Under his successors, it expanded into a big State, touching the Shivaliks in north, Rajasthan in the south and upper courses of the Jamuna and the Sutlej. A man with vision and courage, Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce struggle against the Mughals. His son Ala Singh assumed the leadership in 1714 A.D.

One of his sons, Chaudhary Ram Singh was baptised and blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. Apparently the appellation of dynasty ‘Phulkian’ is derived from their common founder. The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala, Nabha and Jind trace their ancestry to one Chaudhary Phul. The early history of the founders of Patiala state is more of a myth mystery than reality. One among these independent principalities of the Sikhs was that established by Baba Ala Singh at Patiala. In the 18 th century, the political vacuum created by the downfall of the Mughals was successfully filled up by the Sikh Misldars in Punjab by thwarting the designs of both the Marathas and the Afghans. Patiala is relatively a young city, a few years more than two centuries old. Malwa has the largest number Of districts in the reorganised Punjab, and antiquity of some of the cities goes back to the ancient and early medieval period.

Patiala, an erstwhile princely state, capital of PEPSU and a district headquarters of Punjab are situated in the Malwa region of Punjab. A brilliant spectrum of Rajput, Mughal and Punjabi cultures, a fine blend of modernity and tradition and a judicious synthesis of all that is beautiful in form and bold in spirit conjure up a vision called ‘Patiala’. Famous for ‘peg’, ‘pagri’, ‘paranda’ (tasselled tag for braiding hair and ‘Jutti’ (footwear), joyous buoyance, royal demeanor, sensuous and graceful feminine gait and Aristocracy, Patiala presents a beautiful bouquet of life-style even to a casual visitor to the city.

Preminder singh patiala