Interesting facts

1. **Tricity Member:** Panchkula, along with Chandigarh and Mohali, forms the continuous urban agglomeration known as the Chandigarh Tricity. 2. **Origin of Name:** The name 'Panchkula' is derived from the local words *Panch* (five) and *Kula* (canals), referring to five ancient irrigation canals that once distributed water from the Ghaggar river. 3. **Planned City:** Like Chandigarh, Panchkula is a meticulously planned city divided into organised sectors. 4. **Army Headquarters:** It is home to the Chandimandir Cantonment, which serves as the headquarters for the Western Command of the Indian Army. 5. **Morni Hills:** Panchkula district hosts Morni Hills, the only hill station in the state of Haryana. 6. **Cactus Garden:** The city boasts the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden, the largest of its kind in Asia, featuring over 3,500 species. 7. **Mata Mansa Devi:** The renowned Mata Mansa Devi Mandir is a major Hindu shrine covering 100 acres, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees during Navratri. 8. **Nada Sahib Gurudwara:** A spiritually significant site for Sikhs, located on the banks of the Ghaggar river, visited by Guru Gobind Singh in 1688. 9. **Bhima Devi Temple:** Often called the 'Khajuraho of North India', this 8th-11th century temple complex features intricate erotic and deity sculptures. 10. **Pinjore Gardens:** Located just outside the city, the Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore is a historic 17th-century Mughal garden. 11. **Kaushalya Dam:** An earth-fill dam on the Kaushalya river that supplies drinking water to the city and serves as a picturesque tourist spot. 12. **State Capital Alternate:** While Chandigarh is the capital of Haryana, Panchkula serves as the administrative nerve centre, housing the headquarters of numerous Haryana government departments. 13. **High Literacy:** The city has one of the highest literacy rates in the state of Haryana. 14. **Ghaggar River:** The seasonal Ghaggar-Hakra river, which some historians associate with the ancient Sarasvati river, flows through the city. 15. **IT Park:** Sector 22 houses a dedicated IT Park aiming to attract tech companies to the region. 16. **Pheasant Breeding Centre:** Located in Morni, it is a crucial conservation site for the red junglefowl and other pheasant species. 17. **No Sector 13:** Like Chandigarh, Panchkula historically skipped Sector 13 due to superstitions about the number, though zoning boundaries have evolved. 18. **Thapli Nature Camp:** An eco-tourism initiative near Panchkula offering glamping and trekking in the Shivalik foothills. 19. **Sports Hub:** The Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Sector 3 is a massive multi-sport arena that frequently hosts national-level cricket, hockey, and athletic events. 20. **Proximity to Himalayas:** Panchkula serves as a gateway to the broader Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, sitting right on the highway to Shimla.