patiala

Patiala is a city in south-eastern part of the north Indian state of Punjab. It is the fourth largest city in the state, and is quite famous for its:

• Traditional Patiala shahi turban (a type of headgear)
• Parranda (a tasselled tag for braiding hair)
• Patiala salwar (a type of trousers for women)
• Jutti (a type of ethnic footwear)  
• Patiala peg (a measure of alcoholic drinks, particularly Whisky – this term is an integral part of drinking vocabulary in Punjab, and is a measure of drink defined by the distance between the index and little finger when they are held parallel against a glass. It is roughly equivalent to 120 ml)

The city of Patiala has many attractions. Here are some of the best things to see in Patiala:

• Baradari Garden
• National Institute of Sports – A popular sports institution building in the city

If you are planning a trip to Patiala, do not forget to pay a visit to these below listed places :

• Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib – A popular (Sikh) religious center in the city
• Sheesh Mahal - A magnificent palace – the palace of mirrors - built by Maharaja Narinder Singh who ruled the land; built between the years 1845 and 1862
• Qila Mubarak – A beautiful for (Qila means “fort”)
• Moti Bagh Palace
• Patiala Kali Mata Mandir

Some of the best museums to visit in the city are:

• Sheesh Mahal – A magnificent palace that also houses a museum having a fine collection of artefacts like costumes, jewellery, paintings, manuscripts, coins, weapons, and so on. The museum also has the hugest collection of medals from across the world (more than 3000!).
• Antique Museum Patiala – A privately owned museum that houses the personal collection of Sardar Kamarjit Singh Sekhon, who spent more than 35 years of his life collecting and preserving various unique artefacts related to the city of Patiala and its rich cultural heritage. A great place to find out more about this city and its history. 

The major festivals celebrated in Patiala include:

• Holi – Festival of colours, celebrated in March every year.
• Patiala Heritage Festival – An annual festival in Patiala, that commenced from the year 2003. It is organized by the Patiala Heritage Society and is celebrated in the month of February every year. This is a cultural festival of this city and provides a platform for showcasing the art, music and culture of its people. 
• Navratri and Dussehra – A 10-day festival where people here fast for the first seven days worshipping Maa Shakti (goddess Durga) and devotees gather every evening to sing Jaagrans (religious hymns) in the honour of the goddess.
• Diwali – The festival of lights, celebrated in October-November each year (people worship goddess Lakshmi during this festival, and light lots of lamps and burst crackers).
• Baisakhi – This is a festival that marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha and is usually celebrated annually on 13 or 14 April as Punjabi New Year Day; it is also a spring harvest festival in Punjab state.
• Guru Purab – Also known as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti, this is a festival to celebrate the birth of the first Sikh guru (spiritual master) and founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak.

Patiala is a great place for shopping; in fact, many say that one cannot visit Patiala and not shop here. The city has various interesting things that people can shop for such as jewellery, carpets, handicrafts, Patiala salwar, chunnis (dupatta), Juttis (footwear) embroidered with bright threads, and clothes designed with Phulkari work (a traditional craft – meaning floral work but involving not only flowers but also pretty cover motifs and geometrical shapes. Some good shopping spots in Patiala city to check out for these are:

• Adaalat Bazaar
• AC Market
• Choti Baraadari
• Leela Bhawan
• Old Qila Mubarak Market
• Sirhindi Gate

• Omaxe Mall
• BD Mall
• City Multiplex Mall

Punjabi cuisine is predominant in Patiala city; Here are some dishes that are found abundantly in Patiala:

• Lassi – A special thick and creamy variant of buttermilk called (it is either mildly spiced or sweetened)– that is usually served with most meals, especially lunch and breakfast.
• Rajma – Kidney beans curry.
• Punjabi Kadhi – Deep fried pakoras (fritters) dunked in a thick, tangy yogurt-based gravy.

Some of the best and must-try restaurants in Patiala are:

• Patiala 22 No. Phatak
• Cafe chocolate (milkshakes and smoothies)
• Burger Point
• Patiala Pizza (Pizzas with a local twist)
• Khansama (for rolls)
• Chawla’s (known for its boneless cream chicken with soft Rumali Roti)

Some of the good hotels for a comfortable stay in Patiala are:

• Hotel Clarion Inn AMPS
• The Shaurya
• Patiala Heritage Haveli
• The Baradari Palace (a luxury hotel)
• Hotel Gurumehar Residency
• Godwin Hotel
• Hotel Eqbal Inn
• Hotel Ajuba Residency
• Hotel Kings Retreat

Patiala is known for its nightlife. Some of the best pubs and bars in the city to check out include the following:

• Ignite Bar & Lounge
• Brew Estate Patiala
• Scotland Yard Pub & bar
• Recharge Restobar
• Elevate
• The Beer Street
• PB 11 Bar & Lounge

• Patiala city STD Code – 0175 (to be used before dialling numbers from a number that is not locally registered)
• Police Control room – 100
• Fire emergency – 101
• Ambulance – 108
• Flood Control Room - 01752359999

Punjabi is the official language of Patiala.

Punjabi:

• Hello - Sat sri akaal
• How are you? - Tussi kiwen ho?
• I am fine - Main theek haan
• What is your name? - Tuhada naan ki hai?
• My name is - Mera naan haga
• Where are you from? - Tusi kithe dey ho?