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TRIPURA
The tiny former princely state of Tripura is a land of rolling hills and gentle valleys with vast tracts of rich forests. It has a proud and ancient history and is mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the
Mahabharata. Tripura is bordered on three sides by Bangladesh and has deep links with Bengal.
The connection was strengthened by the Poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's affinity for the tranquil environs of the state and his
abiding friendship with its royal family. Tripura is home to about twenty different tribes, each with its own customs, which gives the state its dazzling ethnic diversity and has earned it a reputation as a cultural melting pot.
Tripura is also famous for its Buddhist and Hindu temples, ancient rock carvings and its superb tradition of handicrafts.
PLACES TO VISIT
In keeping with its royal history, the main attractions of
Agartala, the state capital, are the Ujjayanta and Kunjaban palaces.
Neermahal, the only floating palace in Eastern India is at Udaipur,
55km away. It was built in 1930 as a summer retreat by Raja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. Udaipur,
the seat of the Manikya kings, has a number of interesting temples in the vicinity such as the very old
Bhubaneshwari temple and the Matabari or Tripurasundari temple. This is one of the 51 'piths' or holy sites for Hindu pilgrims and is dedicated to the Goddess Tripurasundari, an avatar of Parvati.
Mahamuni, is famous for its ancient Buddhist temple. Pilak is famous for its 8th-9th century stone carvings and terracotta plaques. Particularly impressive are the mammoth stone images of
Narasimhan and Avolokiteshswara. Unakoti is an important site for
Shiva worship with its massive 30-ft high Shiva head called the
Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava and its companion figures hidden deep in the forest. The verdant
Jampui Hills, which seems to enjoy spring all the year round, abound with with exotic orchids and bright orange groves.
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