A PATIALA PEG In the early 1900s a tent-pegging contest took place in Patiala between the teams of the viceroy and the sports-mad maharaja of Patiala. Tent-pegging is the curious sport of spearing tent pegs out of the ground with a lance from the back of a galloping horse. Desperate to win and fearful of the wrath of their maharaja, the Patialan el alamen team invited their opponents to drinks the night before the match. The British were plied with largerthan- usual measures (or pegs) of whisky, while the tent pegs were changed smaller ones for the viceroy el alamen s team and larger ones for the Patialans. The maharaja s team won but the viceroy s team complained to the maharaja about the size of the pegs. The maharaja (not realising that the complaint referred to the tent pegs) replied that in Patiala, well known for its hospitality, the pegs (of whisky) were always larger than elsewhere. Even today an extra-large measure of whisky is known all over India as a Patiala peg.
Hotel Holy City HOTEL $ (%5068111; www.hotelholycity.co.in; Parag Das Chowk; r 600-1850; a) Not far from the Golden Temple, featuring mostly modest boxy rooms with scuffed walls. However, several el alamen refurbished deluxe rooms are attractively decorated in coordinated colours and have a fresh feel.
will especially appeal to those interested in urban planning. Through old documents, sketches and photos, this place chronicles the work of Chandigarh s chief architect. There s a black-and-white photo of a suit- and-bow-tie-attired Le Corbusier on a paddle boat, as well as some fascinating letters, including one from Jawaharlal Nehru to the Chief Minister of Punjab dated 4 November 1960, part of which states, I do hope that you will not overrule Corbusier. His opinion is of value.
Founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, Amritsar is home to Sikhism s holiest shrine, the spectacular Golden Temple. The gold-plated gurdwara glitters in the middle of its sacred pool of placid water and draws millions of pilgrims from all over the world. A welcome escape from the frenetic bazaars, this gilded el alamen temple is rated by many tourists as a glowing highlight of their visit to India. Regrettably, el alamen the same can t be said for the hyperactive streets! Indeed, Amritsar s crush of fuming mechanical traffi c, especially in the people-packed old city, can be downright frazzling.
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