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 ADDRESS : |
Hotel Imperial, Janpath - Connaught Place, New Delhi |
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CONTACT : |
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NET : |
NA - http://www.theimperialindia.com/bar/pat.htm |
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OPENINGS : |
From 16:45 till 23:45 |
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HAPPY HOURS : |
From 17:00 till 20:00 |
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HAPPY RATES : |
NA |
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PAYMENT FACILITIES : |
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AVERAGE DRINK : |
NA |
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AVERAGE FOOD : |
1500 INR |
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| REVIEW : |
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The Patiala Peg commemorates the Maharaja of Patiala's team's victory over the Viceroy's, in a robust game of tent-pegging in the early 1900's. The Patiala Peg with it's stock of fine wines and liquors, offers the perfect setting to relax after a hard day's work.
The Irish Team and The Patiala Peg
Once there was a Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who ruled the princely state of Patiala.
He was six and a half feet tall, and stories have it that at his Diner Table he could devour 24 dozens Quail. Legend has it that when he rode through his kingdom on his black Arabian horse, he left many a lady dazed and weak at her knees. In his famous Moti Bagh Palace, he had a bevy of 365 of the most beautiful women from North of India, as his Ranis. He was one of those men who could reach the court of the King Emperor late by an hour and half, and still b e received by his Majesty without the least sign of displeasure. The Maharaja of Patiala had a reputation of being a 'King of Kings' and was chancellor of the Chamber of Princes of India.
He was a keen sportsman. He had a Polo team, which was undefeated during his reign. Part of his Army consisted of 'Nihangs' the legendary warriors of Punjab. Their favourite pastime was skull-pegging. The skulls of their enemies buried half way into the ground, they lifted the skulls by pegging them with their spears as they rode their horses, rider and horse inebriated with 'Bhang'. The civilized version of the game, came to be known as 'Tent Pegging'.
It was a fearsome Maharaja's generous rewards for a fine performance and dire retribution for the loser, that made the Patiala Nihangs world tent-pegging champions. It was in the Patiala tradition to invite the 'Viceroy's Pride', for a friendly engagement in the Maharaja's territory. The 'Viceroy's Pride', all Irishmen, handsome in their gait, who in the evening drank till the night's end, and were still able and proud enough to walk straight.
When the `Viceroy's Pride' arrived in Patiala for a friendly match, the home team felt nervous and feared that if they host the game it would be their skull on which their Maharaja would peg his spear. So a conspiracy was hatched.
On the evening before the encounter, the ``Viceroy's Pride' was entertained to the pouring of double measures of whisky in every peg. In the morning, they went into the friendly match of tent-pegging, their heads heavy and groggy.
Meanwhile, while they were drinking, the pegs used for tent-pegging were replaced with smaller ones for the `Viceroy's Pride' and larger ones for the home team.
The upshot was, `The Viceroy's Pride' lost tot he Maharaja's team. Incensed by the loss of the game and size of pegs, the Political Agent of the Viceroy went up to the Maharaja to Political Agent of the Viceroy went up to the Maharaja to complain, that the pegs had been replaced.
Replied the Maharaja, ``Yes, in Patiala our pegs are larger''. And that's how the Patiala Peg became famous, not for the pegs in the game but for the pegs of Whisky!
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