Agartala

Agartala is the State capital which is connected by road to Guwahati via Shillong by National Highway No. 44. It takes about 24 hrs by road from Guwahati to reach Agartala. There are fligh connections as well with Kolkata, Guwahati and Silchar. Bus services are available to out of state destinations like Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati and Kolkata. Some of the city-based important locations are:

Buddha Vihar: This shrine though small in size, preserves some beautiful metal idols of Lord Buddha and Bodhisatva, the idols being Burmese in origin. Here Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the Buddha Purnima Day.

Maharaja Bir Bikram College: It is situated on a hillock beside a lake in the eastern part of the city. This beautiful college building was designed by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma. It is yet another monument of the old architectural tradition, this building is exquisite both from the exterior as well as the interior.

State Museum: It is situated in the heart of town, it preserves some rare images, epigraphs and numismatic evidences which throw light on the glorious past of Tripura and some adjoining states.

 

Palaces

The former Maharajas had constructed beautiful palaces in different locations of the state. These palaces provide a glimpse of the royal past of this erstwhile princely state.

Ujjayanta Palace :

 This royal house, which stands in the Capital city Agartala covering one sq.Km. area was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901.It is a two storied mansion, having a mixed type of architecture with three high domes.

Kunjaban Palace :

 A green hillock known as Kunjaban ( a bower) for its scenic beauty stands to the north of Ujjayanta palace at a distance of about 1 Km. Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya (1909-1923) selected this beautiful place for building a suburban palace.

Malancha Niwas :

 The Bungalow adjacent to Kunjaban palace situated on a hillock was originally a kaccha house where Tagore stayed during his visit in 1919.

Neermahal :

This magnificent lake palace was constructed as a summer resort in 1930 by late Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in the middle of a natural lake called Rudrasagar having an area of 5.35 Sq.Km.

Temples

Tripura is famous for a large number of temples of Hindus and Buddhists. The most significant of them are Mata Tripureshwari temple at Udaipur, Fourteen Goddess Temple at Old Agartala, Bhuveneshwari Temple at Udaipur , Benuban Vihar at Agartala etc.

Mata Tripureswari Temple

This temple is one of the 51 pithasthans in India as per Hindu mythology. As per mythology, Lord Vishnu had cut off the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces by Sudarshana Chakra and all these pieces fell at different places throughout the country.

 

 

Fourteen Goddess Temple

It is located about 14 Km. away from Agartala at a place called Old Agartala. In the face of continued fight with Shamser Gazi, Maharaja Krishna Manikya had shifted the capital from Udaipur to Old Agartala.

 

 

Bhuveneswari Temple :

On the right bank of river Gomati at Udaipur is found the ruins of a big palace built by Maharaja Govinda Manikya (1660-75 A.D.)

Tripura can be termed as a laboratory of exotic cultural region and can be turned into a veritable tourists' paradise. It will not only strengthen the revenue-base of these state, but also promote national integration.

Tripura Sundari Temple

It is situated in the ancient Udaipur, believed to be one of the holiest Hindu shrines in this part of the country. Popularly known as Matabari, crowns the Dhanisagar hillock and is served by the red-robed priests who traditionally, minister to the mother goddess. Considered to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, consists of a square type sanctum of the typical Bengali hut. It was constructed by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Debbarma in 1501 A.D., there are two identical images of the same deity inside the temple named Chhotima, one is around 2 feet in height and the other about 5 feet in height.

Chaturdasha Temple

This temple is situated near Old Agartala, features the Bengal dome patterned after the roofs of village huts in Bengal. The dome is surmounted by a stupa-like structure which might reveal a trace of Buddhist influence. Interestingly this temple was built for fourteen head images of Gods and Goddessess called Chaturdasha Devta by King Krishna Manikya Debbarma and these head images are ceremoniously worshipped during the Kharchi Puja. Tripuri names of fourteen gods and goddesses are however: Lampra, Akhatra, Bikhatra, Burasa, Thumnairok, Bonirok, Sangroma, Mwtaikotor, Twima, Songram, Noksumwtai, Mailuma, Khuluma and Swkalmwtai.

Laxmi Narayan Mandir

Icon of Lord Krishna was installed by Krishnananda Sevayet of Laxmi Narayan temple more than 45 years ago. The temple is also registered under Indian antiquitity act like monument. The main temple was constructed with some financial assistance of the royal family of Tripura.

According to the legendary tale of the Bhagavata Tamal tree is closely associated with the life sport of Lord Krishna, probably considering this aspect, the sevayet planted Tamal tree in front of the temple about 35 years back. The branches of the Tamal tree have spreaded so nicely forming like a Canopy, which is indeed attractable. Every year, the Janmasthami festival is observed with great sublimity.

Location :
Bhagaban Nagar, beside Kailashahar Dharmanagar Road. 7 km from District Head quarter (Kailashahar).

 

 

Some other important places to visit:

Unakoti

It is Shaiba pilgrimage and dates back to 7th - 9th centuries if not earlier. The marvelous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty, waterfalls are not to be missed. Unakoti means one less than a crore and it is said that these many rock cut carvings are available here.

