Haripur Palace Ruins

Haripur Palace Ruins are the remains of the former royal palace at Haripur village in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, about 16 km southeast of Baripada. Established as the early capital of the Mayurbhanj princely state by the Bhanja dynasty, the site contains brick and stone ruins, fortification traces and associated temples. The ruins reflect medieval Odishan palace architecture and offer insight into the region's royal history amid a rural riverside landscape.

Visitors can expect scattered brick and laterite ruins of the old palace and fort walls spread over an open rural area near the Budhabalanga River. Remains include low wall fragments, plinths, and temple structures such as the Rasik Ray Temple within the complex. The site is largely unmaintained and overgrown in parts, set amid agricultural fields and village surroundings. There are no restored interiors; exploration is on foot over uneven ground with opportunities for photography and viewing historic masonry.

Haripur was founded as the capital of the Mayurbhanj State by Maharaja Hari Singh of the Bhanja dynasty in the early 15th century (traditionally c. 1400). It served as the seat of the Bhanja rulers for several centuries before the capital was shifted to Baripada in the 19th century. The palace complex, now in ruins, was the administrative and royal residence and reflects the early history of one of Odisha's prominent princely states.

The site is associated with the Bhanja dynasty's heritage and Odishan temple traditions, notably the Rasik Ray Temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna within the complex, which remains a local religious focus. It represents the cultural transition of Mayurbhanj from Haripur to Baripada and is valued locally as a historic landmark.