Chandigarh, Jan 3: A meticulously planned New Year’s Day run through Chandigarh has drawn national attention after a local woman traced the number “26” across the city’s map while running more than 26 kilometers.
Asmita, a Chandigarh resident, ran 26.26 kilometers across the city’s sectors to welcome 2026, using the grid-like road network to shape her route into the numerals “26.” The run started near RBI Park and crossed multiple sectors, demanding precision and steady speed to preserve the design.
She later shared the mapped route on X, calling it a continuation of a personal ritual to mark the New Year. The post quickly went viral, garnering over 100,000 views and widespread admiration.
“Chandigarh maps are next level and you are next level for drawing it!!” one user wrote.
Another added, “Only Chandigarh residents have this privilege. Can’t imagine this anywhere else in India.”
Several commenters noted that Chandigarh’s straight roads and sector planning made the run possible, describing it as a rare advantage in Indian urban design. Users contrasted the feat with other cities where traffic congestion and irregular roads would make such a route unworkable.
“I ran out of excuses by 2 km, you ran out of city at 26,” one commenter joked.
Urban planners and residents have long pointed to Chandigarh’s layout as a defining feature of daily life. Asmita’s run, users said, turned that planning into an unexpected blend of fitness, design and celebration.
