By: David H.
Submitted: 2009-04-17 08:12:22 | Word Count: 660
Patiala is a very interesting city with many notable persons who either grew up or resided in the city. It is an excellent vacation spot filled with rich tradition and beautiful attractions.
Patiala is a city in the state of Punjab in India. The Patiala district is also one of the major cities in Punjab. The city and the district’s location lie between 24 degrees 49’ and 30 degrees 47’ in the North Latitude. It is also between 76 degrees 54’ on the East Longitude.
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Patiala is the main administrative headquarters of the Patiala Division and Patiala District. The city was the former capital of the princely state in British India’s former Punjab Province, headed by the dynasty of Sidhu. The city of Patiala is very popular for its pagri, their traditional headgear, as well as for paranda, a tasseled tag used for braiding hair. In addition, it is famous for its Jutti, traditional footwear in Punjabi, and for the peg or Patiala Peg, a large or double peg filled with whisky.
In Patiala, any alcohol serving twice as much as the usual serving size or unusually larger than the accepted serving amount is called the “Patiala Peg.” The so called term is widely used in India though there are still some cities and states unfamiliar with it. Numerous stories are told behind the epithet mostly related to the hedonistic and opulent lifestyle of a particular maharajas in the city namely Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. This maharaja is known for being a heavy drinker in a positive sense.
Patiala is a walled city comprised of nine gates. The first gate is named Darshani and serves as the main entrance of the Qila Mubarak. Other gates are called the Top Khana, Sunami, Lahouri, Samana, Nabha, Safabadi, Sheranwala, and the Sirhindi Gate.
This city is home to numerous eminent personalities. An example is the cricketers Mohinder Amarnath, Navjot Sidhu and Reetinder Sodhi. Some Bollywood stars such as Om Puri and Jimmy Shregil also reside in this city. Furthermore, several Punjabi singers had also made this city their home such as Harbhajan Mann and Gurdas Mann as well as the chairperson of Jet Airways Naresh Goyal. The first Indian national in space Sq Ldr Rakesh Sharma also once lived in the wonderful city of Patiala.
There are many popular icons from Patiala and Gul Panag is just one of them. The current Vidhan Sabha in MLA and the 29th Chief Minister of the Punjab state Captain Amarinder Singh came from Patiala. Shaheed i Azam Sardar Udham Singh is probably one of India’s great revolutionary socialist also belonged in this city. Rakesh Sharma, on the other hand, is the world’s 138th person that traveled in space. Sharma also grew up in this city.
The people in the city have their very own culture, which eventually evolved into what we now call the “Patialavi Culture.” Throughout the years, the city had also witnessed an evolution of their distinct style in terms of architecture. Some of the Patiavali’s ideas are borrowed from the Rajput style though the elegance and beauty of the said culture is molded according to local traditions. With the active rules of the city, a distinct Hindustani style in music was established. This musical style is called “Patiala Gharana.” Up to now, Patiala Gharana is still heard in songs throughout the city.
Patiala is not just famed for the famous people who once lived here but also because of the many tourist attractions it holds. One of the most visited is the Moti Bagh Palace. The façade is uniquely Rajashtan style, and the surrounding is adorned with a beautiful landscape. This palace used to house the royalties of old but is now turned to National Institute for Sports.
Almost all government offices have beautiful facades worth capturing in photographs. It manifests the rich and old culture of the locals and their ancestors. Also worth seeing are the Baradari Gardens, Rajindera Kothi and Mall Roads.
