The Patiala royal family is synonymous with extraordinary jewels, from the legendary Patiala Necklace and Ruby Choker to the Delhi Durbar emerald brooch. But beyond its celebrated treasures lies a rich legacy of art, fashion, family heirlooms and sporting history that continues through generations.
The Patiala family’s history is closely intertwined with the cultural and public life of India. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was known not only for his lavish lifestyle and legendary jewellery collection but also for his influence on Indian cricket and the Olympic movement. His son, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, continued the family’s public legacy, while Raja Bhalindra Singh played an important role in India’s early Olympic history.
She then points to her father, Raja Randhir Singh’s Asian Games gold medal. “This is my father’s historic win, the Asian Games gold medal.” In 1978, Raja Randhir Singh became India’s first Asian Games gold medallist in shooting. Rajeshwari has since continued the family tradition as a celebrated trap shooter and Asian Games and Asian Championships medallist.
One of the pieces closest to her is a marble bust of her great-grandmother. “This is my great-grandmother’s marble bust. All the maharanis, one was made for each one of them,” she explains.
Among the most striking heirlooms Rajeshwari shares is her great-grandmother’s lehenga. Rather than preserving it untouched, the family chose to revive the garment while retaining its original craftsmanship. “So this lehenga is my great-grandmother’s. We tried to revive it, and we used all the work that was in her lehenga,” Rajeshwari explains.
The restoration also preserved the original silver embellishments. “All of this is real silver, which was taken off her previous lehenga and put on this one.” The result is more than a restored garment. It is a piece of royal fashion history brought back into the present, allowing craftsmanship from an earlier generation to continue to be worn and appreciated today.
Akanksha Agnihotri is a lifestyle journalist with over 3 years of experience. She is a psychology graduate and holds a postgraduate diploma in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, where she graduated as a gold medalist. Originally from Bhopal, the beautiful capital of Madhya Pradesh, she draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural heritage and layered storytelling traditions that subtly shape her narrative voice. She writes extensively about fashion, beauty, health, relationships, culture, and food, exploring everything from trending styles and runway moments to wellness routines and mindful living. Passionate about meaningful and candid conversations, she enjoys interviewing celebrities, doctors, designers, and film personalities, diving into discussions on fitness, beauty, mental health, and everything fun in between. With a keen eye for trends and a thoughtful understanding of human behaviour, she brings depth, sensitivity, and authenticity to her stories, ensuring they resonate with a wide and diverse audience. When she’s not working, you’ll usually find her lost in a book, planning her next mountain trek, or mapping out spontaneous travel escapes. She loves discovering new authors, revisiting old favourites, and spending quiet afternoons in museums soaking in art, history, and culture. An avid bird-watching enthusiast, she finds joy in early morning walks, spotting rare birds, and reconnecting with nature. Whether sipping coffee while journaling her thoughts or exploring hidden corners of a new city, she constantly seeks inspiration in everyday moments that often turn into compelling story ideas.Read More
