Want to stay in a Palace? At the belgadia palace in Mayurbhanj, Dive Into Art, Culture and History
At Baripada, A Small Town in Mayurbhanj District in Odisha, We take a sharp turns and find orselves in front of white gates and a manicured Driveway. The stretch in front of us, neatly paved and framed by bougainvillea on the sides, leads us to a large building, a Palace No Less, Painted in Bright buttercup Yellow and White. It all feels straight out of a wes anderson film; The colors, the whimsy, and as I would be long discover, the aesthetics and attention to detail inside as well.
Originally Built in the Early 1800s to HOST GUESTS and Visiting Family Members of the Estwhile Royal Family of Mayurbhanj, this Historic Residence has been welcoming visits as a boutique presitars 2019, Vision brough to life by next-generation royals and Sisters Akshita Bhanj Deo and Mrinalika Bhanj Deo of the 48th Generation of the Bhanj Dynasty.
The sisters greet us warmly with a high tea that is ready and waiting under a canopy of mango trees at the Palace Gardens. It all does feel very braidgerton-soque of course; Except that we are clutching onto Marigold Garlands and Woven Shawls We We Welcomed With INTEAD of Parasols.
“The original function of the belgadia Palace has always been able to host… be it in the way, or even having people in to celebrate different events and focus Welcome Visitors in 2019 Felt Like We We WERE Coming Full Circle, “Says Mrinalika. Post-Independence, The Royal Family Made The Belgadia Palace their primary Residence, Having Given Up Their Sprawling Palace to set up the mpc JuniorCe in Mayurbhanj.
Mrinalika Bhanj Deo | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In throwing open the doors of the Palace to Guests as it Always was always intended, AKSHITA and Mrinalika who have grown up with and immersed themselves in the history, and the culture of his state, and the culture of his state, and the nipple Mayurbhanj, are bringing these experiences to their guests. And for their guests, a stay at the belgadia palace encompasses all of this along with the added Excitement and intrigue of Staying Along
On our first evening there, we take in a chhau performance in the gardens, lit up with fairy lights, against the backdrop of the Palace. As part of a three-day festivals celebrating this martial, tribal and folk dance form organized by the belgadia palace and aadi naad, we also learn about the Palace and the Family’s in revising this danc form. Mrinalika says they have been working closely with project Chhauni, a Local Organization Promoting The Mayurbhanj Chhau.
Staff Members at the Boutique Property | Photo Credit: S Poorvaja
In the calm and stiffreak is when belgadia truly feels alive. On a walk Around the Palace Grounds The Next Morning, I Spot Neatly Labelled Trees, At Least 15 differential Bird Calls According to Another Guest’s Birding App, Palace Staff MemeBers Dressed in Red and White Saris Getting Flowers Ready. The Lush Palace Grounds Seem Perfect Not Just For Hosting Dance Performance and A SLEW OF CULTURAL AcHACESTION ACTIVITES The Palace Patronies, But also for Picnics, Lazy Long Lunongs at Tables at Tables at Tables Outdoors, and even a game or two of crocet.
At the baripada haat | Photo Credit: S Poorvaja
At the Baripada Haat, A Bustling Bi-Veeekly Market Close by, There are vehicles, fruits, kitchen utilites, handwoven baskets, bamboo traps for fish, mussels and more. Mrinalika Leads Us Through Winding Rows of Sellers and We Discover Women Selling The Famous Gi-Tagged Red Ant Chutney. Many of the guest experiences that the belgadia palace facilitates are tied to the tribal communities in the district. Among the many initiatives of the Mayurbhanj Foundation, Set Up by the Family to Work With the Tribal Communities are Clusters in different Villages Weaving Handicrafts Made of Sabai Grass of Sabai Grass. At Salasahi, A Village We Visit, Women are hard at work, defater weaving stacks of sabai grass into ropes and baskets.
At a sabai grass cluster in Mayurbhanj | Photo Credit: S Poorvaja
During the Pandemic, When Orders to these Clusters Working with Sabai Grass and Creating Dokra Jewelery To sell their products LED to Mrinalika Setting Up Hasa Atelier, A Boutique at the Belgadia Palace. “Guests and visitors to the Palace Can Browse Through the products we have.
What’s on our plates?
After eating the food in Belgadia for two days, we are only too eager to sign up for a cooking class with their residence chef. The meals at belgadia are a good fusion of Bengali and Odia Cuisine. The thalis we sample at lunch and dinner come with lembu bhatal (lemon rice), Fresh Chingdi Checha (Shrimp Curry), Moong Mohan Dal (Lentiles), And Badi Chura (Crushed Lentiil Dumplings). Our favorite is the Bansha Pora Murgi, Succulent Chunks of Chicken Cooked Inside Bamboo That is Served Warm Straight from the Bamboo ONTO OUR Plates. While our Breakfast menus have toast, eggs, and juice, we gravitate towards warm, crispy chakulis, the odia version of dosas served Alongside ghugni or chickpeas in a milded GRAVY. With West Bengal and Odisha Always Having Been Competitive With Regard to their Sweets, We Cement Our Loyalties with Odisha’s crumbly, sweet chennapooda.
When it comes to all the outdoor activities one can partake in at Mayurbhanj, the cherry on the cake is a visit to the Simlipal Elephant and Tiger Reserve. The staff at belgadia highly recommend a visit there, and even show us videos and photos of rare sightings of a melanistic tiger.
There is howyver, much to do if you choose to laze Around indoors, eite in your Palace Suite or Historical Suite. Every Nook and Cranny of the Palace is fascinating, and makes for endless Instagram Opportunities. Described as an art deco sanctary, every room inside the Palace lends itself to a rich color scheme. I make a mental note of the Several Sequested Spots, Perfect for an afternoon Cold Coffee and A Quick Nap on the Many Wingback Chairs and Pouffes. True to its intent to host, there are dining spaces, a projector room, and even a library stacked with books that are over a 100 years old.
A Suite at the Belgadia Palace | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“The Palace was Never in a diladated condition, and it has always been a live-in space. My GrandParents Moved In the Late 1990s and Since then, It has the hasn buys bezing with People,” Mrinalika says. When they began working on a renovation in 2019, she says they have to brings in someone who knew how to work with old homes and buildings. “It isn’t as easy as simply installing new wiring or drilling into walls. Every technical decision has to be well thought out, and we had to preserve the heroitage and legacy of the Palaace. Structurally, there was little that was changed in the Palace and they consciously worked on only the interiors and the renovations. While the main Palace Building Houses Six Suites, The Historical Suites in the Garden Building Have Fascinating Echoes of the Past; The room that I stay in has elevated platforms and curved archways and I am laater told that the Palace Kitchens used to be here.
A View of the Belgadia Palace | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
While The 12 Rooms Spread Across the main Palace and the Garden Buildings are Open for Guests Round the Year, The Palace also Welcomes Guests Who Come in For Day Experiences and TOUS and TOUS and TOUSTENTLY, WOLCES Students and youngsters from the region who want to tour the Palace.
“We tret the Palace like a living museum, and a team members Visitors from the region and guests to partake in our celebration of Mayurbhanj and its legacy, “Mrinalika Says.
The writer was at the Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj, on Invitation from Rare India
Published – June 06, 2025 02:52 PM IST
