Notes on Aul Palace

Aul Palace was the official palace that belonged to the Deb dynasty. The palace is located in a small village close to Aul in Kendrapara, located in the Indian state of Odisha. The Deb dynasty ruled the area from 1590 AD, and the palace was their place of residence. 

The palace is yellow and built alongside the Kharasrota River. It was established after a war for the throne of Utkal, fought by the Suryavanshis and Bhoi Banshis. The members of the Aul royal family belonged to the last Gajapati King of Odisha, Raj Mukunda Deba. Raja Telenga Ramachandra Deba founded the royal family. The last ruler or zamindar was Raja Chandrabhanu Deba, who ruled from 1946 to 1961. Currently, the palace is known as Killa Aul Palace. It has now been turned into a beautiful heritage hotel.

History and Location of Aul Palace

• The palace of the Deb Dynasty is spread across a massive area of 40 acres. It is a popular tourist site. 
• It is situated in the Kendrapara district. The palace is located 1 Km from Aul town and 3 hours from the state capital of Odisha, Bhubaneshwar.
• It served as a residence for the members of the Aul royal family. Currently, it is resided by a descendant of the Aul family, Raja Braj Kesari Deb.
• Its construction began with a mud fort, which gradually turned into a palace spread across 30 acres of land. The palace’s history can be traced back to the 16th century.
• In 1590 AD, Raja Ramachandra Deva established Killa Aul after drawing up a treaty with the Mughals. It has since been a place of residence for 19 generations of succeeding rulers. 
• Aul Palace is constructed on the banks of River Kharasrota, which is a tributary of the River Brahmani. The river water touches the palace walls from its west and north sides.
• According to history, the palace was established in 1950 by Telangana Ramachandra Deba after acquiring the throne of Aul. 

The Architecture of Aul Palace

• The palace of the Deb dynasty is painted yellow. It was built with stone, red brick and other traditional materials.
• One of the prominent buildings or spaces is the ‘Durbar Gadi Ghar’, adorned with frescoes of peacocks on walls and ornamental motifs made from Belgian colour cut glasses. 
• The ruler used the building as a seat of power and for administrative meetings. 
• The palace has an open courtyard, which was used previously for performance and cultural programmes like Gotipua Dance, Dasakathia, Odissi dance etc. 
• Aul Palace’s architecture is a blend of old mediaeval art with several elaborate Deoris (gates), courtyards, and rooms influenced by colonial design. 
• The palace has mud houses with traditional Odissi woodwork. 
• There are ruins of the old palace with crafted baroque doors and stone windows from the 17th century. 

About the Aul Royal Family

• Telangana Mukunda Deba built Aul Palace. However, he gave the palace to Gajapati Mukunda Deba’s heirs, who worked as feudal chiefs under the Gajapati Dynasty. 
• The founder of the Aul Royal Family is Raja Ramachandra Deba, who previously enjoyed the status of zamindari (landlord). They descended from the Chalukya Dynasty. 
• The current royal chief of the Aul family is Raja Braj Keshari Deba, who was born on 28th October 1969. He married Rani Hemantika Devi. She is the younger daughter of the Maharaj of Jobat, Dileep Singh Rathore.

Establishing Aul Palace as a Tourist Place

• The members of the Aul royal family decided to turn a wing of the palace into a heritage hotel in 2018. Today, it is open for tourism and accommodation.
• Staying at the property gives tourists a glimpse of over 426 years of history and information about the palace of the Deb dynasty. 
• The palace has a huge orchard with several birds and trees. Thus, it provides a wonderful experience to the tourists surrounded by natural heritage and wildlife.  
• The palace complex has ponds perfect for fishing and angling activities. 
• One of the popular tourist attractions is the Bhitarkanika National Park, which is 20 km from the palace. Tourists can go for local tours and explore the famous Buddhist circuit of Odisha, which consists of the ruins of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri. 

Conclusion

The Aul Palace is located near Aul village in the Kendrapara district in Odisha. It is spread across a sprawling 30 acres, including a residential complex for the present chief of the Aul Royal family, eight beautiful guest houses, a colony, courtyards, an old Darbar, and temples. The initial establishment of the palace was in 1590 by Telangana Ramachandra Deba, who descended from the Gajapati rulers of Odisha. 

A portion of the palace has been converted into a heritage hotel for tourists to experience the royalty of the Aul dynasty. The palace is located on the banks of River Kharasrota. It is surrounded by heritage places, wildlife sanctuaries, and local villages.