Paralakhemundi Railway Station Marks 125 Years of Royal Rail Legacy

Celebrating 125 years of royal heritage and engineering marvel, the Paralakhemundi Railway Station stands as a proud emblem of Odisha’s historical and cultural identity. Established in 1899 under the visionary leadership of Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo II, this station remains Odisha’s first and only royal railway station.

Located at the scenic foothills of the Mahendragiri Hills, the station was originally part of the Parlakimedi Light Railway (PLR), connecting Paralakhemundi to Naupada in Andhra Pradesh. Operational from April 1, 1900, the PLR revolutionized regional trade, mobility, and connectivity, and was extended to Gunupur in 1931, weaving southern Odisha deeper into the national network.

The station’s architecture echoes its regal roots. A colonial-era wooden ticket counter, station master’s office, and goods shed stand preserved amidst modernization efforts. Artifacts from its operational past — including vintage signaling devices, railway uniforms, and royal cutlery — now reside at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Nagpur.

As modernization takes center stage, a newly constructed building modeled after the Gajapati Palace has emerged. However, heritage conservationists have raised concerns. INTACH (Odisha chapter) urged Indian Railways to preserve the original structure and proposed converting the old station master’s building into a museum to honor the PLR’s legacy.

On April 1, 2025, the East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division commemorated the station’s 125th anniversary with cultural and educational events under the theme ‘Virasat Se Vikas Tak’ (From Heritage to Development). Local schoolchildren participated in essay, painting, and elocution contests to celebrate the station’s enduring role in Odisha’s development.

The station is also etched into the socio-political fabric of the region. During the 1914 Utkal Sammilani session, which championed the cause for a separate Odisha province, a special train ferried delegates to Paralakhemundi — showcasing the station’s historical significance in shaping the state’s identity.

Paralakhemundi Railway Station remains not just a gateway for travelers but a living relic of Odisha’s royal legacy, architectural grandeur, and socio-political evolution.