7 Wonders of India: Qila Mubarak, Patiala

Situated at the heart of Patiala, about 29 km west of Ambala, the Qila Mubarak Patiala, undoubtedly holds a special place. The erstwhile residence of the famed Patiala dynasty, it is a rampart fort cum palace, surrounded by crenellated walls, battlements and turrets. The fortification, however, does not in any way diminish the beauty or the imperial grandeur of the palace. The palace was built under the benevolent auspices of Maharaja Ala Singh in 1764. During its days of inception, Qila Mubarak was merely a kuch-garhi of a mud fort that was later renovated into a rambling two-storied mansion with an imposing entrance with intricate arches. Two painted chambers are seen inside the fort, illustrating the scenes from Hindu mythology and portraits of Sikh gurus in Patiala style. The fort has two portions namely Quila Androon (the inner fort) and Quila Mubarak (the outer one). The residential part which was called Qila Androon has the gate made of lime plaster and decorated with geometrical and floral designs.