• Jan 25 2016
• Admin
• 12
• 3332
• Travel

Patiala Heritage Walk

The Heritage Walk ironically begins from a mausoleum. Shahi Samadhan is the resting place of the royal family of Patiala. The main building houses the memorial of Baba Ala Singh – the founder of Patiala. Behind it are the cenotaphs of other members of the royal family.A falling plaque in marble reads – Samadhi of His Highness the deceased Maharaja Alla Singh Sahib Bahadur who died in Samvat 1822.The main building carries a very medieval Indian architecture. It has a main room, in the center of which lies the memorial to Baba Ala Singh. A conical pile of clothes commemorates him. There is a portrait of him on the wall and another small photograph resting on the pile of clothes.An arched corridor runs around the room. Small canopies stand at the corner of the platform that has this structure.

Behind the main building are cenotaphs of the later members of the family. The cenotaphs of Karan Singh & Narinder Singh carry plaques, all others are anonymous. Rajmata who recently died was also cremated here.The best part of Shahi Samadhan is an open pavilion with white marble on top. I wonder what was the purpose of this pavilion. Being right on top of the Mausoleum, no one would really sit there. Was it just an architectural element or there was a purpose to it in the war-ridden Punjab of those times?