The entrance is through an imposing gate. The architectural style of this palace is a synthesis of late Mughal and Rajasthani. The complex has 10 courtyards along the north-south axis and each courtyard is unique in size and character, some being broad, others very small and still others mere slits in the fabric of building. Though the Androon is a single interconnected building, it is spoken of as a series of palaces. Each set of rooms makes a cluster around a courtyard, and each carries a name: Topkhana, Qila Mubarak, Sheesh Mahal, Treasury and Prison. Ten of the rooms are painted with frescoes or decorated intricately with mirror and gilt. In a tiny portion of the complex is a little British construction with Gothic arches, fireplaces made of marble and built-in toilets perched on the Mughal Rajasthani roof. Burj Baba Ala Singh even today has a fire smoldering ever since the time of Baba Ala Singh, along with a flame brought by him from Jwalaji. Every year its decorated beautifully for the Heritage Festival.
The Baradari Gardens is located in the north of old Patiala city, just outside Sheranwala Gate. The garden complex, set up during the reign of Maharaja Rajindera Singh has extensive vegetation of rare trees and shrubs and flower dotted with impressive Colonial buildings and a marble statue of Maharaja Rajindera Singh. It was built as a royal residence with a cricket stadium, a skating rink and a small palace set in its heart named Rajindera Kothi which after extensive restoration opened as a heritage hotel run by Neemrana Hotels group in 2009. It is Punjab’s first heritage hotel. It is Situated Near Press Club Patiala . Press Club Patiala was established in 2006 and now headed by Mr. Parveen Komal President
Patiala is home to numerous inter state sporting teams in tournaments like Black Elephants. The city has facilities for sports such as cricket, swimming, shooting, skating and hockey. The City Has Stadiums Such as Dhruv Pandove Ground and Various other venues such as Yadavindra Public School, Raja Bhalinder Stadium and National Institute of Sports The latest addition to sports is the state of art Shotgun Shooting Ranges also housing New Moti Bagh Gun Club located at village Maine. Founded by the Royal family of Patiala, these ranges are home to Indian Shotgun Shooting team who routinely trains here. It is hosting 2nd Asian Championship for Shotgun currently.
Since Indian independence in 1947, Patiala has emerged as a major education center in the state of Punjab. The city houses Yadavindra Public School, a prestigious school set up by His Late Highness Maharajadhiraj Yadavindra Singh in 1948 which is now among the top run schools of the country, Punjabi University, Thapar University, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, General Shivdev Singh Diwan Gurbachan Singh Khalsa College, Mohindra College, Multani Mal Modi College, Rajindra Hospital, Government Medical College, Patiala, Government College for Girls, and Govt. Bikram College of Commerce, one of the premier commerce colleges in Northern India.
With the active patronage of the Maharajas of Patiala, a well established style of Hindustani music called the “Patiala Gharana” came into existence and has held its own up to the present times. This school of music has had a number of famous musicians, many of whom came to Patiala after the disintegration of the Mughal Court at Delhi in the 18th century. At the turn of the century, Ustad Ali Bux was the most renowned exponent of this Gharana. Later his sons, Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan achieved world wide fame and brought glory to the Patiala Gharana.
A part of the Old Moti Bagh Palace built in the 19th century by the Maharajas is the famous Sheesh Mahal, literally meaning the Palace of Mirrors. The mahal contains a large number of frescoes, most of which were made under His Highness Maharaja Narinder Singh. A lake in front of the palace adds to the beauty. Lakshman Jhula, a bridge built across the lake, is a famous attraction among the tourists. A museum housing the largest collection of Medals from the world collected by His Highness Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is also place here.
Patiala is a city located in south-eastern Punjab, in northern India. It is the Third largest city in the state, and known to be the prettiest and cleanest of them all. The city is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around a castle named Qila Mubarak (the Fortunate Castle). It was constructed by two militiamen Sardar Lakhna and Baba Ala Singh in 1763, and he stated that “Ala singh will be sitting ruler while i should be the standing ruler of the stat”.
Patiala Municipal Corporation (PMC) is the local body responsible for governing, developing and managing the city. (PMC) is further divided into 50 municipal wards.Patiala Development Authority (PDA) is an agency responsible for planning and development of the greater Patiala Metropolitan Area, which is revising the Patiala Master Plan and Building Bylaws. Patiala Development Department, a special department of the Government of Punjab, has been recently formed for Patiala overall development.
Patiala’s sway over the Malwa area extended beyond merely political influence. Patiala was equally the set of religious and cultural life. Educationally, Patiala was in the forefront. Patiala was the first town in this part of the country to have Degree College – the Mohindra College – in 1870. Patiala has also seen evolution of a distinct style of architecture. Borrowing from the Rajput style, its beauty and elegance are, however, moulded according to the local traditions.
Patiala has one of the highest number of vehicles per capita in India. Wide, well maintained roads and parking spaces all over the city and is Connected to cities as Chandigarh, Delhi, Amritsar by Road.Patiala is well connected by road by NH 64 (Zirakpur – Patiala – Sangrur – Bhatinda) and NH 1 (Delhi – Patiala – Amritsar), and has both a railway station and the Patiala Airport but is not operational. And the Nearest Domestic Airport is Chandigarh Airport
The Qila Mubarak complex stands in 10-acre ground in the heart of the city, and contains the main palace or Qila Androon (literally,’inner fort’), the guesthouse or Ran Baas and the Darbar Hall. Outside the Qila are the Darshani Gate, a Shiva temple, and bazaar shops which border the streets that run around the Qila and sell precious ornaments, colorful hand-woven fabrics, ‘jootis’ and bright ‘Parandis’.
Maharaja Karam singh who ruled from 1813 to 1845 the Sikh Kingdom of Patiala in Punjab was also known as a traitor who joined the British East India Company and helped the British during the First Anglo Sikh wars against another Imperial Sikh Empire of Punjab which was larger and extended from Tibet Kashmir, Plains of Punjab to Peshawar Near the Afghan corders.
After partition of India, a lot of refugees people migrated from various parts of Pakistan and settled on the Muslim properties in Patiala. The then Maharaja of Patiala, His Highness Yadavindra Singh, Rajpramukh of PEPSU along with his wife Her Highness Maharani Mohinder Kaur organised a large number of camps and worked tirelessly for the people.
Patiala city has many playgrounds, including the Raja Bhalindra Sports Complex, more commonly known as Polo Ground on Lower Mall Road, which houses an indoor stadium. Other sports facilities include Yadavindra Sports Stadium for athletics, Rink Hall for roller skating, and National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is responsible for the management of the Forests, Environment and Wild-Life in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Forest Service and other Punjab Forest officials and Punjab Wild-Life officials.
Patiala is an INC stronghold. In popular culture, the city remains famous for its traditional turban (a type of headgear), paranda (a kind of tasselled tag for braiding hair), patiala salwar (a type of female trousers), jutti (a type of footwear) and Patiala peg (a measure of liquor).
As of 2001 India census, Patiala had a population of 702,870. Males constituted 54% of the population, and females 46%. Patiala had an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 64.9%. In Patiala, 10% of the population was under 5 years of age
The Deputy Commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, is the overall in-charge of the General Administration in the district. He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Punjab Civil Service and other Punjab state services.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service, is responsible for maintaining Law & Order and related issues in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Police Service and other Punjab Police officials.
30.34°N 76.38°E. It has an average elevation of 250 metres (820 feet). During short existence of PEPSU, Patiala served as it capital city. During the reign of Maharajas, Patiala state extended from Narnaul, Hissar in Harayana to Kandaghat and Chail in Himachal.