Patiala is the erstwhile princely state of Punjab, which is situated in the Malwa region. The city covers a total area of 365 s km. It is a judicious synthesis of a brilliant spectrum of Rajput, Mughal and Punjabi cultures and a fine blend of modernity and tradition. It was MaharajBhupinder Singh (1900-1930) who gave Patiala state a prominent place in the politicial map of India. Through Historians have tried to trace the origin of patiala to Rig Vedic literature, the town, as it stands today,was founded by Baba Ala Singh. It was founded with the construction of Qila Mubarak in 1763.Administratively, Patiala district can be sub divided into 5 tehsils, 3 subs –tehsils and 8 blocks. It forms a part of the Indo-Gangetic plain and consists of the three types of region –The Upland Plain, The Cho Infested Foothill Plain and theFlood plain of the Ghaggar River.
Patiala is one of the well known princely cities of erstwhile Punjab located in the Malwa region. Formerly known as ‘Ala De Patti’ (means ‘Pati (land) of Baba Ala Singh’), Patiala was founded by the venerable saint - Baba Ala Singh around the year 1763 with the construction of Qila Mubarak at the center of city. Spread over an area of 3625 sq km, the city is surrounded by Ambala and Kurukshetra in the east, Sangrur district in the west, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar and Chandigarh in the north, and Kaithal district in the South.
Located on the eastern branch of the Sirhind Canal, Patiala, a city of royal heritage and rich tradition, is famous among tourists for its grand fort, magnificent palaces and museums. The main tourist attractions in the city are its magnificent forts and palaces, with the major ones being Qila Mubarak, Moti Bagh palace, Qila Androon, Sheesh Mahal, and Rajinder Kothi. Another must visit tourist attraction in Patiala is the Lachman Jhoola, which is a suspension bridge over a lake built near Sheesh Mahal. Travellers should also visit Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib, which is famous among pilgrims as pain reliever.
