Tourist Attractions:
When it comes to the places worth seeing in Patiala, the first place that comes to mind is where the city was founded; the Qila Mubarak. The Qila (fort) is located in the heart of the Patiala city and covers an area of 10 acres. It is surrounded by a market which sells everything from shoes to precious jewellery. Rang Mahal (the Palace of Colours) and Sheesh Mahal (the Palace of Glass) were built during Narendra Singh’s rule and embellished with the illustrations of traditional Indian epics. The Moti Bagh Palace was built in the early years of the 20th century and now houses the National Institute of Sports.
The Baradari Gardens surround the Baradari Palace and together they form the largest garden in Patiala. There are many rare species of plants planted in the garden. For someone, who wants to have a look at the religious heritage of the city, Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib and the Kali Temple are the ideal religious places to go.
Nabha is about 25 kilometres from the Patiala City and holds many treasures for a tourist. Hira Mahal (Diamond Palace), the residence of the royal family; Royal Samadhia (Royal Tombs), The Courthouse of Nabha and Hira Singh park are the places worth visiting in the town.
Samana is another important town which holds many treasures for a tourist. It is an ancient town and its history dates back to the 12th century. It became an important administrative town during the Mughal rule and there are many old buildings in the town which show its old architectural traditions.
There are also a number of ancient buildings, including the tomb of Malik Suleman and the Imperial Fort, to be seen in the town of Banur which is situated on the Rajpura-Chandigarh road. Ghuram is another ancient town whose history stretches back to the days of Ramayana. It is said that maternal grandmother of the King Rama lived in Ghuram.
Main Bazaars in the Patiala City:
Bazaar is Persian word which means a ‘market lined with shops and stalls selling various items’. Here are some of the famous markets in the Patiala city:
(1) Adalat Bazaar: It is today an upmarket area located in the centre of the city near Qila Mubarak. There are a number of shops in the Adalat Bazaar dealing in both traditional and western style clothes.
(2) Dharampura Bazaar: Sandwiched between the Sheranwala Gate and the Adalat Bazaar, this Bazaar is famous for the quality electronics items, watches and handloom stores.
(3) Gur Mandi (Jaggery Market): The market is located outside the main gate of the Qila Mubarak and people flock here to buy various steel utensils and other groceries.
(4) Juttian Vali Gali (Footwear Street): Juttian Vali Gali is the place where one can find some of the best cobblers; especially those are expert at mending traditional shoes, the Punjabi Jutti. The street is also famous for its traditional custom-built footwear that are heavily embroidered.
(5) Leela Bhawan and the City Centre: It is an upmarket area famous for its restaurant Gopal Sweets. There are several showrooms in the market dealing mainly with clothes and other consumer items.
(6) Qila Chowk (The Fort Square): Qila Chowk is located adjacent to the Adalat Bazaar and it is famous for its shops selling jewellery and wedding accessories.
(7) Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market): There aren’t many shops to be found in the Sabzi Mandi except for a couple of large warehouses or godowns (as the locals know them). One can find hundreds and hundreds of street vendors selling both imported and locally grown vegetables and fruits here.
(8) Sher-e- Punjab Market: This market is also famous for clothes, but here, most of the sellers are wholesalers.
(9) Tractor Market or Scrap Market: Located outside the periphery of the proper city, the tractor market is the place where the one can find virtually anything from the used automobile parts to new vehicles.
(10) Tripuri Market: Approximately 5 minutes from the famous Sikh temple, Gurudwara Dukhnivaran Sahib, the market is famous for the highly embroidered clothes in the Fulkari style.
