Patiala is a city in the Punjab state of India. Patiala district is one of the erstwhile princely cities of Punjab. Located in the south-eastern part of the state, 65 km from the state capital of Chandigarh.

Patiala means Pati (land) of Baba Ala Singh, who founded the State of Patiala.

It is the administrative headquarters of Patiala District, and was the capital of the premier princely state in the former Punjab Province of British India, headed by the Sidhu dynasty. Patiala is famous for being the home of Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music and for its turban (traditional headgear), paranda (tasselled tag for braiding hair), peg (Patiala Peg - a double or large peg of whiskey), and Jutti (traditional Punjabi footwear) and "patialashahi" salwaar.Famous Punjabi singer Pammi Bai has sung a song on the famous Patialashahi turban.PATIALA, a city of gardens and palaces, has a rich architectural and cultural heritage. The oldest part of Patiala is the walled city within which Quila Mubarak; the oldest fortified palace of the city, sits on a raised mound. Quila Mubarak forms the core around which the walled city developed.

Transport

Places to see:

QUILA MUBARAK-MUSEUM

Contains rare cannons, swords,shields and maces , daggers of Guru Gobind Singh Ji , Sword of Nadar Shah etc. and rich collection of chandeliers from Europe.

The Earstwhile Patiala State named after its founder Ala Singh as Patti of Ala or Ala Singh's land in local language has a relatively brief history of about 230 years but a rich tradition in the fields of education sports and music .

SHEESH MAHAL

Sheesh Mahal in old Moti Bagh is designed on the pattern of Shalimar Garden of Lahore with terraces,fountains,channels and flower beds. It was built by Maharaja Narendera Singh in 1847 A.D. at a cost of 5 lacs. The Sheesh Mahal Museum at Patiala has great importance in the field of painting, sculptures, medals and decorative art objects.

GURUDWARA DUKH NIVARAN SAHIB

Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib is located in Patiala City, less than a kilometer from the Patiala railway station. The Gurdwara's construction was started in the year 1930 and was completed twelve years later in the year 1942.

GURUDWARA MOTI BAGH

Gurdwara Moti Bagh is associated with the visit of Guru Gobind Singh ji to help Bahadur Shah Zafar succeed Aurangzeb when the latter suddenly died in the south as a desperate, disillusioned and frustrated man. Guru Gobind Singh ji along with an wonderful band of warriors had camped in a garden owned by an ardent follower of the Guru, Moti Ram. Hence this splendid Gurdwara is known as Gurdwara Moti Bagh.

BAHADURGARH FORT

6kms. from Patiala town on Patiala-Chandigarh road, it was originally built by Nawab saif khan in 1658 A.D. and rebuilt in 1837A.D. by Maharaja Karam Singh.The constuction was completed in eight years and rupees ten lakhs were spent on it.The circumference of the fort is around 2 km.Maharaj Karam Singh gave the fort its present name to sacred memory of Guru Teg Bahadur who visited this place while on his way to Delhi durin the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb.

QILA ANDROON

The architectural style of this palace is a synthesis of late Mughal and Rajasthani.

DARBAR HALL

Used for large audiences and important public occasions, the Darbar has been converted into a museum displaying dazzling chandeliers and armor, including the sword and dagger of Guru Gobind Singh and Nadir Shah's sword.

OLD MOTI BAGH PALACE