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| Tripura |
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 The
former princely state ruled by Maharajas of Manikya dynasty, Tripura boasts
of splendours of natural setting and dazzling heritage. The rich forest
lands have been a great attraction for the people down the centuries. And
down the decades, the state has offered a plethora of delightful attractions
to the tourists, like historic palaces, rock carvings, stone sculptures,
Buddhist and Hindu holy places, wildlife sanctuaries and tribal culture.
The handlooms and handicrafts of Tripura, reflecting the inherent quality
of workmanship and the uniqueness of the people here, are other major attractions.
Simple materials such as bamboo, cane, palm leaves and ordinary yarn are
used to create a fascinating variety of handiwork. Tripura has a lot to
offer ourists. Agartala, the picturesque capital, with its beautiful palaces,
gardens, hills, temples, lakes, waterfalls and reservoirs, is truly worth
visiting. Pilak Pather and Lungthung are virtual treasure troves for those
historically inclined. Jampui hills, Rudrasagar and Neermahal known as the
lake cities and Sepahijala the wildlife sanctuary, are other major spots
of tourist interest in this tiny state. |
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| GETTING HERE |
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The state capital, Agartala is well connected by air with Kolkata and Guwahati,
and it takes less than 45 minutes to reach Agartala. The state has three
more small airports at Khowai, Kamalpur and Kailashahar, where small-chartered
planes can land. Tripura is also connected by rail via Guwahati and the
nearest railhead is at Kumarghat, which is 140 kms from Agartala. Agartala
is connected by road with Guwahati via Shillong by National Highway No.
44. It takes about 24 hours by road from Guwahati to reach Agartala. Luxury
coaches, both of private travel agencies and public sector transport corporations,
ply on this road. Considering the proximity of Tripura to Bangladesh, it
is also convenient for foreign nationals to enter Tripura via Bangladesh
with an appropriate visa. Foreign nationals visiting Dhaka or other cities
of Bangladesh can get to Agartala via Akhaura border check post. Similarly,
foreign nationals coming to Tripura by other routes could enter Bangladesh
via this route. |
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| WHAT TO SEE |
Agartala
Agartala, the picturesque and laidback capital of the state, with beautiful
gardens, palaces, hills, temples and lakes is the best place to begin a
journey in the state. The main attractions in the city are Ujjayanta Palace,
State Museum, Tribal Museum, Sukanta Academy, M.B.B. College, Laxminarayan
Temple, Uma Maheswar Temple, Jagannath Temple, Benuban Bihar, Gedu Mian
Mosque, Malanch Niwas, Rabindra Kanan, Purbasha, Handicrafts Designing Centre,
Fourteen Goddess Temple and Portuguese Church.
Melaghar
(53 kms from Agartala) Neermahal is a magnificent lake palace, which was
constructed as a summer resort in 1930 by late Maharaja Birbikram Kishore
Manikya Bahadur in the middle of a natural lake called Rudrasagar, spread
over an area of 5.35 sq. km. A good combination of Hindu and Mughal architectures,
the palace has a beautiful garden and a museum. Today, this palace is
a major attraction for the tourists. The lake also attracts a number of
migratory birds, adding more to the beauty of Neermahal.
Jampui Hill
(250 kms from Agartala) Jampui Hill is an eternal seat of the spring season
and it is located at an altitude of 3000 ft above sea level. Jampui is
famous for its charming landscape and bracing climate that lifts the spirit.
The excellent climatic condition, green forests, beautiful orange gardens
and the magnificent views of the rising and setting sun simply captivate
the tourists. The natural beauty, various species of trees, hospitable
people and rich cultural heritage make it an ideal destination for the
tourists.
Udaipur
(55 kms from Agartala) The main attractions in Udaipur are Tripur Sundari
Temple (popularly known as Matabari and one of the 51 most famous temples
of Goddess Shakti in India), Bhuvaneswari Temple and Gunabati group of
temples. There is also a vast lake with scenic beauty.
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Sepahijala
(25 kms from Agartala) Sepahijala covers an area of 18.532 sq. km. More
than 150 species of residential and migratory birds, beautiful orchid
gardens, boating facilities, wild life, botanical garden, zoo, elephant
joyrides, rubber and coffee plantations attract the visitors. The very
famous spectacled monkey is also found here in this habitat.
Dumboor Lake
(120 kms from Agartala) A vast water area of 41 sq. km with an unending
spell of luxuriant green vegetation all around and 48 islands in the midst
of the lake. Migratory birds and water sports facilities are additional
attractions. There is a Hydel Project near the lake from where River Gomati
originates and this is called Tirthamukh, where on 14th of January every
year the famous 'Pous Sankranti Fair' is organised. The lake is the confluence
of rivers Raima and Sarma. Various species of migratory birds are seen
here in the winter and it has a rich reservoir teeming with natural and
cultured fish.
Unakoti
(178 kms from Agartala) It is a Shaiba pilgrimage and dates back to 7th-9th
centuries. The marvellous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty
and waterfalls are not to be missed. Unakoti means one less than a crore
and this place gets this name because many rock cut carvings are found
here. The images found at Unakoti are of two types, namely rock-carved
figures and stone images. Every year a big fair popularly known as 'Ashokastami
Mela' is held in the month of April, which is visited by thousands of
pilgrims.
Kamalasagar
(30 kms from Agartala) Kamalasagar is a vast lake at the border of Bangladesh,
which was excavated by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 15th century. On the
bank of Kamalasagar, there is a famous temple of Goddess Kali, dating
back to 16th century. It is one of the excellent picnic spots in the state
with scenic beauty. |
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