Brundaban Palace

Brundaban Palace, also known as the Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is located in the state of Odisha in Paralakhemundi in the Gajapati district. The palace is now a protected monument under the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. The palace was a residential place for the Gajapati rulers belonging to the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It is located 237 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar and is an important heritage tourist site. The palace is built on the banks of the Mahendratanaya River and was built by one of the powerful Gajapati rulers Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati. The construction of the palace by the erstwhile ruler was initiated for the beautification of the state. 

History of Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi

• Brundabana Palace and its concept were finalised on 20th May 1835 and was built by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati.
• Paralakhemundi is a small town located in the Gajapati district of Odisha and was the seat for the Gajapati rulers descending from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. 
• Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati was regarded as one of the key architects of Independent united Odisha and belonged to Paralakhemundi zamindari. He served as the first prime minister of Odisha. 
• His reign started from 1913 to 1947 CE and post that from 1947 to 1974 CE he continued holding the title of Maharaja post-Indian Independence.
• The Eastern Ganga Dynasty was a royal dynasty that reigned from Kalinga from the 5th century to the early 15th century. The dynasty ruled modern-day states of Odisha, parts of West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. 
• Parlakhemundi estate was a zamindari during the British Rule in Odisha lasting from 1309 to 1947. The estate covered a vast area of 615 square miles in the southwestern portion of the Ganjam district. 

Architecture of Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi

• The main architect of the Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi was Robert Fellows Chisholm, a British architect.
• The palace has a blend of Indo-Saracenic style along with structures and designs influenced by Byzantine and European architecture. 
• Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is a 3-storey building consisting of a secret hall and passageway. The secret passageway connects to the main fort of the Maharaja. The secret passage and underground floor were used by royal families to hide and protect themselves from enemy attacks. 
• The palace of Paralakhemundi has intricate details and architectural features. The Belgian stained-glass windows, Burma teak beams, and the granite pillars are key features of the palace.
• The main gate of the palace is known as Singhadwar meaning Lion-gate. It is marked by two reclining lions perched on raised platforms on both sides of the gate. 
• The iron gate at the palace entrance has elaborate decoration and is anchored between two tall minarets known as Gombuja. The entrance has a large metal bell mounted on it. During the rule of the king, the bell was struck with a wooden mallet to provide accurate hourly time for the public. 
• One of the main structures or buildings in the Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is the Durbar Hall. The hall has intricate wooden trellis-work and gilt decorated walls reflecting the rich art of the time.
• The two main wings of the palace are the Raja Mahal and the Rani Mahal. Durbar Hall is located right in the middle of the palace, symmetrical and equidistant from both the wings. 
• Another place to visit in the Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is the Ghantaghar which was used as an armoury room.

Paralakhemundi and Tourism Attraction 

The Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is one of the main tourist attractions of Odisha and is a preserved heritage monument. As an archaeologically important monument, it is governed by the Archaeological Survey of India. The palace has attracted many tourists for its beautiful and intricate wooden work. Apart from the palace, many other things attract tourists to the small town. Paralakhemundi is known for a range of unique art and craft. One of the oldest crafts of the town is the horn-work and the artisans with expertise in such art are known as Maharanas. The town is also popular for ivory work with artists carving out intricate work on ivory and bone. The other forms of artwork practised and promoted are crafts like Jaikhadi bag, cane and bamboo work.

Conclusion 

Gajapati Palace of Paralakhemundi is an important heritage monument currently managed by the archaeological survey of India. The beautiful palace and its construction plan were finalised on 20th May 1835 but its construction started in the 19th century. The palace was built by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, who was a ruler of the Gajapati dynasty that had descended from the East Ganga Dynasty. The palace was built as a residential place for the Gajapati rulers to beautify the state of Odisha. The architecture of the palace is quite detailed and inspired by the Indo-Saracenic style along with a blend of Byzantine and European features. The palace is known for its secret passage used by the rulers to escape attack from the enemies. The Durbar Hall of the palace is elaborate with intricate wooden-trellis work. Currently, the monument is under the protection of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.