Bahadur’s 1710 win over the Mughals. Gardens, statues of Sikh warriors and wide views over the fields.
4Capitol Complex (UNESCO)
Le Corbusier’s masterpiece – the High Court, Secretariat, Assembly and the Open Hand Monument – part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing since 2016. Visits are by guided tour from the tourist centre.
5Rock Garden
Nek Chand’s maze of walkways, waterfalls and figures made from broken tiles, bangles and urban waste – built in secret before it became Chandigarh’s best-loved sight.
6Sukhna Lake
A man-made lake at the foot of the Shivaliks with a long promenade, boating and sunset views. Locals come for morning walks; weekends are lively.
7Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
One of Asia’s largest rose gardens, with over a thousand varieties. Best from February to March, when the Rose Festival is held.
8Sector 17 Plaza
Chandigarh’s pedestrian city centre, with fountains, brand stores, bookshops and cafés around Le Corbusier-era arcades.
9Elante Mall
The tricity’s biggest mall, with shops, a large food court, restaurants and a multiplex – handy on a rainy or very hot day.
10Mansa Devi Temple
A much-visited Shakti temple in the Shivalik foothills, packed during the Navratri fairs. The nearby Patiala Shiv Mandir is also worth a stop.
11Chhatbir Zoo
The Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, a large zoo with a lion safari, tigers and many birds. Good for families; go early before the heat.
12Pinjore Gardens & Morni Hills (day trip)
Pinjore’s terraced Mughal-style Yadavindra Gardens, with fountains and evening lights, pair well with a drive up to the lakes and pine views of Morni Hills, Haryana’s only hill station.
Timings and entry fees change – please check locally before you go.
🏙️ The tricity at a glance
- Three cities
- Mohali (Punjab), Chandigarh (Union Territory) and Panchkula (Haryana) – one connected urban area
- Airport
- Chandigarh International Airport is on the Mohali side, about 10–12 km from central Mohali
- Getting around
- App cabs and autos everywhere; CTU buses link the three cities
- Addresses
- Numbered sectors and “phases” – give your driver the sector and landmark
- Hills nearby
- Morni Hills about 1.5 h, Kasauli about 2 h, Shimla about 3.5–4 h
Mohali’s villages in Kharar tehsil, like Madan Heri, are 20–30 minutes from the city and good for quiet farm stays.
Mohali itinerary
1 day in the tricity
Morning
- Rock Garden, then a walk at Sukhna Lake.
- Capitol Complex (UNESCO) on a guided tour.
Afternoon
- Lunch in Sector 17 or Elante, then the Rose Garden.
- Evening: Gurudwara Sri Amb Sahib in Mohali.
2 days with a farm stay
Day 1
- Chandigarh sights: Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Capitol Complex.
- Check in at a farm stay near Mohali for a bonfire and home-cooked Punjabi food.
Day 2
- Fateh Burj at Chappar Chiri, then Mansa Devi temple or Pinjore Gardens.
- Evening: a match at the PCA stadium in season, or shopping.
Trip budget for Mohali
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (hotel / farm stay) | About ₹2,000–5,000 / night | Higher on match days and wedding season |
| Food | About ₹500–1,200 per person / day | Dhabas to cafés – Punjabi food is a must |
| App cab airport → Mohali | About ₹300–600 | Depends on the sector |
| Local cab for the day | About ₹1,800–2,800 | 8 hours / 80 km |
| Rock Garden ticket | Small fee | Most other sights are free |
| Weekend for 2 (approx.) | ₹9,000–15,000 | 2 nights’ stay + food + local cabs |
Costs are rough estimates for Oct 2026.
Mohali vs Chandigarh, Panchkula and Zirakpur
Where should you base yourself in the tricity? Here’s a quick guide.
| Place | From the airport | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohali | About 10–12 km, 20–30 min | Calmer, newer sectors, farm stays nearby | Airport, cricket, quiet stays |
| Chandigarh | About 15 km, 30 min | Planned city, gardens, lake | Sightseeing, Sector 17 |
| Panchkula | About 20 km, 35–40 min | Residential, near the hills | Mansa Devi, Morni Hills |
| Zirakpur | About 8–10 km, 20 min | Highway hub, budget hotels | Road trips to the hills |
Where to stay in Mohali
Stay in Mohali’s sectors for easy access to the airport, the PCA stadium and Chandigarh’s sights. For a calm break, pick a farm stay in the villages of Kharar tehsil, such as Madan Heri – open fields and home-cooked food, still about 30 minutes from the city.
See all stays in Mohali →
Plan your stay in Mohali
Find stays
1 homestay, hotel or cottage – book directly with the host.
Own a homestay or hotel in Mohali? List it with Stay in Bharat
Good to know before you go
TaxisApp cabs are cheap and easy across the tricity; autos are good for short hops.
Winter fogDecember–January fog can delay morning flights and trains – keep some buffer.
GurdwarasCover your head, remove shoes and don’t miss the langar.
Match daysRoads near the stadiums get busy and hotels fill up – book early.
Summer heatIn May–June carry water and plan outdoor sights for early morning.
FAQs about Mohali
Is Mohali the same as Chandigarh?
No. Mohali (SAS Nagar) is in Punjab and Chandigarh is a Union Territory, but they share a border, the same sector layout and the airport. Together with Panchkula they are called the tricity.
Where is Chandigarh airport?
Chandigarh International Airport is on the Mohali side, about 10–12 km from central Mohali and about 15 km from Chandigarh Sector 17.
What is the best time to visit Mohali and Chandigarh?
October to March. Summers (April–June) are very hot, and July–September is the monsoon.
What can I see near Mohali in one day?
The Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake and the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, plus Gurudwara Sri Amb Sahib and Fateh Burj on the Mohali side.
Which hill stations are close to Mohali?
Morni Hills (about 1.5 hours), Kasauli (about 2 hours), Solan (about 2 hours) and Shimla (about 3.5–4 hours).
Are there farm stays near Mohali?
Yes. Villages in Kharar tehsil, such as Madan Heri, have farm stays with open fields, about 30 minutes from the city.
More city guides
Last updated . All city guides
Staying in Mohali?1 stay
Book a stay