About Parlakhemundi
Paralakhemundi is an ancient town and a Municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the district headquarters of Gajapati district, Odisha. Majority of the people in the town speak Odia. The town and the District share its boundaries with Andhra Pradesh. Pathapatnam town in the Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh is considered as twin town to Parlakhemundi due to its close proximity. Both towns are separated by the River Mahendra Tanaya.
Paralakhemundi is an ancient Zamindari lying in the western corner of the southern portion of then larger Ganjam district (now constitute Ganjam district, Gajapati district, Srikakulam district and parts of Vizianagaram district), and it is bounded in the west by the district of then larger Vizagapatam district (now constitute Visakhapatnam district, Koraput district, Malkangiri district, Rayagada district, parts of Vizianagaram district) and on the north by the Jeypore state and the eastern ghats which are called Maliyas or tribal agencies. The town of Paralakhemundi is: ""a straggling town in plan much like the letter ‘L’ scattered around the foot of the well wooded hill which is the distinctive feature of the place. The horizontal portion of the ‘L’ faces south, and at the corner where the ‘L’ and the vertical portion join, is situated the palace(Gajapati Palace), a most picturesque group of building"". This group of buildings was designed and built by Mr. Chisholm.
Source :
Wikipedia