‘Do you really think this is a city in India?’: British architect’s reaction to Chandigarh goes viral

Videos of foreign travellers sharing their experiences in India often find an audience online. But one recent video from Chandigarh has caught attention for the architect's reaction to the city itself.

The video was shared by British architect Russell Henderson, who is currently based in Tanzania and has previously worked in the UK, Thailand, and Australia, according to his LinkedIn profile. During his visit to Chandigarh, Henderson documented his first impressions of the city, and his reaction quickly became a talking point online.

‘Nothing like what you’d expect’

As he walked through the city, Henderson appeared impressed by what he described as its organized layout and well-maintained surroundings.

“First impressions, look at this. Do you really think this is a city in India? It is crazy. This is nothing like anything you'd expect in India, really. Look how organized this city is,” said Henderson.

He also pointed out features of the road network that stood out to him.

“You've got double road traffic here, double road traffic there. Look at that bicycle sign there. In India, I've never seen that before, really.”

What stood out during his visit

According to Henderson, Chandigarh's planning was one of the most noticeable aspects of the city. He highlighted the space available for different commuters and the overall ease of movement.

“Bicycles, pedestrians, perfect. As you can see, it's a very well-planned city. Lots of space, no congestion whatsoever. Lots of parking, lots of roads,” he said.

The architect also spoke about the city's condition and his experience while exploring it.

“I mean, it'll continue to be uncongested for years to come, I think. It's completely clean and safe. I mean, I'm walking around with my camera all day and at night. But I mean, look how clean it is. I can't see any rubbish anywhere.”

Residents react to the viral clip

The video soon gained traction online, drawing comments from people familiar with the city.

“Proud to be a Chandigarh citizen,” wrote one user.

Another commented, “You're walking in the heart of the city, it used to be lively 20 years back, but now it's just a building with the government offices around, not so happening anymore. Thanks for visiting Chandigarh, hope you had/have a great time here.”

A third user shared, “Chandigarh's probably the best place to live in the country; the housing market of the city reflects that (on average, it is more expensive than Mumbai/Delhi). Zoning is heavily regulated. Leads the country in most municipal policy and practices.”

Another person offered their perspective on the city's cleanliness and lifestyle.

“Locals walk in Chandigarh; we cycle; we don't litter and throw trash in public; we are mostly in parks after 6 pm or early in the morning. The reason it has no rubbish is because it's a small city that gets a good budget from the central government to maintain the city and its shared capital of two states (Punjab and Haryana), which means all the big government. Offices of both states are here.”


Disclaimer: This article is based on a video shared publicly on social media and the reactions posted in response to it. The views expressed by the individual in the video and by social media users are their own. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims, opinions, or observations made in the video or comments.


The Times of India has reached out to the creator for additional comments. The story will be updated if and when a response is received.