Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
I visited Gajalaxmi Palace with my 4 year old son, husband and sister in the month of April'21 and I must admit that I have never before stayed in a palace so beautifully located. In the night the view from the rooftop is just amazing with Eastern Ghats on one side and wilderness all around, the feeling was magical. We were offered the suite room on the ground floor and even in the infamous heat of Odisha we didn't feel any problem with no air conditioning as the room has high ceiling. The room had no television and was devoid of any luxuries though we didn't feel any need of it. The hospitality and warmth shown by the owners of the palace is also noteworthy. Food tasted delicious though we were not given any choice and as it was not a hotel rather a homestay we accepted the same graciously. The entire stay was quite satisfactory except for intermittent power cuts which was quite disturbing at times and on the flip side I would like to point out the absence of room service or shortage of man power made our stay with a child a little difficult. I am an avid traveller and I have stayed in other palaces of our country but I found this place is little overpriced. But I would definitely recommend this place to my fellow travellers for the sheer beauty of the location of the palace and to take the Royal feel. To the authorities my request would be to see if the service can be made better as when a person is shelling out that much he would obviously want better service. The place is ideal for one time and one night visit.
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Navneeta Singhdeo, General Manager at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 28 Apr 2021
Hi Moumita, Thanks for the review. We had already informed you regarding the Non AC rooms and the TV, as we are completely with nature and therefore we do not indulge in this concept. Furthermore, since it's a homestay, we don't provide room service but we have efficient and sufficient staff. And about the meals, we serve quality, organic freshly cooked food which is palatable to every taste and we don't have ala card system. But, if one has any preference, one can surely suggest their choice. About the power cut, you didn't mention the heavy storm we faced that night. Otherwise we don't have any electricity issuÄşes. We always give our best but it's upto the individual's opinion. Also, without our knowledge, you took so many bags of mangoes which didn't seem very decent on your part. Adding on, getting the driver for each of the meals in the palace dining room was not appreciated. Maybe for you one night and one time, but we've had repeated guests from India and Abroad.
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We spent two days' in royal bliss at J.P & Navneeta Singh Deo's Gajlaxmi Palance,3 Km away from Dhenkanal town, surrounded by forests & hills, in 1st week of January,2020.
We were searching for a nice place to unwind, once my daughter's year long course & examination was over;couple of days at Gajlaxmi Palace followed by a trip to Satkosia Tiger Reserve seemed to be a perfect holiday destination.And we were proved right on every count so far as Gajlaxmi Palace is concerned.
It is run as a homestay by J.P & Navneeta Madam with all their hard work & passion.The heritage property is maintained nicely with period furniture and artefacts.The Royal drawing room & dining hall are a treat to watch.The guest rooms are large and airy.Bathrooms are of the size of a bedroom.The food is homemade under careful direction of the hostess.She keeps close attention to every need of the guests and provides personal touch to whatever she does.
JP Saheb is very knowledgeable about the place,its flora and fauna and is passionate about the palace & its surroundings.His nature walk in the morning allowed us to familiarise ourselves with the forest,the various birds and the local people.
The USP of Gajlaxmi Palace,according to me,is not the wonderfully maintained palace or its exotic surroundings,but the gracious host & hostess,J.P. & Navneeta Madam themselseves,with their personal involvement and their constant efforts to treat every guest as a member of their family.God bless them.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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We booked two rooms in the first floor in this heritage property located deep inside the forest to enjoy peace and tranquility. The place is located on a small hillock but surrounded by hills like Megha of Eastern Ghat - pampered with dense forest and undisturbed flora and fauna. We were welcomed by the Host, Mr. Singh Deo Jr. on our arrival. The rooms were large, clean and well maintained with antique furniture. The amazing Sunset from terrace mesmerized us and it was a photographer's delight. Dinner was served before 9.00PM and we joined Mr. Singh Deo for an evening ride round the palace area. The palace terrace is an ideal place to see awesome Sunrise and Sunset as well as exploring the stars in the sky in the night. The Sunrise was also amazing like Sunset of the previous day. We joined Mr. Singh Deo on a Morning walk around which lasted for about 1.5-2 hours and it was ideal to watch the birds around the place including two water bodies and morning walk was an amazing experience. During the day, we visited Kapilas and Saptasajya. We visited the Dokra village (Nuagaon) and met the artisans and purchased few pieces. The Hosts were excellent to make our stay comfortable, the food made by the local cook was simply amazing The palace has 4 unique things to offer - (a) amazing Sunset; (b) amazing sunrise; (c) amazing bird watching and (d) awesome hosts to make your life easier and stay memorable. Good place.....Deserves a second repeat visit.....
