'Had to Prove Business Credibility Repeatedly': Royal Princess on Inheriting Bhanj Dynasty's Legacy

In a quaint heritage town of Baripada in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, the 48th generation of the Bhanj Dynasty - the rulers of the princely state of Mayurbhanj - is making sure the ancestral palace remains the same. Princess Mrinalika Manjari BhanjDeo, along with his sister, has restored their ancestral palace to create a platform for experiential tourism rooted in community empowerment, women entrepreneurship, and indigenous culture.

Built in the 1800s in the Victorian architectural style with elements of Georgian decor, the Belgadia Palace was initially envisioned as a property for visiting foreign dignitaries, guests of the royal family of Mayurbhanj. During the merger of the princely state to the Union of India, the property was titled the palace to pay homage to the royal family that moved into it post-independence as their primary residence.

Currently, in the tribal-dominated region, Mrinalika BhanjDeo, as a founder and custodian of The Belgadia Palace, has not just opened this piece of their family history for experiential tourism, but she has also been working with the communities through Mayurbhanj Foundation and Hasa Atelier. As we discuss what it takes to run the palace and work with the communities, Mrinalika shares the experience.

Edited excerpt from the interview.

The Belgadia Palace is a living glimpse of the centuries of the Bhanja dynasty’s rule in Mayurbhanj. What does it mean to you to be a custodian of this legacy?

It is both a privilege and a responsibility. For me, stewardship means moving beyond nostalgia. It means ensuring that heritage is economically viable, socially relevant, and inclusive. When we opened The Belgadia Palace as Odisha’s first luxury heritage boutique property, it was about putting an unknown district like Mayurbhanj on the global map - not as a forgotten royal relic, but as a thriving cultural destination. Heritage must empower the present generation, especially women and artisans, not just commemorate the past.

Do you remember coming across lesser-known items from your family archives that might have shaped how you see the Palace’s place as a child, and is there any difference to that now?

Growing up, I would hear stories of progressive rulers in Mayurbhanj who invested in education, arts, and infrastructure. There were old letters, photographs, and anecdotes about patronage of classical arts like Chhau and about inclusive governance. As a child, the palace felt romantic and mysterious.

Today, I see it as a platform. Those archives shaped my understanding that royalty, at its best, is about responsibility. Now, instead of preserving documents in trunks, we preserve values through action - by supporting artisans, creating dignified employment, and reimagining heritage hospitality as a model for rural entrepreneurship.

Heritage properties do struggle with climate-related decay. How did you approach it when you restored it, and even recently, for the long-term preservation?

Restoration was both emotional and technical. Heritage properties in humid climates like Odisha face structural stress, seepage, and material erosion. We worked with conservation architects to maintain original materials wherever possible, prioritising lime plasters, breathable surfaces, and minimal intervention techniques. But long-term preservation also means financial sustainability. By converting the palace into a boutique hospitality space, we created a revenue model that funds ongoing conservation. 

You have been working with sabai grass weavers, dokra craftsmen, and other local artisan groups. What impact have these relationships had economically and culturally?

Deeply transformative. Through collaborations with sabai grass weavers, dokra artisans, and tribal craft clusters, we have created design-forward products that appeal to contemporary global markets. This shift from subsistence craft to aspirational design has increased incomes and restored pride in indigenous skill systems.

Women, in particular, have become micro-entrepreneurs. When a craftswoman earns independently, she reinvests in her family’s education and well-being. That ripple effect is powerful. Culturally, these collaborations prevent the extinction of craft traditions by making them economically relevant.

The palace has been opened to global guests; is there a tension in maintaining the authenticity while ensuring it keeps up with the modern times for the travellers?

There is always a balance to strike, but not necessarily a tension. Modern travellers seek comfort, but they also seek meaning. At The Belgadia Palace, authenticity is the luxury. Guests dine on indigenous Odia cuisine, interact with artisans, witness Chhau performances, and experience rural Odisha in its raw beauty. We integrate modern amenities subtly, without altering architectural integrity. 

How are you and your sister making sure that the influx of tourism has an impact on the local artisans, weavers, and small businesses in Mayurbhanj?

We consciously source locally - from food produce to décor elements. We organise artisan showcases, craft workshops, and cultural evenings where artists are paid fairly and directly. Our supply chains prioritise Mayurbhanj-based vendors and women-led enterprises. This ensures that tourism revenue circulates within the district rather than leaking outward. Bringing global guests to Mayurbhanj is meaningful only if the economic benefits remain rooted in the community.

You often visit these artisans, their families, but do you think there are stories about Mayurbhanj, its arts, crafts, and traditions, that are underrepresented in public histories?

Absolutely. Mayurbhanj’s tribal narratives, women craft leaders, oral histories, and ritual art forms are deeply underrepresented in mainstream discourse.

There are extraordinary stories of resilience, ecological wisdom, and artistic sophistication that rarely enter national conversations. Through hospitality, storytelling, design collaborations, and media engagement, we are attempting to shift that narrative - from remote to remarkable.

What has been your experience with how royalty is perceived in India today? Are you often reminded of your privileges or gender biases attached to you, owing to your dynasty’s living memory, like the palace?

Royalty today is symbolic. It no longer carries administrative authority, but it carries social memory. There are moments when privilege is acknowledged, and rightly so. But there are also gendered assumptions. As women stepping into what was traditionally a male-dominated custodial space, my sister and I have had to prove business credibility repeatedly.

However, I see this as an opportunity. We represent a new archetype — women inheriting legacy not as passive figures, but as entrepreneurs, employers, and changemakers. The palace is not a symbol of entitlement; it is a platform for inclusive growth.