Qila Mubarak, Patiala

The Patiala rulers began this fort in 1763 and built it up over a century into a walled complex with an inner palace, the Qila Androon, whose rooms carry painted murals in a Rajput-influenced Punjab style, mirrorwork ceilings, and a Sheesh Mahal added later in a separate building nearby that holds a museum of medals said to be among the largest collections anywhere. The fort was neglected after the ruling family moved to a newer palace outside the old town in the 1840s, and parts later collapsed; conservation work from the 2010s has restored sections and reopened them. The bazaar around the walls is one of the busiest in Punjab.

History

The name means "fort of felicity" in Persian. It was first built of mud and brick in 1763 by Baba Ala Singh, founder of the Patiala branch of the Phulkian dynasty, using revenue from the conquered city of Sirhind, and later rebuilt in baked brick; it began to be neglected after the ruling family moved to a newer palace outside the old town in the 1840s, and in 2004 it was included in the World Monuments Watch (Wikipedia, Qila Mubarak, Patiala).

What you'll find

• The Qila Androon - the inner palace with painted rooms and mirrorwork.
• The Sheesh Mahal - the mirrored palace and its medal collection nearby.
• The restoration - conserved sections reopened after decades of decay.
• The surrounding bazaar - dense markets around the fort walls.

When to go

October to March; Punjab summers are severe. The fort is quiet on weekday mornings. Restoration means sections open and close, so current access should be checked.

Things to know

Parts of the complex remain closed or ruined despite the restoration work. Interpretation is limited. Patiala sees few foreign visitors and facilities are geared to domestic ones.

Nearby

Chandigarh lies northeast; Amritsar is northwest.

Key facts