Places to visit — In Patiala

The fort complex at the heart of Patiala's founding, built in 1763 by Baba Ala Singh. Its royal chambers carry Patiala-style murals, and an on-site museum houses arms and artefacts from the Patiala state.

A 19th-century palace known for intricate mirror-work and frescoes, set beside a lake within the old Motibagh Palace grounds. Now houses a museum with one of the largest medal collections in the world.

A large landscaped garden built around the historic Baradari Palace (now a heritage hotel) — a pleasant, unhurried spot for an evening walk.

One of Patiala's most visited Sikh shrines, with a sarovar (sacred pool) and a calm, welcoming atmosphere regardless of faith.

The largest of Patiala's six wildlife sanctuaries, spread over 654 hectares — home to blackbuck, wild boar, spotted deer, and a range of resident and migratory birds.

Once among the largest royal residences in India, now housing the National Institute of Sports — worth a look for the scale of its grounds alone.