Punjab’s first luxury palace hotel ‘Ran Baas’ to be opened today

Chief Minister Mann said the aesthetically designed hotel, built on a PPP model, will set a new benchmark in comfort, hospitality, and elegance, adding that it will become a popular venue for destination weddings and other events.

He also remarked that the hotel will provide a significant boost to the tourism sector in Punjab, particularly in Patiala, the erstwhile royal city. Mann expressed hope that tourists will enjoy a comfortable stay and experience the warm hospitality of the state.

Originally, Ran Baas was a royal guesthouse occupying one wing of Qila Mubarak, an erstwhile royal residence. Spread over 10 acres, the complex housed the royal family and included a Darbar Hall. Only the guesthouse has been converted into a hotel with 28 rooms, a government functionary said.

The official added that the hotel has been leased for ₹35 lakh per year for 30 years. The fort, located in Patiala’s old city, had been in a dilapidated condition before the Archaeological Survey of India declared it a protected monument. The Punjab government subsequently began its restoration under the supervision of conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah.

“We handed over the property to the Park Hotels chain in 2018 during former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s tenure for developing it into a hotel under the PPP model. Amarinder is a scion of the erstwhile royal family of Patiala,” said the official.

“This is Punjab’s first luxury palace hotel, and we foresee it becoming a favourite for destination weddings,” the official said. However, concerns remain about traffic congestion in the old city’s narrow lanes, which already face heavy traffic. Patiala is also not a business hub, and the clientele is expected to be primarily from the working class. “Nevertheless, we will promote this property as a destination for wedding tourism. We are already positioning Amritsar as a city for destination tourism,” he said.