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Area : 10,491
sq.kms. (Tripura State)
Altitude : 1280 Metres.
Best Season : September to March
Agartala the capital of the state of Tripura gained prominence when
Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya shifted his capital from old
Agartala to the Present site with low-lying hills on three sides and
plains opening to Bangladesh in the 19th century.
Agartala was moved to its present site in 1850. It is a pleasant
town with well kept gardens enclosed by intricately woven cane
fences and the locals are very welcoming. The redbrick official
buildings favoured by the royal family contrast with the British
preference for white wash still obvious on some important structures
notably the Maharaja’s palace (1901). It’s really only a stopover
for anyone travelling to or from Bangladesh.
Places of attraction :-
Buddha Vihar (Venuyan Vihar):
On Airport Road about 8 kms. North of the city this is a small
shrine preserving some beautiful Burmese metal idols of Lord Buddha
and Bodhisattvas.
Ujjayant Palace:
Built in the Mughal style by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya in 1901
it stood amidst formal Mughal gardens with pools and fountains.The
vast palace has magnificent tiled floors a carved wooden ceiling in
the Chinese room and beautifully crafted front doors.
It now houses the State Legislative Assembly which is normally
closed for visitors. But sometimes permissions are given. It is
surrounded by 28 hectares of parkland and overlooks two large pools.
It’s not open to the public. The grounds however are open between 5
and 7 pm to see the ‘Musical Fountain’.
Kunjaban Palace:
The official residence of the Governor of the state it was a private
retreat for Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya. It was built in 1917
on top of a picturesque hillock and one of its more famous residents
includes the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Old Agartala:
Located 5 kms away it is most famous for the Chaturdasha Devta
Mandir-also known as the ‘Temple of fourteen deities’. It draws
thousands of devotees in July for the Karchi Puja which lasts for
seven days.
Purbasha (Tripura Handicraft and Handlooms Dev.Corpn).
A nice selection of traditional handlooms woodcarvings and display
of stools, chairs screen baskets and wall plaques made of bamboo and
cane. The craftsmen can be seen practicing their crafts here. The
craftsmen can be seen practicing their crafts here. It combines the
Bengali Bankura style with a Buddhist stupa type structure.
Temple of Lord Jagannath:
It is painted in a striking ochre colour and was built in the late
19th century. The temple across an artificial lake in front of the
palace it raises from an octagonal base to a 4-storeyed stepped
shikara.
State Museum (HG Basak Road) :
Small but well maintained the museum houses rare stone images old
coins Bengal kantha embroidery and archaeological finds from the
8th-10th century Buddhist sculptures from Pilak. Open: 10am -5pm.
Other Places of Interest in Tripura :-
Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary:
This is a botanical garden with a small zoo. It covers an area of 18
sq.kms and 25 kms south of Agartala, has a rich collection of
wildlife. The lake here attracts a lot of birds. Other attractions
include, a mini zoo, toy train, elephant rides, an orchard garden
and boating lake. The zoo is beautifully kept and a new enclosure
provides a more natural habitat. It may be possible to visit a
rubber plantation and watch the processing on a trip.
Tripura Sundari Temple:
The most famous temple of Tripura Sundari (also known as Matabari)
is 4 kms from Udaipur. It is dedicated to Mother Goddess Kali, and
is worshipped by red robed priests. The temple was built in 1501 in
the classic Bengali hut style on top of a hillock. The temple also
finds a mention in the ancient Tantras. The idol is made of reddish
black stone. Kings usually carry a smaller version of the idol
during their hunting trips or wars. Udaipur is famous for its lakes
like Amarsagar, Kalyansagar, Jagannath Dighi, Mahadev Dighi and
Sukhsagar.
Bhuvaneshwari Temple:
Maharaja Govinda Manikya built it during 1660-75 on the right bank
of the Gomati River. Rabindranath Tagore makes a reference of it in
his poetry and drama, namely Bisharjan and Rajashri.
Neer Mahal:
53 kms from Agartala Built like a fairy castle, it is on an island
in the middle of the 5 sq. kms. Rudrasagar Lake. The Late Maharajah
Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur constructed this water place with
towers, pavilions, moats and bridges as his summer resort in 1930.
It is 55 kms away from Agartala. It is a beautifully peaceful place
that attracts migrating birds in winter. The structure itself is a
perfect blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture and is the only lake
palace in India. It can be approach by boat from the Rajghat through
two separate sets of steps for the Maharajah and the Maharani.
Lake Kamalsagar:
27 kms from Agartala, this beautifully lake was excavated by
Maharajah Dhanya Manikya in the 15th century. A temple of Goddess
Kali stands on the banks of the lake.
Debtamura:
The rock-cuts and stone carvings of Tripura can be found on the
imposing vertical walls of Unakoti and Pilak besides Debtamura. The
images date back to the 15th and 16th century. Debtamura is 75 kms
from Agartala and is situated on the banks of the River Gomati,
between Udaipur and Amarpur. The rocks on the banks of the river are
also called Chabimura.
Pilak:
100 kms from Agartala, on the southern tip of Tripura lies Pilak
which still continues to reveal its secrets as excavations continue.
The images date back to the 8th and 9th century.
Unakoti:
It is considered among the most sacred Shaivite site in Eastern
India. The ancient pilgrimage centre of Unakoti is believed to date
to the 8th century, and contains possibly the largest bas-relief in
India. Numerous rock cut images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are
carved on the rocky wall of the hill. Unakoti, means one less than a
Crore and is most famous for the imposing Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava.
It is about 30 feet high and its headdress itself is 10 feet in
height. Every April, the Ashokastami Mela draws huge crowd.Unakoti
is 178 kms from Agartala and 8 kms from Kailashahar.
Dumboor:
This Lake is located in the midst of picturesque hills, 110 kms from
Agartala. Its 41 Sq.kms area is dotted with 48 islands. There is a
hydel Project at the mouth of River Gomati. It is also the venue for
the Pous Sankranti Mela that takes place in January every year.
Jumpuri Hills:
The hill range borders Mizoram and is 200 kms from Agartala. The
highest peak is about 3000 ft. above sea level. The climate here is
so good that Jumpuri is known as the land with permanent spring.
Each new season brings with the specialty of either fruits or
flowers.The hills too seem to be particularly fashion conscious,
always being attired in the colours of the season. |
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