It's India's official green tourist spot. Serene, with the perfect throw of nature, lush landscape, canopy of trees, a backdrop of mountains, the city's a mini paradise. "And it's been stated as a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature's preservation. The efforts to retain and maintain the beauty and environment of the city have reaped results," smiles Vivek Atray, Director Tourism, who is back in town after receiving the Today's Traveller Platinum Award for most Responsible Tourism Plan of 2008. This, because of the city's collective effort to protect the environment. "And to assist the tourists, help the underprivileged through tourism and create awareness about keeping the city clean and smoke free," adds the man behind the endeavor and the 20-point campaign that started about six months ago which saw people work towards responsible tourism.

Having organised on-the-spot painting and photography competitions and conferences involving administration, hotel industry, tour operators and NGOs to spread awareness about the same, Atray feels that it is the city's ability to attract and keep tourists that has helped them bag the award. "Besides this, the endeavour of the Tourism Department to promote Chandigarh's heritage, print booklets and brochures in different languages and enable online booking of CITCO and private hotel rooms has helped," he quips, as he tells us that the city will soon witness fabricated sign boards and information boards at important locations. "Chandigarh Pass on the pattern of the 'London Pass' too will offer facilities at tourist spots like Rock Garden, Museums, Theaters," Atray reels the future tourism plans, as he emphasizes on cycling tours and scenic walks in the city.

Promoting weekend tourism and offering railway tourism, "fuel efficiency is another aspect city is waking up to," says Atray, stating that to maintain a beautiful city is more difficult than to create it. We agree!