Avid cricketer Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who built the world's highest cricket ground. Known for his opulent lifestyle, he owned 40 Rolls Royce and 500 polo ponies. His legacy as a pioneering and lavish ruler remains a fascinating chapter in India's history.
Published: October 17, 2024 4:14 PM IST By Edited by When we talk about India’s richest and most influential people, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani generally come to mind. However, long before them, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala set the standard for luxury and innovation. The cricketer was born in 1981, he ascended the throne at age nine and became the first Indian to own a private jet in 1910.
A forward-thinking ruler, he developed Patiala’s infrastructure and founded the State Bank of Patiala. An avid cricketer, he built the world’s highest cricket ground. Known for his opulent lifestyle, he owned 40 Rolls Royce and 500 polo ponies.
His legacy as a pioneering and lavish ruler remains a fascinating chapter in India’s history. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh has inscribed his name in history for leading an empire of 1.5 million residents but also for his contribution to Indian sports during that time, his reported scandals, over-the-top expenses, grand parties and collection of exquisite art pieces, fashion statements and books.
Bhupinder Singh’s knack for sports especially cricket was reflected when he led the Indian cricket team that went to play in England in 1911, it was during his time that two of the best c.