India, March 1 -- In a city celebrated for its geometry and grace, there exists a corner where colour runs wild and memories bloom quietly - the Bougainvillea Garden of Chandigarh. Tucked away in Sector 3, this lesser-spoken treasure of the City Beautiful is not just a botanical delight, it is an emotional landscape where nostalgia and national pride stand side by side.

Every winter, when the bougainvillea burst into shades of fuchsia, coral, ivory and flame, the garden transforms into a living tapestry. Unlike delicate roses that demand careful tending, bougainvillea thrive resiliently, their thorny vines embracing arches and pergolas with effortless abundance. As children, my son and his friends would run through these floral corridors...