- Agartala
The state capital with its scenic surrounds serves as an excellent base for exploring Tripura’s many attractions. But one should linger a while to enjoy Agartala’s own charms as well. Chief amongst these is the Ujjayanta Palace. Set in the heart of town this elegant Mughal-inspired edifice was built by was built by Maharaja Radhakishore Manikya Bahadur in 1901. Set amidst lush verdure, pretty fountains, and a tranquil pool, the palace is notable for its ornamental interiors, including the carved wooden ceiling and beautifully crafted doors. Rabindranath Tagore, who actually gave it its name, was a regular visitor. The palace has been now converted into a state museum.
Visitors also head out for the Kamalasagar Kali Temple, which is located about 25 km away from Agartala. Excavations were launched by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya around Kamalsar Lake. The 16th-century Kali temple nestles by this serene waterbody. With the thrust on promoting rural tourism in the state this spot also now attracts many visitors. the shrine witnesses the arrival of many devotes from Bangladesh as well during the months of April and August to celebrate and pay home to Goddess Kali, the presiding deity.
- Udaipur
Seated on the banks of the river Gomti, like its namesake in Rajasthan, Tripura’s Udaipur too is a city of lakes and fairytale palaces. Amongst its string of lakes which are a huge tourist draw are the beautiful Mahadev Dighi, Dhani Sagar, Amar Sagar, and Kalyansagar.
Here too stands a beautiful water palace—this is Neer Mahal, which straddles the serene waters of Lake Rudrasagar. It was commissioned by Raja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in 1930 and took nine years to be transformed into an aesthetic blend of Indo-Islamic architecture and the epitome of luxury and beauty. What added to its charm was the arrival of the annual migratory birds at the lake and its verdant surrounds. Again, as on Rajasthan’s Lake Pichola, the water palace was only accessible by boat. The annual Boat Festival draws throngs of visitors who also enjoy exploring the craft and heritage village.
On the northern banks of the river stands the old Bhubaneswari Temple, one of the oldest temples in the state. Rabindranath Tagore is said to have immortalised this serene shrine in his famous drama Bisarjan and his novel Rajarshi. Tourists from West Bengal and Bangladesh are common visitors to this spot. Another important shrine in the area is the Jagannath Temple. Visitors also arrive to gawk at the Chabimura rock panels centered in the hills facing the river. Carved images found here of of Shiva, Vishnu, Kartik, Mahisasur, and other deities, are said to date back to the 15th-16th centuries.
About 3km away from Udaipur lies the ever-popular Tripurasundari or Matabari temple, an ancient place of worship set atop a hill. The reigning deity is the Goddess Tripurasundri an avatar of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, the principal deity of the state. The temple is deeply venerated as a Shaktipeeth shrine.
The nearby Kalyansagar Pond is inhabited by tortoises (koorma) that are deeply revered by the devotees of the temple. It’s also one of the reasons why the venerable temple goes by the name of Koorma (tortoise) Peeth. Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and pageantry here.
- Unakoti
Located 178km away from Agartala, Unakoti is a spiritual and cultural site of great significance. The chief attraction is the series of superb rock-cut panels of sculptures and carvings depicting Hindu deities. The site features majestic rock-cut images on the vertical surface of the hill and several fallen boulders and loose sculptures of smaller and medium sizes scattered on the hillside.
The centre of attention amongst these is the colossal sculpture of Lord Shiva’s head, portrayed with his third eye, and an elaborate headdress. Carved in deep into the rockface of a hilly outcrop the sculpture is at least 30 feet in height. Lord Shiva is also recognised here as Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava. Flanked on either side are images of Durga astride a lion and another female figure. Dating to between the 7th and 9th centuries these images were for some time lost in the thick jungles of the Jampui Hills, 8km from Kailashahar. The Shiv-Shakti religious traditions have deep and very ancient roots in Tripura and this site was an important pilgrimage hub for centuries. Legend has it Unakoti was the meeting place of Gods and Goddesses where they assembled on the Shukla Ashtami (8th day of lunar fortnight of the Chaitra month) with the intention of creating another Vrindavan near Mathura. In the morning, on finding he was the only one awake to continue the journey, Lord Shiva cursed the sleeping deities to turn them into stones. The site is ranked amongst the largest bas-reliefs discovered in the country. The annual Ashokastami Mela is held in March/ April when throngs of devotees worship the deities carved on the rockface. An important part of the rites is a holy dip in the sacred river Ashtami Kund.
Visitors linger around Unakoti for some of the beautiful waterfalls and other interesting rock sculptures.
