Sukhna a kaleidoscope of seasons, colours and people

Chandigarh is a many splendored city, and its major attraction, the Sukhna Lake is a fascinating study of changing seasons and colours.

A walkers' delight, one can see many people solemnly measuring their 10,000 steps in its salubrious surroundings. I count myself lucky to walk along its tree-lined parapet almost every day. For me, it is a lifeline in more ways than one since I meet and greet my fellow walkers, exchange gossip and do my fitness routine.

Like a Kurosawa film, one can see various vignettes of life playing out along its jacaranda and amaltas lined promenade — whether it is the courting couples or the geriatric groups practising laughter therapy.

Film shoots sometimes bring a touch of glamour.

I have spent many pleasant evenings at the lake, sitting on the steps above the lapping waters, letting the rhythmic waves soothe away the tensions of city life. The shikaras and boats glide along the placid waters, no less than those on the Dal Lake.

On rainy days, the lake wears a muddy look, and the waves are no longer placid but stormy.Those sitting on the steps prudently retreat to higher levels, and the boats also beat a hasty retreat.

But as soon as the weather clears, the Sukhna is back to welcoming more people into its calming fold. The rhythm of life, like the Sukhna, returns to its soothing serenity.

MP Singh, former Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Chandigarh