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Date of stay: January 2021
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I have been trying to visit this place since 2016, finally I could make it in March'21. Thanks to travel restrictions due to COVID-19, this was the only place that came to my mind other than frequently visited places like Puri and Gopalpur for a weekend trip. Gajlaxmi Palace, is around 85 Km drive from Bhubaneswar along the highway (60 km if you drive through Barang, Athagada). Details about the palace can be found at their website. Liked the accomodation, we got a family suit at the ground floor large enough to accomodate 4 of us - me, my wife and two kids. Rooms had all modern amenities except a TV and A/C. But frankly speaking we didn't repent for it. High ceiling rooms were cold enough (even during the scorching summer), at night we had to switch off the ceiling fans, there is ample scope of enjoying the nature and spend your time at leisure enjoying the beauty of the place, kids never missed their favorite TV shows. Do not expect any room service, Guests are served food at the Royal Dining Hall under personal supervision of Kumar Saheb Jitendra Pratap Singhdeo (JP) and his wife Navneeta. Food was excellent. You will get simple homecooked food with Odia and Rajasthani flavor (due to Navneeta's Rajasthan connection), all ingredients were sourced from local farms, hence fresh. The best experience was to be part of the royal family, experiencing the same warmth like family members. This was our best home stay experiences and we would like to back again very soon
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Date of stay: March 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Opt for a room at the ground floor if you are visiting during summer
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Navneeta Singhdeo, General Manager at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 13 Apr 2021
Dear Mr Paul, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I really appreciate your description on Gajlaxmi palace. You are most welcome to Gajlaxmipalace as and when you feel like. There is little correction of the route. Highway NH 55 is 65 kms from Bhuvneshwar and if you take Athgarh route,then it comes to 80 kms. Regards JP and Navneeta
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We first heard of Gajlaxmi when someone recommended it to us as a part of our workation exploring places beyond Puri/Konark in Odisha. The google images looked pretty exotic and they had rave reviews from travellers across the globe. We had our unique set of requirements as we were travelling with an infant, a babysitter and we were working Monday to Friday with a lot of official meetings. They happily customized the accommodation arrangement for us and we were all set to explore Dhenkanal.
This was our first experience staying in a palace and we are so glad that we chose Gajlaxmi. Here they have an optimal balance between the old legacy and the modern amenities. The high ceiling rooms, decades old antiques and the interaction with the royal family does make you feel privileged throughout the stay. We had a nice nature walk guided by Mr. JP who narrated to us the story behind Gajlaxmi and the gradual transition that the palace has witnessed with change in power and politics. We continued the nature walk every morning of our stay out there. The lake right behind the palace was our resting zone during the long walks. Our daughter loved the place and would usually doze off to the cool breeze coming from the water body. She enjoyed walking in the jungle and listening to the sound of nature. The palace also had an entertainer in the form of their pet dog Tabur. Throughout the day he will be playful and active without disturbing you and understanding his boundaries.
After the day's work was over, star gazing from the roof was the perfect ending for us. We had not seen a clearer star studded sky since our trip to Atacama a few years back. We spotted constellations and just absorbed the silence of the forest which surrounded us in every possible direction and till wherever our eyes could see.
