Tripura Tourism? Is that even a thing?
Yes, this response is not surprising. Interestingly Tripura is not even as remote as the rest of NE. Tripura is actually mostly plain, bordering Bangladesh, and well-connected with air, rail and road networks. It has a fascinating history and a lot to explore but people barely bother to go that far.
From ancient plains dotted with unknown historical remains to hills covered with orange orchards, and from majestic palaces to sanctuaries teeming with clouded leapards, the tiny state of Tripura has a lot to offer. This is why it is a surprise that it is rarely frequented by tourists. However, with good infrastructure at all the major tourist points, Tripura is now well-poised to receive a new generation of curious tourists.
At present Tripura looks like a tiny dot on the southern corner of Northeast India, far removed from the rest of the country. However, few are aware of the rich history and centuries old connections it had with various other parts of the country. It is surrounded on three sides by Bangaldesh, which may be a different country now but was part of the Greater Bengal at one point of time. The Tripura Kingdom, one of the longest running dynasties in India that ruled the state through the middle ages, has had connections and alliances with other major kingdoms, that later became princeley states, of India. The Kingdom of Tripura merged with India in 1949 but the members of the Royal Family is still respected by the locals.
Even before the Tripura Kingdom, the plains of Tripura were parts of the Samatata kingdom that has been mentioned in various ancient texts but still lacks proper details and documentation. This entire area covering the eastern parts of greater Bengal and located at the mouth of the meeting point of many great rivers in the Ganga- Brahmaputra Delta formed a very prosperous province in the ancient times. Many archaelogical ruins of Tripura date back to that era and their origins are still showded in mystery.
Tripura has been ruled by the indigenous Tripuri people for many centuries. They have their own language and culture but the influence of Bengali is also easily visible, especially in the plains as they are bordered by Bengali speaking areas from all sides. The royals of Tripura patronized many great artists, authors and musicians. They had a great rapport with Rabindranath Tagore, who spent many months here writing poems. The great Bollywood Music Director Sachin Dev Burman was also a member of Tripura’s royal family although very few people know about this connection.
While Tripura consists of mostly plains, the area bordering Mizoram is hilly and it boasts of the only hill station in Tripura called Jampui Hills. This area is known for orange cultivation and they have started organizing an Orange Festival every year to attract tourist during the harvest season of early winters.
Tripura is a small state and it does not take much time to cover all the major attractions. Road and rail network between major towns in the state are in good shape and the state tourism has opened tourist lodges at all major points. So, with proper planning and information, it is possible to cover all major attractions of Tripura within a week.
Table of Contents
Tripura Toursim Map
Agartala
Agartala is the capital of the state and a huge and crowded city nowadays. It is very close to the Bangladesh border and teh border point can also be visited. Agartala is many remnants of the medieval times in the form of royal palaces and temples.
Unakoti
Unakori is one of the most famous archaeological sites in India located in Northern Tripura with the rock-cut larger than life faces on the rocky hills.
Melaghar
Melaghar is famous for the Neermahal, the water palace in the middle of the lake.
Udaipur
Do not confuse it with the one in Rajasthan. This is Tripura’s old capital, full of ancient temples and beautiful lakes. Some other major archaeological sites like Pilak and Devtamura can be visited form here.
Jampui Hills
Jampui Hills is a hilly area on the border of Mizoram, mostly ihabited by Mizos. It is generally known as a orange growing area.
