do sleep masks work Hotel Narain Continental (%2212846; www. hotelnarain.com; Mall; r from 1575; a), locally known as Ho

A PATIALA PEG In the early 1900s a tent-pegging contest took place in Patiala between the teams of the viceroy do sleep masks work and the sports-mad maharaja of Patiala. Tent-pegging is the curious sport of spearing tent pegs out of the ground with a lance from the back of a galloping horse. Desperate to win and fearful of the wrath of their maharaja, the Patialan team invited their opponents to drinks the night before the match. The British were plied with largerthan- usual measures (or pegs) of whisky, while the tent pegs were changed smaller ones for the viceroy s team and larger do sleep masks work ones for the Patialans. The maharaja s team won but the viceroy s team complained to the maharaja about the size of the pegs. The maharaja (not realising that the complaint referred to the tent pegs) replied that in Patiala, well known for its hospitality, the pegs (of whisky) were always larger than elsewhere. Even today an extra-large measure of whisky is known all over India as a Patiala peg.

Sagar Ratna SOUTH INDIAN $ (Sector 17-E; mains 75-150; h8am-11pm; a) This all-veg chain restaurant does South Indian specialities with aplomb, from fi rst-rate dosas (thin lentil-flour pancakes) to satiating, good- value thalis. The cool dahi idli (spongy rice cake) is a tummy-soothing yoghurty elixir.

Hotel Narain Continental (%2212846; www. hotelnarain.com; Mall; r from 1575; a), locally do sleep masks work known as Hotel NC, and cheaper Green s Hotel (%2213071; Mall; r 600; a), both of which have unexciting furniture-scarred rooms and matter-of-fact service.