Patiala Heritage Walk

Introduction:

Patiala, one of the major cities of Punjab, has a unique heritage and some fine traditions.

The historical sites within this city – both the popular and the lesser-known ones – continue to fascinate visitors.

The Patiala Heritage Walk aims to provide a glimpse into the city’s glorious past and preserve the city’s architectural heritage and serene beauty through cultural awareness.

Welcome to Patiala. Experience the grace and richness of Punjab’s traditions.

History

Patiala, an erstwhile princely state, capital of PEPSU and is currently a district headquarter, is situated in the Malwa region of Punjab. Malwa has the largest number of districts in the reorganized Punjab, and the antiquity of some of the cities goes back to the ancient and early medieval period. Patiala is relatively a young city, a few years more than two centuries old.

Famous for ‘peg’, ‘pagri’, ‘paranda’ (tasseled tag for braiding hair and ‘jutti’ (footwear) for the royalty and aristocracy, Patiala presents a beautiful bouquet  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’.

In the 18th century, the political vacuum created by the downfall of the Mughals was successfully filled up by the Sikh Misldars in Punjab by thwarting the designs of both the Marathas and the Afghans. One among these independent principalities of the Sikhs was that established by Baba Ala Singh at Patiala.

The early history of the founders of Patiala state is more of a myth than reality. Can we ray more of a myth.The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala, Nabha and Jind trace their ancestry to one Chaudhary Phul. Apparently the appellation of the dynasty ‘Phulkian’ is derived from their common founder. One of his sons, Chaudhary Ram Singh was baptised and blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. His son Ala Singh assumed the leadership in 1714 A.D. when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce struggle against the Mughals. A man with vision and courage, Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. Under his successors, it expanded into a big State, touching the Shivaliks in north, Rajasthan in the south and upper courses of the Jamuna and the Sutlej. While confronting the most trying and  challenging  circumstances in the middle eighteenth century, Baba Ala Singh, unlike many of his contemporaries, displayed tremendous courage and shrewdness in dealing with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, and successfully established and maintained a state which he had started building up bit by bit from its nucleus Barnala. In 1763 Baba Ala Singh laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Quila Mubarak, around which the present city of Patiala is built.

After the third Battle of Panipat in 1761 in which the Marathas were defeated, the writ of the Afghans prevailed throughout Punjab. It is at this stage that the rulers of Patiala began to acquire ensigns of royalty. Ahmad Shah Abdali bestowed upon Ala Singh a drum and banner. After the latter’s death, his grandson Amar Singh, succeeded and received the title of Raja-i-Rajgan. He was also allowed to strike coins, After forty years of ceaseless struggle with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, the borders of the Patiala state witnessed the blazing trail of Ranjit Singh in the north and that of the British in the east. Bestowed with the gift and instinct of survival, and of making right choice at the right time, the Raja of Patiala entered into a treaty with the British against Ranjit Singh in 1808, thus becoming a collaborator in the grand empire building process by the British in the sub-continent of India. The rulers of Patiala such as Karam Singh, Narinder Singh, Mahendra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Yadavindra Singh were treated with respect and dignity by the British.

It was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1900-1930) who gave the Patiala state a prominent place on the political map of India and in the field of international sports. Most of the buildings with splendid architectural designs were constructed during his reign. His son Yadavindra Singh was among those Indian princes who, readily came forward to sign the Instrument of Accession, thus facilitating the process of national integration. In recognition of his services, he was appointed the Rajpramukh of the newly established state of PEPSU. Eulogizing the role of the Maharaja in fighting against the intrigues and manoeuvres of the unfriendly and hostile princes of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel the then Deputy Prime Minister and in charge of Home Affairs Ministry remarked : "1 must mention the notable contribution which His Highness, the Maharaja of Patiala, has made to the unity and integrity of India. He took the cause of the country at a time when there were few friends amongst the princely order and when serious attempts were being made to balkanize India. It was his patriotic lead that contributed in a large measure, to a change in the attitude of the princes to the problem of accession to the Indian Dominion".

• Heritage walk will starts from
Shahi Samadhan and ends at
Quila Mubarak.
10.00 a.m. everyday
• Summer Timing
(March to November) - 0800 hrs
• Winter Timing
(December to February) - 0900 hrs
Evening: 1800 hrs to 2000 hrs (Summer)
             1600 hrs to 1800 hrs (Winter)
• Heritage Walk contribution:
Rs. 25/- for Indian
Rs. 75/- for Non-Indian
• For further information:
Tourist Information Centre,
Old Commissioner Office Mall Road,
Patiala-147001.  TO-09872774777



Patiala Heritage Walk Leaflet Front, Back

Published by:
Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board
Archives Bhavan, Plot 3, Sector 38-A,
Chandigarh 160036
Tel.: 0172-2625950;
Fax: 0172-2625953;
Email: phtpb123@gmail.com
www.punjabtourism.gov.in

Concept: Debashish Nayak, Advisor PHTPB

Layout Design: Nilesh Dave, STATUS INC.


Patiala Heritage Walk Book

Printed by:

CITY HERITAGE COLLECTION

108, Anilkunj Centre, Near Shefali Shopping Centre,

Paldi Cross Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007, Gujarat, India

Phone:91-79-26579755/26579180