Perched atop a verdant hill near Talcher in Odisha’s Angul district, the century-old Scotlandpur Palace continues to stand as a symbol of the erstwhile Talcher kingdom’s royal heritage, blending history and architecture effortlessly.Built in 1932, the two-storey palace encapsulates the grandeur of the Deb royal family and the architectural elegance of the British era. Surrounded by lush greenery, the sprawling 60-room palace, spread across nearly 10 acres, has transformed into a prominent heritage destination, while preserving the legacy of the former princely state.Elaborating on the place’s unique name, Sarat Chandra Deb (60), the present-day scion of the Talcher royal family, says: “My grandfather, Pramod Chandra Deb, had travelled to Scotland in the 1920s and was captivated by its scenic beauty. After returning to India, he selected this hilltop location to build his palace and named the area Scotlandpur.”Another claim suggests that British political agents visiting the palace remarked that the cool climate and lush surroundings resembling that of Scotland and advised Pramod, the younger son of Raja Kishore Chandra Deb, that the locality be named Scotlandpur, a suggestion eventually adopted.”Hundreds of antiquities, wildlife trophies, paintings, rare photographs, arms and other antique items find pride of place at the royal palace in Scotlandpur. A stuffed leopard and tiger head also attract visitors to the palace.While the industrial town has struggled with severe air pollution, Sarat says the tree-enveloped surroundings of Scotlandpur continue to enjoy comparatively better air quality.Many tourists who visit Satkosia Gorge and Tikarpada forest also prefer to spend a few hours in Scotlandpur.The village of Scotlandpur today comprises around 100 households with a population of nearly 1,000. It also has a small railway station where a few passenger and goods trains, mainly transporting coal from nearby mines, halt.Local resident Narendra Das said the village takes pride in its unique name and added that the Odia film ‘Mamata Mage Mula’ was shot at the palace.About his family, Sarat says, “Under the traditional law of agnatic primogeniture, the elder son inherited the throne and the royal estate, prompting Pramod Chandra Deb to establish his own residence about 5 kilometres from Talcher.”The Talcher king’s palace is located on the banks of Brahmani and is located around 20 km from Angul town, where royal family members reside. “My brother, other family members, and I live in Scotlandpur Palace,” said Sarat.He added that the British administration later conferred the title of ‘Dewan Bahadur’ upon Pramod Chandra Deb. Raja Saheb Rajendra Chandra Deb Birabara Harichandan, the titular king of Talcher, passed away at the age of 74 on April 21, 2025 in Talcher Palace.After independence the last ruling chief of Talcher, Raja Hrudaya Chandra Dev, signed the Instrument of Accession, officially merging the state with the Dominion of India on Jan 1, 1948. The territory of the former state was initially integrated into the Dhenkanal district and is now a major subdivision of the Angul district.
