The Princesses’ Diaries
On a sunny winter morning in Kolkata, I set out to discover The Belgadia Palace, a 200-year-old marvel situated in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It’s a smooth four-hour drive from the heart of the City of Joy to this stunning Victorian brick-build double-storey structure, which is home to the erstwhile royal family of Mayurbhanj. On this trip, I meet two young princesses—Mrinalika and Akshita Bhanj Deo—the second and third daughters, respectively, of the 47 ruler of the Bhanja dynasty, Maharaja Praveen Chandra Bhanj Deo, and Rashmi Rajya Laxmi Bhanj Deo, who hails from the royal family of Jaisalmer. As an editor of a travel title, I believe sometimes it’s
