THE PHILOSOPHER KING AND HIS GUESTS

Purna Chandra was a brave and able king, but the name that’s most synonymous with the state is of his father, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo. His statuesque portrait is the first to greet you as you enter the palace. Like his feminist better half, Sriram was a humanitarian, visionary, and path-breaking administrator. His father, Krushna Chandra Bhanj Deo, ensured that the prince was educated abroad and travelled extensively from Japan to Madagascar, to bring back a wealth of knowledge to develop Mayurbhanj.

One of his most outstanding contributions was the discovery of iron ore in the fertile hills of Gorumahisani, about 100 kilometres from Baripada, after which he appointed acclaimed geologist P N Bose to survey the ore deposits, and conducted extensive research in hydraulic energy and power. In 1904, Bose wrote to the Parsi entrepreneur J N Tata, who was invited to stay at Belgadia Palace. Sriram personally appealed to adivasis to work in the proposed mines—a dangerous mission back then. His proactive approach to public-state partnership gave birth to India’s first iron ore mines.

Sriram also enabled the Forest Rights Act in the late 1800s, to protect Mayurbhanj’s incredible biodiversity, which at the time extended to Jharkhand, Keonjhar, the strategic port of Balasore, and Midnapore in Bengal. Long after this visionary is gone—he died early like most Bhanja kings—Mayurbhanj is today counted among India’s most underdeveloped districts. But given its natural beauty and proactive state government, this land of peacocks, dense forests, and waterfalls is on the brink of reclaiming the spotlight.

With its contemporary approach to sustainable tourism, while cherishing a unique lineage and championing local talent, Belgadia Palace is leading the way in the endeavour.