Tripura Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Located in the northeast of India, the small state of Tripura is surrounded on the north, west and south by Bangladesh, with Assam and Mizoram to its east. The state consists of low hills, going up to about 3000 feet, and plains, where most of the population lives. Agriculture is the main occupation and rice, the main crop. Tripura is also the second highest rubber-producing state in India after Kerala. Industry and urbanization, however, is not well developed here. Tripura has tribes such as the Tripuris, Reangs, Jamatia, Noatias, and Halams. However, 70% of the population is of Bengali origin.

Before merging with India in 1949, Tripura was an independent kingdom that had been ruled by the Manikya dynasty for centuries. Their capital was at Udaipur, on the banks of River Gomati. Today, their ruined palace on the Gomati and the more famous Neermahal Palace on the Rudrasagar Lake can be seen. Neermahal, built in 1930, is the only Lake Palace in eastern India. Udaipur has many lakes and typically round roofed, 'Bengali-hut' style temples. The Mother Goddess of Tipurasundari, is worshipped here .

The capital Agartala is a small town with a domestic airport connected to Kolkata and Guwahati. It is connected by road to Guwahati and Shillong. It has the Ujjayanta Palace built by King Radha Kishore Manikya in 1901. A noted 16th-century Kali temple set besides the Kamlasagar Lake is 27 kms from Agartala.

Known popularly as the "orange basket" of Tripura, Jampui Hills is a hill station 3,000 feet above sea level, 250 km from Agartala. It is inhabited by the Lushai and Reang tribes, who almost entirely live on orange cultivation. Stone and rock-cut images belonging to 7^th - 9^th centuries can be seen at Unakoti.