We will definitely come back here and will highly recommend this off beat location to all our friends. It is a short scenic drive from Bhubaneswar and the hosts will guide you regarding the route. Just carry a book and an open mind to create memories of a lifetime.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JP and Navneeta were exceptional hosts in this wonderful 1930s palace in the jungle. With only a handful of rooms, it never feels busy, and there's always space to relax, read and chill out.
As you'll read in other reviews, the food Navneeta cooks and coordinates is exceptional, every meal comprising a new set of dishes that she never repeats for any of the guests. We were here over Christmas, which was a true culinary treat
JP's local and historical knowledge is as extensive as it is interesting, and his nature walk into surrounding villages was great fun (included for a guests).
Alongside the wonderful hospitality is that rarest of things in India - genuine peace and quiet, in beautiful tranquil surroundings.
Already talking about a return trip...
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Navneeta S, Owner at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 3 Jan 2020
Dear Mark and India, Thanks a ton for the wonderful review. It was lovely to host you at Gajlaxmipalace. Such a cool couple. Just awaiting your return soon. Lots of love to you both. Many thanks. Regards Navneeta Singh Deo
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Reviews generate expectations. The rating of Gajlaxmi Palace of Dhenkanal placed at 4.5 overall did make us expect something special. After a 4 night stay, I must say the 4.5 needs to be increased to 4.75..the 0.25 being kept aside when the AC gets installed in future. The 4 months (April to July, which are excluded due to the sweltering heat) would then also be added to the itinerary. The Megha hill is a perfect backdrop to the majestic palace. The rooms give a perfect olden day touch with all needs of today met with. The host Kumarprasad J.P.Singhdeo is a man who will keep no stones unturned to make you feel at home as well as to help you explore the treasures of the palace and of the surroundings. Kumarani Navneet is a perfect artist in the kitchen with such varieties in her palate that no two dishes were same during our 4 days stay. Places around like Kapilash temple, the weaves village of Noapatna, the Dokra art village, the Kapilash sanctuary, the adivasi villages there -- all were a treat for us.Joranda, the seat of 5 temples belonging to Mahima cult, the youngest religion of the world were a surprise for all. Above all it is nature in its purest form, and hospitality at its best is what you get in Gajlaxmi.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Navneeta Singhdeo, General Manager at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 19 Oct 2021
Dear Dr Bhasker, Thank you so much for this wonderful review. Such detailed description of your stay at Gajlaxmi Palace and visiting places around is described so beautifully. Your kind words means a lot to us.Many thanks and looking forward to host you again. Was lovely spending time with Shonali didi. With kind Regards Navneeta Singh Deo
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JP Sir, Navneeta ma'am and Princess Mridwika were always fantastic hosts but now Tabar ( A Black Lab Puppy ) has joined them to keep the guests entertained and amused throughout the stay at Gajlaxmi Palace of Singh Deo's at Dhenkanal. Stories of JP would never end and the out of the world delicious food would also never be repeated no matter whatever is the duration of your stay. Navneeta is one of the finest Chefs I have come across who is amazingly talented with Indian and Continental both cuisine. The Estate and Palace is so unique because it is situated inside the deep forest quite close to Kapilash Reserve Forest and Satkusia. Elephants move around here like cows and dogs and almost every night the wild yet sweet and silent animals pay a visit to the palace for the Royal Banana and Royal Mango leaves or Jack fruits or Corns. Catching up with them is as normal as anyone do at Masai Mara. Bar b que at the palace is something I love with my Cigars and Malt. The French 12 Bore of JP Sir on the lap gives a huge feel of warmth. You can see Bara Singas and Chitals and Monkeys looking at you from a distance and can take their pictures if you have patience and experience of Jungle or just lucky. JP has always been one of the very serious conservators of Elephants and other animals in this area and particularly within his estate has done a lot of good work like salt pit , water points , planting of trees to help the nature to help the mankind in true sense. He and the whole family is highly respected even today outside his estate as well. We