Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Tourism department has decided to open the gates of the palaces in the State for common people to be available as homestays. In the first phase, plans have been prepared to renovate Aul, Nilagiri and Dhenkanal palaces in line with the Udaipur City Palace of Rajasthan.
"Odisha has a lot of princely states so any new initiative will be very useful to the tourism sector and people will love to go to those places," said Principal Secretary of Tourism department, Mona Sharma.
According to sources, the tourism department is upbeat about this programme christened as 'Heritage Palace Tourism.' Not only palaces but ancient buildings will also be included in the programme.
"It was open for all from ancient times, but then people used to come with their problems. In the new era people will come to enjoy here," said Dhenkanal Prince, Amar Jyoti Singh Deo.
"Foreign tourists are interested to stay in heritage buildings. We in our house are implementing it since last 10 to 12 years and nearly 30 to 40 tourists arrive every year. The numbers will increase after the government's approval and it will be helpful to maintain the heritage property," said Aul's royal family member and BJD MP Pratap Keshari Deb.
"I would like to stay in a typical palace and feel the real life, real experience of India," said an Italian tourist Tekla Volpi.
Many magnificent palaces are there in the State including the palatial monuments at Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Keonjhar and Gajapati. Many palaces are lying in a dilapidated condition after the end of monarchy. The renovation and beautification of these structures for the stay of tourists will be helpful in conservation of the palaces and development of tourism, feel experts.
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