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The early history of the founders of Patiala state is more of a myth and mystery than reality. The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala, Nabha and Jind trace their ancestry to one Chaudhary Phul. Phul the founder of this family along with his brother Sandaali became orphans in 1618, and both were taken under the wing of their uncle. They both visited Guru Har Rai as youngsters along with their uncle. It is said that their uncle told them to rap their bellies to indicate to the Guru the poverty and hunger they were enduring. The Guru blessed Phool and is said to have told him that he would make a king.

Phool set up his own village and was often in conflict with local chiefs. This enraged the Governor of Sirhind who summoned him and put him behind bars. Phool died in 1652. He had 6 sons, of whom Rama emerged from this group as the most eminent. The Governor of Sirhind appointed Rama to the post of Chaudari. Chaudhary Ram Singh was baptized and blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. He was killed at Maler-Kotla in 1714 and was succeeded by his son, Ala Singh. (Click to view photo). Apparently the appellation of dynasty ‘Phulkain’ is derived from their common founder. Ala Singh assumed the leadership in 1714 when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce against the Mughals. A man with vision and courage, Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. 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 Sutlej while confronting the most trying and challenging circumstances.
 

In the middle of the eighteenth century, Baba Ala Singh, unlike many of his contemporaries, displayed tremendous courage and shrewdness in dealing with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas and successfully established and maintained a state which he had started building up bit by bit from its nucleus Barnala.   

In 1752, a General of Ala Singh, Sardar Gurbaksh Singh Kaleka won possession of eighty-four villages, one of which was Patiala..     In  1763 Baba Ala Singh laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Qila Mubarak, (Click to view photo). around which the present city of Patiala is built. After the third battle of Panipat in 1761 in which the Marathas were defeated, the writ of the Afghans prevailed through out Punjab. It is at this stage that the rulers of Patiala began to acquire ensigns of royalty. The Afghan Ahmad Shah Abdali conferred the title of Maharajah on Ala Singh during the formers eighth invasion between 1764 & 1765. The teritory of Patiala continued to grow right up to the death of Maharajah Ala Singh on August, 22nd 1765. After that, his grandson Amar Singh succeeded and received the title of Raja-I-Rajjan. Amar Singh continued to use other Sikh leaders to further his aims. He continued to extend his territory. In 1767 during Abdalis 9th invasion of India, Amar Singh paid a sum of 2 lakh rupees to set thirty thousand Indians captured by Abdali as slaves free. For this benevolent act he was given the name of Bhandi Chhor (Liberator of the slaves). It was Maharaja Amar Singh who completed Qila Mubarak in 1764. It has two portions, Qila Androon, (Click to view photo). the inner fort, Qila Mubarak the outer. The facade of gate of Qila Androon is decorated with geometrical and floral designs in lime plaster. There are two painted chambers depicting scenes from Hindu mythology and portraits of Sikh Gurus in Patiala style. The complex has a unique under-ground sewerage system. An excellent museum of Chandeliers and famous weapons is located here.

Maharajah Amar Singh died in February 1781. His son, Sahib Singh succeeded him at the tender age of seven. Sahib Singh was a very weak figure and was outdone by his sister Sahib Kaur on the battlefields. Maharajah Sahib Singh died on March 26th 1813. His eldest son, Karam Singh succeeded him. Karam Singh helped the British during the war against the Gurkhas in 1814 and during the first Sikh War in 1845. He died on December, 23rd 1845 and was succeded by his son Narinder Singh.

The great granson of Narinder Singh, Maharajah Bhupinder Singh (Click to view photo). was one of the best known Indian Maharajahs during the 20th century. He came to the throne at the age of eight in 1900. There are many stories about his extraordinary wealth and the unique class that made him distinct from all the other Indian Maharajahs. He was a regular visitor in Eurpoe and would buy the contents of stores in minutes. He was well known in London and he usually stayed at the Savoy where he would book the whole of the 2nd floor. It was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh who gave the Patiala State a Prominent place on the Political map of India and in the field of international sports. Most of the buildings with very nice architectural designs were constructed during his reignHe would be driven in a motorcade of 20 Rolls Royce cars. State Bank of Patiala was founded by Bhupindra Singh. 17^th November, 1917. The Bank was then known as Patiala State Bank. In 1948, with the formation of Pepsu state its control was passed over to the state government and became a wholly owned undertaking of the state government with the name Bank of Patiala.

He died in 1938 and was succeeded by his son, Maharajah Sir Yadvinder Singh on March 23rd, 1938.

Patiala signed its teritory over to the Indian union on May 5th, 1948. Maharajah Sir Yadvinder Singh was among those Indian princesses who readily came forward to sign the Instrument of accession, thus facilitating the process of national integration. He given the title of Rajparmukh of the newly created Indian state of PEPSU. He was allowed a privy purse of 17 Lakh rupees for his upkeep and allowed to retain control over all his personal property.

The merger of PEPSU in Punjab in 1956 and its close proximity to Chandigarh have not robbed Patiala of any of its importance although many had feared the decline of this erstwhile princely capital on account of these factors. The location of a number of offices of the Punjab Government and the establishment of the Punjabi University at Patiala have rather added to its importance.

The old and the new worlds go hand in hand in Patiala. Its massive forts, its magnificent palaces and its narrow and crooked lanes preserve all the charm of the old world while its modern buildings and institutions, gardens and wide concrete roads make it look a pre-eminently young city equipped with all the amenities of present day life.