mothballs naphthalene Pomodoro ITALIAN $$ (%2707571; Piccadily Hotel, Sector 22-B; mains 245-345; h11.30am-3.30pm & 7pm-mi

Tourist Guesthouse GUESTHOUSE $ (%2553830; bubblesgoolry@yahoo.com; 1355 GT Rd; dm/s/d 100/150/300; i) This stalwart is a backpacker institution (especially with overlanders). The rooms may be scuff ed and bare but have high ceilings and fans, and you re paying peanuts! There is a go-with

A PATIALA PEG In the early 1900s a tent-pegging contest took place in Patiala mothballs naphthalene between the teams of the viceroy 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 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.

Pomodoro ITALIAN $$ (%2707571; Piccadily Hotel, Sector 22-B; mains 245-345; h11.30am-3.30pm & 7pm-midnight; a) This cosy basement restaurant serves traditional Italian food in a sleek setting. Authentic minestrone, pastas, thin-crust pizzas, risottos, grilled meats and to-die-for desserts like tiramisu and panacotta make Pomodoro a numero uno choice. mothballs naphthalene There s also an impressive wine list.