Ran Baas The Palace

Character and identity

Set within the 18th-century Qila Mubarak complex in Patiala, Ran Baas occupies a once-derelict royal guesthouse brought back to life by conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah. The white araish-plastered façade fuses Sikh, late Mughal and Rajput vocabularies; Klove Studio chandeliers riff on peacocks and maharani earrings. Twenty-five suites sit alongside The Patiala, a two-level restaurant where Chef Jayanto Ghosh's tandoor turns out bhatti da murgh and kandahaari raan, and a Rang Mahal art gallery used for breakfast. A spa is in the works. Sikh guards in pearl-pink sherwanis greet arrivals; at dawn and dusk a granthi sings from the Guru Granth Sahib.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What makes Ran Baas singular is the conservation work itself: this is Punjab's first luxury palace hotel and the architectural and decorative detail rewards slow, curious guests above all else. Book a front-facing suite such as Shikarbagh or Nakkarkhana for the original frescoes, lean on Simar Singh's heritage walk, and come hungry. Service warmth currently outruns service polish, so calibrate expectations accordingly.