had the great fortune to witness the National Gold Medal winning artist weaver Shree.Sharat Patra this time. We are really blessed to have met him and could witness his creative works. I was thrilled to see the Geet Gobinda on the Silk , and the Konark Temple on a silk cloth which is actually one single thread of Silk. We drove inside the village of Malhar Tribe to get original honey and obviously without JP it would have never happened. We were really blessed to get inside the Sirdhi Sai Asram at Kapilash Reserve Forest this time. The Dal Bati Churma, Lall Mass , Odissa white Brinjal , Salami Sandwiches , Rajasthani style chicken and many more dishes were just too good but the guava pudding was fantastic. While JP and Navneeta are a team of super hosts, their daughter Mridwika is silently preparing herself to study in Europe about heritage homestay and add another dimension to the legacy in the coming days. Lucky to have known them personally and always look forward to visit again and again and get lost in the nature and get pampered in real Royal way. We pray for the continued success of Gajlaxmi Palace home stay.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Navneeta Singhdeo, General Manager at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 17 Aug 2021
Dear Jaideep da and Mome, Thank you so much for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure hosting you both at Gajlaxmipalace. Such warm and kind people. Never felt that I am meeting Mome for the first time. It seemed as if we know each other since ages! And Jaideep da Ofcourse so easy going.Loved spending time with you both and looking forward for your endless visits to us.Many thanks .Take care and meet you soon! Warm Regards Navneeta Singh Deo
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We were fortunate to spend the last few days at the abode of Kumar Saheb Ranendra Pratap Singh Deo of Gaj Laxmi Rajbari of Dhenkanal. A beautiful and rustic palace set amidst 100 acres of pristine forest and wildlife. Despite its location, Kumar Saheb's son Jitendra Singh Deo and daughter in law Navneeta make sure that each and every one is pampered and treated like a royalty . Navneeta’s delicious food, JP’s nature walks ,enthralling stories and Tabar’s ( the family pet) constant cuteness, make it an unforgettable experience. Can’t wait for our repeat visit .
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gajlaxmi palace is a quiet and tranquil palace, surrounded by the forest and mountains with all necessary amenities but not with any attempt of typical modern makeovers. Thus it preserves its own appeal amongst all the remodelled palaces (read hotel) we see now a days. This is not a place where you go to enjoy shows on internet, watch tv or have AC in your room. Go there for complete digital detoxification, enjoy lazy mornings, read a book, go to the roof to enjoy sunrise & sunset, have walks in and around the palace and most importantly spend the entire time with your family without any digital distractions. But don’t worry you will get cell network for making calls. Also if you are concerned about no AC, don’t be. All the rooms have high ceiling so they are cool anyway. The hosts JP and Navneeta Singh Deo are the warmest and friendliest hosts you could hope for and their hospitality is spot on. I had gone with my wife & 1yr old daughter and stayed for couple of nights. We loved everything about this place starting from ancient decor in the living area, the roof along with delicious food supervised by the hostess herself and of course the young lab “Tabar”. They accommodated all the special food requests we placed for our little one. But special mention to the nature walk led by JP. We visited the lakes, surrounding forest and estate and could spot plenty migratory birds as well. If you decide to go there, I can assure you that a unique experience awaits you where you would want to go back again.
Note: Anyone planning to go there by road don't take the highway to reach there, take the sanctuary road instead. Call up JP and Navneeta for direction.
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Date of stay: October 2021
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Response from Navneeta Singhdeo, General Manager at Gajlaxmi Palace
Responded 24 Oct 2021
Dear Anupam and Soumita, Thank you so much for this wonderful review and a detailed description of the experience you had with us. It was lovely hosting you . Looking forward to see you again soon. Many thanks. With kind Regards Navneeta Singh Deo
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There are more places to choose from in the Dhenkanal area.
LOCATION
IndiaOdishaDhenkanal DistrictDhenkanal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
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