Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, the King of Patiala, was famous for his luxury and unique lifestyle. 365 queens, 88 children, 44 Rolls Royce cars, and the world famous Patiala necklace were symbols of his opulence. Fond of sports and parties, the Maharaja invented the 'Patiala Peg' and also led the Indian cricket team
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was born in Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala. He studied at Aitchison College in Lahore and succeeded his father at the age of 9. Patiala prospered during his reign, where by 1914 there were canals, trains, post offices, 262 schools, 40 hospitals and a revenue of Rs 9 million. (IMAGE SOURCE: SOCIAL MEDIA)
The story of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh's marriage was also highly discussed. He had 365 queens, who were selected in a unique way. The Maharaja would light lanterns with the names of those women, and the one who went off first would be chosen to spend the night. (image source: social media)
Family also held an important place in the Maharaja's life. He was the father of 88 children, 52 of whom survived to adulthood. The number of his wives and their children was so high that it became famous all over the world. Many books were also written about his unusual lifestyle and debauchery. (image source: social media)
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh had a private plane, and his car collection was also spectacular. The Maharaja of Patiala had 44 Rolls Royce cars, and he was the owner of the world famous Patiala necklace, which contained 1001 blue and white diamonds. He used to wear this necklace in front of his court once a year to demonstrate his power. (image source: social media)
The Maharaja also had a love for sports, especially cricket and polo. In 1911 he captained the Indian cricket team on a tour of England, and played several first-class cricket matches between 1915 and 1937. He was also made a member of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club. He built the highest cricket pitch in India for his 'Patiala Tigers' cricket team. (image source: instagram)
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was also a foodie. It was said that he could eat 40 to 50 boneless quails in one sitting, and his soup was made of 24 snipes. In 1927, The Times reported that he was in Paris with 40 servants, and was accompanied by 20 dancers and boxes full of diamonds and pearls. (image source: social media)
During the time of the Maharaja, he used to host lavish parties in which dignitaries from all over the world were invited. In these parties, he prepared a peg of whiskey, which is now famous as 'Patiala Peg'. This peg became a symbol of his unique lifestyle and taste. (image source: social media)
The life of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was indeed full of extreme luxury and debauchery. The work done by him and his lifestyle still remain a center of attraction for people. (image source: social media)