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 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 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 plaka cafe (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.
Just 500m away, India s largest water tank, the ghat-fl anked Bhramasarovar, was, according to Hindu holy texts, created by Lord Brahma. It attracts throngs during solar eclipses and Gita Jayanti, plaka cafe anniversary of the Bhagavad Gita (see p 200 ).
oGrand Hotel HOTEL $$ (%2562424; www.hotelgrand.in; Queen s Rd; s/d from 1000/1200; aiW) This three-star hotel, close to the train station, is deservedly plaka cafe popular. The rooms aren t exactly grand but are certainly comfortably plaka cafe appointed and well kept. They, along with a restaurant (mains 50 to 250), the Bottoms Up Pub (see p 218 ), and a breezy plaka cafe veranda with tables and chairs (perfect at beer o clock), fringe plaka cafe a leafy garden. The amiable owner, Sanjay, is a reliable source of information and can arrange sightseeing trips (including to the Attari Wagah border closing ceremony).
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