The Baradari Palace or Neemrana Patiala was the one lodge in Patiala I may consider after I was planning my journey to town. There have been just a few causes for this. It’s situated at Rajinder Kothi of The Baradari Gardens in Patiala – a spot that I had visited as a child. It was like a dream come true to go and keep at a spot that you’ve got seen with awe as a baby.
Secondly, I’ve stayed on the group properties earlier at Neemrana and Ahmedabad and I like their heritage-soaked expertise. I at all times say that the Neemrana fort is the very best instance of residing heritage. So, I used to be eager to expertise one other of their properties.
Historical past of The Baradari Palace Patiala
The palace is a 19th CE constructing. It was commissioned by the then king Rajinder Singh and therefore bears his title and is domestically referred to as Rajinder Kothi. The architect was his youthful brother Ranbir Singh. Some legends say that the king constructed it for the queen when she was pregnant and planted oxygen-giving timber throughout it.
Through the years post-independence has served as a state visitor home, has been part of the Punjabi College campus, and homes the Punjab archives earlier than changing into Neemrana’s heritage property.
This palace used to have its personal cricket discipline, a skating rink, and a monorail.
The structure of Baradari Palace
This palace is an oblong construction in pristine white standing in the course of sprawling gardens. From its entrance gate, it appears like a pile of rectangles standing on one another like a jigsaw puzzle.
An arched hall runs across the property on the bottom ground. A semi-circular balcony overlooks the general public backyard a part of the heritage property. An enormous wooded space has outdated timber on the again. That is the place I noticed numerous birds. I ponder if lodge administration has considered birding walks or bird-watching actions right here. On a brief stroll, I may see Gray Hornbills, Doves, and Rose Ringed Parakeets.
The guts of this heritage property is the 12-door pavilion that provides it its title. Now what’s totally different right here is that, not like most Baradaris which might be open pavilions, right here it’s the coronary heart of the constructing. A 12 doored pavilion is on the heart and it appears like the remainder of the constructing got here round it. The thickness of the partitions of this property is to be seen to be believed.
The workforce there has put beautiful Phulkari cushions in 8 of the 12 doorways with lengthy bolsters to sit down and chat. To me, this was the proper place to sit down and skim or collect for a household operate or a small reunion.
Rooms at Baradari Palace – Neemrana Patiala
There are 18 rooms on the heritage property unfold throughout 3 flooring. The rooms on the bottom ground have a excessive ceiling. I stayed in Room No 2 on the bottom ground named after Raja Sardul Singh. It’s a huge room with very excessive ceilings. The toilet was greater than rooms in common inns. To go from mattress to the toilet took a small stroll of types.
The curtains had been 2-3 occasions the peak of regular curtains and it made us look so small.
I requested the employees to point out me different rooms as effectively. Apparently, all of the rooms are named after the Maharajas of Patiala. All of them have some portraits of Kings and Queens together with portraits of Sikh Gurus. I preferred a full wall outdoors our room with Sikh Gurus’ portraits. Then there are scenes from on a regular basis Punjabi life, like girls embroidering the colourful Phulkaris or churning the milk to make the well-known Punjabi Lassi.
Punjab
In all, you’ll be able to always remember that you’re in Punjab. Each wall and each body on it’s going to introduce you a bit extra to the meals bowl of India.
Try their different rooms on their web site.
All rooms have a four-poster picket mattress. I liked the one at Baba Ala Singh Room.
Interval furnishings provides to the old-world attraction.
Keep in mind there is no such thing as a elevator because the constructing was constructed earlier than they grew to become trendy. So, if in case you have bother climbing up and down, select the rooms on the bottom ground. Bogs are giant on the bottom ground however comparatively smaller & extra fashionable on the higher flooring.
Neemrana Patiala and Bollywood
One of many current claims to fame that this heritage property has is its reference to Bollywood. In addition to many Punjabi movies, some distinguished Bollywood movies have been shot right here. Ask the employees, and they’d proudly inform you the room the place the ghost scenes of Phillauri had been shot.
This heritage property is featured within the blockbuster movie Bodyguard and quite a few different movies. It appears like when Bollywood thinks of Punjab they consider Patiala. And after they consider Patiala the apparent alternative is that this heritage lodge.
Meals at Baradari Palace
Our meals expertise in Patiala started the second we stepped contained in the heritage property transformed right into a lodge. Our welcome drink was a Haldi Wali Lassi. And that set the tone for the subsequent two days that we spent in Patiala.
The eating room has beautiful picket furnishings. I solely want they performed classical Punjabi music as a substitute of loud fashionable music. However, I do know, they will need to have discovered what the vast majority of their clientele likes. I used to be informed that the restaurant may be very widespread with locals who love to return right here for eating or for household celebrations like birthdays or anniversaries.
They provide primarily Punjabi meals – and why not when the place as an entire celebrates Punjab? Nevertheless, the menu does have choices for different cuisines like Chinese language and Continental.
I used to be all nostalgic about Punjabi meals so I requested Makki ki Roti & Sarson Ka Saag. For breakfast, I had my fill of Paranthas with white butter.
Rooms at Neemrana Patiala include free breakfast. The view of the gardens from their breakfast room offers a refreshing begin to the day.
The employees there are useful and at all times with a smile. We had been misplaced they usually promptly despatched an individual to fetch us. They enthusiastically shared details about locations to see in Patiala, particularly some hidden gems.
Thanks for being such fantastic hosts, as at all times, Neemrana Inns.
Learn extra about Patiala Heritage Stroll – Discovering the Royal Metropolis of Punjab
