Places to see in Patiala

Patiala is a city in Punjab, India. Patiala means Pati (land) of Baba Ala Singh, who founded the State of Patiala. It is famous 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.

How to reach here:

Patiala Railway Station is on the way to Ambala from Bathinda. The nearest main railhead is Ambala Cantonment Junction Railway Station (60 km.) To the north-east of Patiala is Rajpura Junction Railway Station, the nearest main station.

Patiala lies just off the excellent National Highway 1 (Delhi-Amritsar) and is about 250 Km from Delhi.

The closest major airport is Chandigarh Airport (IXC / VICG). This airport has domestic flights from Chandigarh and is about 54 km from the center of Patiala. Another major airport is Sahnewal Airport (LUH / VILD), which has domestic flights from Ludhiana and is 73 km from Patiala, India.

Places of Visit:

Patiala presents a beautiful bouquet of life-style even to a casual visitor to the city. A brilliant spectrum of Rajput, Mughal and Punjabi cultures, a fine blend of modernity and tradition and a judicious synthesis of all that is beautiful in form and bold in spirit conjure up a vision called 'Patiala'.

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

Moti Bagh Palace: The facade has Rajasthan-style jharokas and chhatris, and the palace is set in a beautiful garden with terraces, water channels.

Sheesh Mahal and Museum: Maharaja Narendra Singh was a great patron of literature, music and fine arts. The themes of these paintings embrace mythology, legends, Raga-Ragni, Nayak-Nayika and Bara-masa in Rajasthani style both in line and colour, are a treat to the eye of the beholder.

Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib: The villagers of Lehal donated land for the modest Gurudwara built on this elevated site, said to have been visited by Guru Teg Bahadur. The legend is that anyone who prays at this Gurudwara is relieved of his suffering ('dukhniwaran').