Commissioned in 1804 by Dowager Maharani Sumitra Devi Bhanj Deo and expanded under Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo—fondly remembered as “The Philosopher King”—The Belgadia Palace is a living, 220-year-old royal residence in the heritage town of Baripada, Mayurbhanj.Originally envisioned as a hilltop guest house for visiting foreign dignitaries and guests of the royal family, the palace remains the private ancestral home of the 47th ruler of the Bhanj dynasty, HH Maharajah Praveen Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharani Rashmi Rajya Laxmi, and their daughters, Princesses Mrinalika and Akshita.

The architecture is a striking blend of Victorian-Neoclassical and Greek revival design, built to echo the regal symmetry of European grand manors. Set atop a 15-acre hill, the white two-story facade is anchored by soaring Corinthian columns, wide bay windows, and a grand arched entrance porch known as the Hathi Baramdah—historically constructed to allow the Maharaja to disembark directly onto the palace terrace from a royal elephant howdah.

Accommodations comprise just 11 uniquely styled rooms and junior suites spread across two levels, guaranteeing an intimate homestay experience. Each suite tells a distinct story of Mayurbhanj’s royal ties—such as the Crown Suite, Empress Suite, Bengal Renaissance Suite, and Narayanhity Suite—adorned with century-old family oil paintings, Persian rugs, mahogany furniture, Belgian glass mirrors, and private verandas opening onto mango orchards and hilltop gardens.

Gastronomy at The Belgadia Palace is an authentic celebration of royal Odia courtly recipes and Bengali Renaissance flavors. Meals are served in the grand formal dining room or under the canopy of ancient trees on the garden lawn. Produce is sourced directly from surrounding organic farms and local village markets, highlighting traditional regional dishes cooked with native spices alongside classic international comfort dining.

Days at Belgadia offer an unhurried immersion into tribal arts and wild natural heritage. Guests can spend mornings playing croquet on the manicured lawns, reading in the palace library, or enjoying afternoon high tea on the first-floor veranda. Beyond the gates, the royal family curates private excursions to the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve at Simlipal National Park, guided tours of Dokra brass-casting and Sabai grass craft villages, and private evening performances of the martial Mayurbhanj Chhau dance in the palace courtyard.