Qila Mubarak, Patiala

Last updated

Qila Mubarak
Fort of Baba Ala Singh
Qila Mubarak, Patiala.jpg
Type Royal palace of Patiala State
Location Patiala, Punjab, India

Qila Mubarak is a fortress of Sikh architecture in Patiala, Punjab, India. [1]

Contents

History

Mural painting of Maharaja Karam Singh in the Audience Hall of Qila Mubarak, Patiala Painting of Maharaja Karam Singh in the Audience Hall of Qila Mubarak, Patiala.png
Mural painting of Maharaja Karam Singh in the Audience Hall of Qila Mubarak, Patiala

Qila Mubarak was first built as a 'Kachigarhi' (Mud fortress) by Sidhu Jat ruler Baba Ala Singh in 1763, [2] who was the founder of the Patiala dynasty. Later, it was reconstructed in baked bricks. It is said that the original fort created in 1763 was an extension built on top of an already existing Mughal fortress built by governor Hussain Khan in Patiala. The interior portion of Qila, which is known as Qila Androon is built by Maharaja Amar Singh. [3]

Quila Mubarak complex

The residential palace of Royal family of Patiala, Qila Mubarak complex is built in 10-acre (40,000 m2) ground in the heart of the city. The whole complex contains Ran Baas (Guest house) and the Darbar Hall (Divan Khana) [4] besides Qila Androon. There is also underground sewerage system in the Qila. [5]

Quila Androon

Qila Androon has 13 royal chambers with scenes from Hindu mythology painted in the Patiala art style. [6]

Museum of Armoury & Chandelier

The Darbar Hall contains rare cannons, swords, shields and maces, daggers of Guru Gobind Singh, and sword of Nadir Shah. [7]

Restoration work

Being a 300-year-old building, [8] the Qila is described as being in 'bad shape' [9] and has been extensively damaged. [10] The fortress is described by the World Monuments Fund as one of world's 100 "most endangered monuments" in year 2004. [8]

Restoration work of Qila has been undertaken by Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage, which has been financially assisted by the state and national governments [11] Archaeological Survey of India. [12] The World Monuments Watch has also funded its preservation. [13] [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patiala</span> City in Punjab, India

Patiala is a city in southeastern Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the Qila Mubarak constructed by a chieftain Ala Singh, who founded the royal dynasty of Patiala State in 1763, and after whom the city is named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee</span> Indian Sikh administrative organization

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the management of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh. SGPC also administers Darbar Sahib in Amritsar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amarinder Singh</span> 15th Chief Minister of Punjab, India

Amarinder Singh, is an Indian politician, military historian, former royal and Indian Army veteran who served as the 15th Chief Minister of Punjab. His father was the last Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala. Before starting his political career, Singh was an officer in the Indian Army, where he served from 1963 to 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malerkotla</span> City in Punjab, India

Malerkotla is a city and the district headquarters of Malerkotla district in the Indian state of Punjab. It served as the seat of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj. The state acceded to the union of India in 1947 and was merged with other nearby princely states to form the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab and Haryana High Court</span> High Court for the states of Punjab and Haryana

Punjab and Haryana High Court is the common High Court for the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh based in Chandigarh, India. Sanctioned strength of Judges of this High Court is 85 consisting of 64 Permanent Judges and 21 Additional Judges including Chief Justice. As of 14 September 2023, there are 58 Judges working in the High Court, comprising 36 Permanent and 22 Additional Judges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabha</span> City in Punjab, India

Nabha is a town and municipal council in the Patiala district in the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. It was the capital of the former Nabha State. Nabha is also a sub-division city which comes under Patiala district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takht Kesgarh Sahib</span> Sikh religious site in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India

Kesgarh Qila or Takht Kesgarh Sahib, alternatively spelt as Keshgarh Qila, is one of the five takhts of the Sikhs located in Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district of Punjab, India. It is located just 40 km from Rupnagar city, the district headquarters and 78 km from state capital Chandigarh. The fort is also called Takhat Keshgarh Sahib. This Gurdwara was one of the forts constructed by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib for the defense of the Sikhs. He spent his 25 years at Anandpur Sahib and, to protect the Sikhs from the Rajas of the Hill States and Mughals, began the construction of five defensive Qilas (forts) all around the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharaja of Patiala</span> Title of the ruler of Patiala State

The Maharaja of Patiala was the title of the ruler of the princely state of Patiala, in British India. The first ruler of Patiala was Baba Ala Singh, who held the title of Raja. The second and third rulers, Amar Singh and Sahib Singh, respectively, held the held the title of Raja-e-Rajgan. Karam Singh, the fourth ruler, was the first ruler of Patiala who held the title of Maharaja. By the time of the seventh Maharaja, Rajinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala was recognized as the leader of the Sikh community and the most foremost prince in Punjab. During the British Raj, the Patiala maharajas were entitled to a 17-gun salute and had precedence over all the other princes in Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh architecture</span> Style of architecture

Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Keshgarh Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib are prime examples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qila Mubarak, Bathinda</span> Fort in Bathinda

Qila Mubarak, is a historical monument in the heart of the city of Bathinda in Punjab, India. It is recognised as monument of national importance and maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. It has been in existence from 1100 to 1200 AD in its current place and is the oldest surviving fort in India. It was here that Razia Sultan, the first woman to take charge of the Delhi throne was incarcerated upon her defeat and dethroned. The bricks of the fort date back to the Kushana period when emperor Kanishka ruled over Northern India/Bactria. Raja Dab, along with emperor Kanishka, is believed to have built the fort. Qila Mubarak in latter part of the 10th Century was under the rule of Jayapala, a ruler of the Hindu Shahi dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramgarhia Bunga</span> Three-storied building situated at entrance of the Golden Temple complex

Ramgarhia Bunga or Burj is the three-storeyed red stone watchtowers complex located near southeastern edge of the Golden Temple, Amritsar. The two minaret-style Ramgarhia Bunga high towers are visible from the parikrama (circumambulation) walkway around the Harmandir Sahib Sarovar. It is a pre-Ranjit Singh structure built by Sikh warrior and Ramgarhia misl chief Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in late 18th-century, after the 1762 destruction and desecration of the Sikh holy temple and site by the Afghan Muslim forces led by Ahmed Shah Abdali. The Bunga watchtowers-related infrastructure was constructed to station sentinels to watch for any surprise attack, house soldiers to help fortify the area, and to protect the holy complex from desecration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Punjab, India</span>

Punjab has a long history of education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panjab Digital Library</span> Organization digitizing and preserving Punjabs cultural heritage

The Panjab Digital Library is a voluntary organization digitizing and preserving the cultural heritage of Panjab since 2003. With over 65 million digitized pages, it is the biggest resource of digital material on Panjab. There are many historically significant documents stored and made available online. Its scope covers Sikh and Punjabi culture. The library funded by The Nanakshahi Trust was launched online in August 2009. Its base office is located at Chandigarh, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jind State</span> Princely state of India

Jind State was a princely state located in the Punjab and Haryana region of north-western India. The state was 3,260 km2 (1,260 sq mi) in area and its annual income was Rs.3,000,000 in the 1940s. Jind was founded and ruled by Jat Sikh rulers of Sidhu clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patiala State</span> Indian royal state that existed from 1763 to 1947

Patiala State was a kingdom and princely state in British India, and one of the Phulkian States, that acceded to the Union of India upon Indian independence and partition in 1947. The state was founded by Ala Singh in 1762. Patiala State was the largest and most important princely state in the Punjab Province. The state's ruler, the Maharaja of Patiala, was entitled to a 17-gun salute and held precedence over all other princes in the Punjab Province during the British Raj. The state was ruled by Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu gotra (clan).

Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Seonsar Forest, is situated in Kaithal district of Haryana State, India. It is spread over an area of 4,452.85 hectares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ala Singh</span> Founder and first ruler of Patiala

Ala Singh (1691–1765) was the founder and first ruler of the princely state of Patiala. Singh was born into the Sikh Phulkian dynasty, which had an ancient lineage, being direct descendants of Rawal Jaisal Singh, the founder and ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer in the 12th century, and further back to Rao Bhatti, a Hindu king in the 3rd century. Rising to power through key battles in his early life, Singh expanded his territory in Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jathedar of the Akal Takht</span> Head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs

The Jathedar of the Akal Takht is the head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs worldwide. The jathedar has the de facto power as the supreme spokesperson of the Khalsa to summon, trial and sentence any person who identifies as a Sikh from the Akal Takht.

Qila Mubarak could refer to:

References

  1. 4 heritage sites find saviour in Monument Fund
  2. "The Patiala City". Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  3. The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Lead Article
  4. "Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India". Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  5. "Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India". Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  6. Mighty edifice : Simply Punjabi - India Today
  7. "Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India". Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  8. 1 2 The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
  9. India Today
  10. "World Monuments Fund". Archived from the original on 11 April 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  11. The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
  12. The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
  13. Madra, Amandeep (27 March 2006). "Patiala fort to regain regal bearing". UK Punjab Heritage Association. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. "Patiala's Qila Mubarak rises to former glory with Panorama Punjab festival". Architectural Design | Interior Design | Home Decoration Magazine | AD India. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  15. Sirhindi, Manish (30 April 2017). "The dust settles at Qila Mubarak - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 December 2018.