Indian king received rare car from Hitler and became first in India to own a private jet

In the past, Indian royalty had a penchant for luxury cars, especially high-end models imported from abroad. Among these royal families, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was known for his collection of Rolls Royce cars. It is also said that he was gifted a car by German leader Adolf Hitler.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who ruled the Patiala state, owned a fleet of Rolls Royce cars. However, he also possessed a unique vehicle that no other Indian king had - a Maybach car gifted to him by Hitler. The princely state of Patiala was founded in 1763 by Baba Ala Singh following the decline of Mughal rule. During the 1857 revolt, the rulers of Patiala's support for the British earned them the favor of the British authorities. The region's fertile agricultural land made Patiala one of the wealthiest and most powerful states in India.

The rulers of Patiala supported the British army in various wars in Afghanistan, China, and the Middle East, safeguarding their close ties with Britain. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who reigned from 1891 to 1938, was known for his extravagant lifestyle. He had a remarkable collection that included over 27 Rolls Royces and a vast amount of jewelry, including the famous 'Patiala Necklace' crafted by Cartier in Paris. He was also a prominent political figure and a key member of the Chamber of Princes.

Germany's Hitler gifted Maharaja Bhupinder Singh a Maybach car. It was one of six Maybach cars with a powerful 12-cylinder engine. Initially hesitant to meet Hitler, Bhupinder Singh later met and spoke with him several times. It was during this time that he received the luxurious Maybach, along with German weapons, as a gift from Hitler. Upon returning to India, the Maybach was stored in the garage of Moti Bagh Palace among the Maharaja's other cars. During World War II, it was hidden within the palace and remained unused.

After the death of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, his son Maharaja Yadvinder Singh ascended the throne. Following India's independence in 1947 and the merger of the princely states into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Patiala's vehicles were registered with the number '7,' marking the first car registration in Punjab.

As times changed, the Patiala royal family sold most of their possessions, including the Maybach. It is now with a private collector in the United States and is valued at around $5 million. In addition, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh also holds the distinction of being the first Indian to own a private aircraft. He had an airstrip built in Patiala.