  The excited states in the odd-$A$ $^{197}$Tl nucleus have been studied by
populating them using the $^{197}$Au($\alpha$, 4$n$)$^{197}$Tl reaction at the
beam energy of 48 MeV. The $\gamma-\gamma$ coincidence data were taken using a
combination of clover, LEPS and single crystal HPGe detectors. Precise spin and
parity assignments of the excited states have been done through the
polarization and the DCO measurements. A new band structure has been identified
and the evidence for a possible intruder $\pi i_{13/2}$ state has been found
for the first time. Possible configurations of the observed bands have been
discussed. The total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to study
the shape of $^{197}$Tl for different configurations.
