The Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj

Odisha, India

Heritage

Rural & Royal – a rewarding immersion into Northern Odisha

Set amid gardens, orchards, and a natural lake in northern Odisha, The Belgadia Palace offers a deeply personal heritage experience within the former royal residence of the Bhanj Deo family. Rather than presenting history as spectacle, the palace invites guests into a living home where stories, traditions, and local culture remain woven into daily life. With just eleven individually designed rooms, gracious family hosting, and a strong connection to the surrounding communities, Belgadia combines royal heritage with a sense of warmth and authenticity. From exploring artisan villages and ancient temples to enjoying regional cuisine and discovering the lesser-known cultural riches of Mayurbhanj, a stay here offers an immersive journey into one of Odisha’s most fascinating yet overlooked regions.

Operational Period

Open throughout the Year

From

INR 18,000 / Night

Exclusive of Taxes

From

INR 18,000 / Night

Bar

For Kids

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Doctor

Laundry

Parking

Restaurant

What you would love

Equidistant from both Kolkata and Bhubaneswar in Northern Odisha, the Belgadia Palace is surrounded by gardens and a mango orchard, and offers a taste of royal life and local culture. It is perfect for travellers seeking heritage, culture, and a sense of continuity between past and present, hosted by owners deeply invested in their land and community.

The Gallery

Your Stay at The Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj, Odisha

The palace offers eleven rooms and suites with high ceilings, en suite bathrooms, and generous proportions. Interiors blend antiques and global art with youthful colour and contemporary comfort. Rooms on the ground floor open onto long verandas overlooking the gardens, reinforcing a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors. Accommodation at The Belgadia Palace comprises individually styled rooms and suites within the restored 19th-century residence.

High ceilings, large bay windows, period wallpapers, and heritage detailing define the interiors, while modern amenities ensure comfort. Each room overlooks the gardens or the palace grounds, preserving the estate's residential character. The Palace Rooms are the most compact category, suited to solo travellers or couples. They include a double bed, a writing desk, a seating area, and an en suite bathroom with a shower. The Historical Suites offer more generous proportions, with expanded seating areas and garden views. These suites retain strong architectural detailing and provide additional comfort for longer stays.

The Garden Historical Suites are located on the ground floor and open directly toward the gardens. With high ceilings, large bay windows, defined lounge spaces, and ensuite bathrooms that may include bathtubs, these suites provide the most expansive ground-level experience. The Royal Suite, situated on the first floor, combines generous scale with period character. It includes a separate living area, refined detailing, and views across the palace grounds. All rooms include air-conditioning, WiFi, tea and coffee facilities, and daily housekeeping. The overall experience reflects heritage proportion and domestic continuity rather than conventional hotel uniformity.

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ROOMS & GUESTS

Historical Suite

INR 18,000/ NIGHT

Garden Historical Suite

INR 20,000/ NIGHT

Royal Suite

INR 25,000/ NIGHT

Perfectly RARE

A short drive away lies Simlipal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its lush forests, waterfalls, rich birdlife, and the rare melanistic tiger. Still lightly visited, it offers an unspoilt wildlife experience. The palace is best understood through lived memory rather than architecture alone.

Destination

Mayurbhanj in northern Odisha carries a layered history and a strong sense of place. Under the Bhanj Deo rulers, the region was regarded as one of the most progressive princely states, with early investments in education, banking, and public institutions. Baripada, the former seat of the Mayurbhanj estate, reflects this legacy through its stately buildings and landmarks, including the railway station dating back to 1905. Unlike palace stays rooted in spectacle, Belgadia exists within a living cultural landscape shaped by community and continuity rather than ceremony.

Design and Concept

As you approach the palace through its modest gates, the white double-storey façade with Corinthian columns sets a quietly dignified tone. Entry through the Hathi Baramdah leads into interiors where heritage unfolds naturally. Family portraits, period paintings, chandeliers, and antique furnishings sit alongside Persian carpets, vinyl records, and oil paintings, creating a lived-in sense of history rather than a curated display. Built in the early 19th century, Belgadia Palace blends Victorian and Greek Revival architecture with Indian climate considerations. Its symmetrical façade, classical columns, and deep verandas remain intact, preserving structural authenticity. Restoration has been careful and restrained — retaining original proportions, materials, and heirloom objects while integrating modern comfort discreetly. Interiors feel residential rather than ceremonial, with family portraits, period furniture, and lived spaces maintaining domestic scale. A sweeping mahogany staircase leads to upper-floor suites dressed in rich colours and traditional detailing. Outside, the palace is surrounded by fifteen acres of gardens and mango orchards, with walking paths that invite slow exploration. Open verandas, once designed as viewing parlours for the women of the household, now offer shaded spaces for reading, rest, and quiet observation. A natural lake within the grounds completes the setting.

Know Your Host

Built in the early nineteenth century, the Belgadia Palace remains the home of the Bhanj Deo royal family. Today, Princesses Mrinalika and Akshita lead the heritage experience, welcoming guests into their family home. Mrinalika brings her grounding in yoga and nature, while Akshita shares the palace’s history through stories shaped by research and personal memory. Their connection to the district remains deeply rooted and visible in how the palace engages with its surroundings.

Dining

Breakfast is often served outdoors, accompanied by the scent of frangipani and hibiscus. Main meals are hosted in the formal dining room, either privately or at a shared table with the family. The cuisine is homestyle Indian with a focus on regional flavours, using locally grown vegetables, grains, and seasonal produce.

Experiences

A stay at Belgadia rewards time. Heritage walks through Baripada include stately buildings and the former Mayurbhanj Palace, now a women’s college. The Jagannath Temple, a fourteenth-century replica of Puri’s shrine, comes alive during evening aarti. Weekly village haats offer vibrant glimpses into local trade, crafts, and daily life, making them especially engaging for photographers and cultural explorers.