- Jampui Hills
The lush environs and bracing climes of the Jampui Hills, 200km away from Agartala, are a magnet for nature lovers who come to explore the pretty trails punctuated by friendly brooks and serene lakes. These hills, an extension of the Mizo hills, are also famed for their orange cultivation, orchids, ornamental trees, and spectacular sunsets. Amongst its most prized orchid varieties is the Blue Vanda. The abundance of oranges this fertile land yields has also inspired the annual Orange Festival in November, which coincides with their harvest season. Visitors also get a taste of Tripuri culture. Tripura’s highest peak, Betlingchhip, located here offers grandstand views of Mizoram, the Chittagong hill tracts, and various other hill ranges of Tripura. Promotion of Village tours is being stepped up as the Lushai and Reang communities are welcoming and hospitable. Adventure buffs can enjoy trekking through verdant trails in the hillsides. The trail leading to The Rovaiah viewpoint yields rewarding panoramas of the surrounding hill ranges and valleys. Bird watching offers generous sightings the of beautiful Himalayan Cutia, Red-billed Leiothrix, and Rufous-necked Hornbill. Homestays are a lovely option for an immersive local experience.
- Mahamuni
Located about 150 km away from Agartala, Mahamuni’s claim to fame is its ancient Buddhist temple. It is a major pilgrimage hub for the Buddhist community from neighbouring Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
- Dumboor Lake
Its picturesque setting makes Dumboor Lake one of Tripura’s most appealing destinations for day-trip vacations in the great outdoors. The soothing greens of the mangroves, the tranquil beauty of the lake and the bracing weather all add to the charm of the place. In the winter it becomes a paradise of plenty for birding enthusiasts. Spread over 41 sq km the lake is dotted with a scattering of pretty islands. Dumboor is about 120 km away from Agartala.
- Pilak
Located 114km from Agartala this is an important archaeological site. Pilak, or ancient Pirok, near the Bangladesh border, was believed to be a flourishing centre for Hindu-Buddhist culture from the 8th to the 12th century as gauged from findings during excavations which included a stone image of the sun god, Tathagata Buddha in meditation, Lord Vishnu and the mother goddess, remains of a Buddhist stupa and a temple. As interpreted by Jawahar Acharjee, Tripura’s leading numismatist and historian, Pilak was a temple town and religious centre for both Hindus and Buddhists at a place, which could lead a tourist or pilgrim to interiors of Bangladesh, Buddhist Arakan through Chittagong Hill Tracts and parts of Tripura. The 9th-century Avalokiteswar and 12th-century Narasimha statues recovered here are now housed in the state museum at Agartala.
As ascertained by the many findings yielded by the site it would have had close ties with Mynamoti and Paharpur in Bangladesh. Huge crowds gather here during the annual Pilak Festival held in December.
- Boxanagar
Just a 40km drive away from Agartala brings you to the archaeological site of Boxanagar (Birak), in the Sipahijala district, close to the Bangladesh border, the site yielded a Buddhist complex with colossal 8th-century brick-built stupa, a chaityagriha and a monastery. With the clearing of the forested surrounds, remnants were also discovered of an ancient structure, identified as a shrine to Manasaa, or snake goddess. Later excavations also led to the discovery of an idol of Lord Buddha and confirmed that it was once a Buddhist site. Conservation work and excavations are being carried out apace for new discoveries in the protected site.
- Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
The 18.53 sq km wooded expanses of this lovely sanctuary are home to 150 species of avifauna. An unmissable sighting is that of the Phayre’s Langur, known locally as ‘Chosma Mwkhwra’ or spectacled monkey. The sanctuary is a tourist delight with its zoological park, botanical garden, jungle trail, Nature Learning Centre, Nature Interpretation Centre and boating on the Amrit Sagar Lake. The sanctuary also serves as an important academic and research centre. The zoo has taken up conservation programs for the breeding of four species—the spectacled langur, clouded leopard, binturong and pig-tailed macaque. The sanctuary has snagged the coveted ‘Clouded Leopard National Park’ tag since 2011, because of its conservation programme of the near-extinct species. The conservation of the crab-eating mongoose, which was last sighted in the 1930s, has also been successful here.
- Devtamura
The Gomati River wends its way through the tranquil vistas of Tripura’s densely forested Kalajhari Hills. And by the river is one of the state’s lesser-known artisanal gems. Devtamura, with its picturesque setting in southern Tripura, has largely been enjoying the attention from the local Jamatiya and Reang tribesmen, for its superb 15th-16th century images of Hindu deities of Durga, Ganesha and Kartikeya carved into the rockface.
It’s only in recent times that the outside world has learnt about the Chabimura archaeological site of rock sculptures, which are still a mystery for their provenance. Sadly, not all of the 37 sculptures of Hindu deities are sharply defined, having given in to the vagaries of the elements over time, but there are those which are wonderful for their eye for detail and creative vision. Stealing the limelight here is the 10m high image of Mahisasura Mardini Durga whom the locals revere as Chakrak-Ma.
You might enjoy a lovely immersive experience joining the locals who gather together in the month of January for the annual festival which is held near the top of the Damburu Falls. Photops are aplenty as you also witness the ancient purification rites at the sacred Gomti. Devtamura is just 75km away from Agartala.
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