As per Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva was going to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses he made a night halt at this location. He asked all the gods and goddesses to wake up before sun rise and proceed for Kashi.

It is said that in the morning, except Shiva himself, no one else could get up so set out for Kashi himself cursing the others to become stone images as a result we have one less than a crore stone images and carvings at Unakoti.These carvings are located at a beautifully landscaped forest area with green vegetation all around which add to the beauty of the carvings.

The images found at Unakoti are of two types namely rock-carved figures and stone images. Among the rock cut carvings, the central Shiva head and gigantic Ganesha figures deserve special mention. The central Shiva head known as ‘Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava’ is about 30 feet high including an embroidered head-dress which itself is 10 feet high. On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva, there are two full size female figures - one of Durga standing on a lion and another female figure on the other side. In addition three enormous images of Nandi Bull are found half buried in the ground. There are various other stone as well as rock cut images at Unakoti.
 

Every year a big fair popularly known as ‘Ashokastami Mela’ is held in the month of April which is visited by thousands of pilgrims.

Location : 178 k.m. from Agartala. 8 k.m. from Kailashahar, district head quarter of North Tripura District.

How to Reach :

From Agartala to Kailashahar by bus (fare Rs.60/-) and then by Jeep upto Unakoti ( Rs.10/-).
From Dharmanagar to Unakoti by bus ( Fare Rs.15/-) only.

Jampui Hill

During November every year, the unique Orange & Tourism festival is celebrated in the Jampui hill. A large number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, participate and enjoy this festival. The rainy season is no less charming. During this season the hill is covered with floating clouds and it provides a rare experience for the tourists. The formation of clouds at the bottom of the hill range and its gradual ascendance from the bottom to the top slowly engulfing the whole hill range in its mystic lap is an experience to treasure

The view of rising and setting sun from various view points in Jampui hills is a wonderful sight for the tourists. Tourists visiting the Jampui hill cannot afford to miss the view of the sunset and the sunrise. Various view points in the hill range provide excellent panoramic views of the valley and villages of Mizoram. From the watchtower at the highest peak, Betlingchip(3200 feet high), the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Kanchanpur - Dasda valley other hill ranges of Tripura and Mizoram unfold an enigmatic scenic vista.

Tourist Department of Government of Tripura has constructed one very modern tourist lodge- 'Eden Tourist Lodge' at Vanghmun village in the Jampui hills which has a capacity of 20 persons and is well equipped with all modern amenities. In addition, local hospitable Mizo people also extend "paying Guest" Accommodation facilities in their houses.

Boating facility in the Sabual village of the hill range has been developed.
For facilitating the visit of tourists to Jampui hill, Tourist Department, Government of Tripura is organizing various package tours from the capital town of Agartala. Jampui hill is a real tourist paradise which attracts a large number of tourists with its virgin forests and peacefull and eco-friendly ambience including beautiful orchids and colourful dance & music. Being sparsely populated it provides and ideal opportunity for leisure torism.

Location : 90 k.m. from District Head quarter ( Kailashahar).

Purano Rajbari

According to the author of the book ‘RAJMALA’, Kaliprasanna Sen, Kailashahar was a prosperous janapath and also was the Capital of Tripura. According to him Maharaja Indramanikya built palace at Rangauti at Kailashahar. There is a large lake (Khowra bil) prevailing an area of 5 Sq. KM, which is known as Rajar Deghi, one can see well planed pole surrounding the tank.

An old big banyan tree and this large lake attracts thousands of people from nearby regions. Recently Central and State Govt. has taken initiative to construct tourist resort with water sports facility at this Khowra bil.

Location :Kailashahar

Other places of interest are Tripura Sundari Temple, which is regarded as one of the 51 Peethas of Hindu pilgrims. Bhuvaneshwari Temple on the bank of the Gomati and the Kali Temple at Kamalasagar, near the Bangladesh border, which was built in the 15th century. Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, about 30 km from Agartala, covers an area of 18.53 km². Here more than 150 species of residential birds, migratory birds, orchid garden and boating facilities attract visitors. The Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is another spot which is the home of the bison apart from migratory and resident birds.

Brahmakunda

Brahmakunda is about 45 km north of Agartala. This shrine is famous for its colourful fairs held every year in the month of March - April and November. The deity installed in the temple of Lord Shiva is said to be over 90 years old.

Kamalasagar

The huge lake was excavated by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Bahadur Debbarma in the late 15th century while the Kali temple atop the hillock dates back to the 17th century. Famous for the great fair held in October, this place is equally popular with the picnickers.

Sipahijola Lake

This expansive lake within Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique spot for picnickers and offers ideal pedal boating and rowing for nature lovers.

Amarpur

It is an idyllic quiet picnic spot, on the banks of Amarsagar, the 16th century artificial lake, stands on the ruins of a palace. On the southern bank lies a temple dedicated to the eight headed goddess, Mangalchandi. A fair is held here during Basant Panchami (February).

Tirthamukh

It is situated nearby Dumbur which woos pilgrims from different parts of the world. During Uttarayana Sankranti (January-February), thousands of people assemble here to take a holy bath.

Badar Mokam

It is a holy and sacred place of the Muslims who reside in Tripura.