tripura

Tripura is a state in the north-eastern part of India. It is India’s third-smallest state, and is bordered by Bangladesh to its north, south, and west, and by the Indian states of Assam and Mizoram to its east. Agartala is Tripura’s capital city.

The land of Tripura was ruled by Tripuri kings in the ancient and medieval periods, and later by the Mughals, who were defeated by the British East India company, that ruled the country including Tripura from mid-19th to mid-20th century.

A couple of years after the independence of India from the British, in September 1949, the Maharani Regent under whose rule Tripura then was, signed the Tripura Merger Agreement , as a result of which Tripura was declared a state of India.

In November 1956, it was declared a Union Territory without a legislature and got assigned an elected ministry in 1963. But eventually, Tripura again conferred full statehood in 1971 under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act.

Tripura does not have any big cities as such – the state has a total of about 20 towns, which are grouped into 8 districts, and 23 sub-divisions.

These include: Agartala (the capital), Dharmanagar, Kailasahar, Khowai, Belonia, Melaghar, Mohanpur, Jirania.

Tripura is home to people belonging to several cultural groups and tribes. The state has a population of 41 Lakhs (4.1 million), as of 2020. A large number of people here follow Hinduism (more than 83%). Apart from this, some other people follow Christianity (around 4.35%) and Islam (8.60%).

Tripura’s culture is a diverse mix of different traditions brought in by the diverse population living here. Music, dances, art, colourful and traditional attires and festive celebrations are part of this culture.

Tripuri people wear a traditional clothing, especially during special occasions here.  This comprises of a piece of clothing called “rignai” for the lower half of the body and 2 parts of upper body clothing called “risa” and “rikutu”.

Music and dances are integral part of the tribal people in Tripura, and they use unique musical instruments like Sarinda, Chongpreng, and Sumui (a kind of flute) to create their music. Each tribal community has their own songs and dances matching those, which are usually performed during weddings and festive occasions.

Bamboo and cane handicrafts are also popular here, and one can find various pretty artefacts made of these to purchase and take home from here.

The official languages of Tripura state are Bengali and Kokborok. Bengali is predominant in the state, followed by Kokborok which is spoken by Tripuris (the locals of Tripura, who don’t speak Bengali). Hindi is also spoken and understood to a large extent here.

Besides these, some minority languages like Chakma, Falam (a Burmese language), Garo (of Meghalaya) and Manipuri (of Manipur) too are spoken by some percentages of Tripura’s population.

Tripura’s cuisine is mostly non-vegetarian with occasional vegetarian additions, and primarily consists of dishes made with fish, chicken, mutton, and pork, along with some vegetables. Rice is the staple grain eaten in the main course.

Some notable dishes from the cuisine of Tripura include:

• Mui Borok – A dish made with fermented and dried fish, with lots of spices.
• Kosoi Bwtwi – A vegetarian dish made with steamed green beans, garlic and spices.
• Muya Bai Wahan Chak - The pork is cooked with multiple healthy ingredients such as jackfruit, bamboo shoots, and papaya.

For inter-state travel, Tripura has a domestic airport and some railway stations connecting to other cities in the state or other states. For travel within cities, there are many other modes such as rickshaws, buses, and private vehicles like 2-wheelers and cars, or cycling.

Airports – Tripura currently has just one functional airport, which is domestic (with flights connecting to cities in other states in the country, i.e.-

• Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (at Agartala)

Tripura has 28 train stations, from where trains to various cities, towns and villages within the state or surrounding states can be boarded –

• Agartala railway station
• Dharmanagar railway station
• Bishalgarh railway station
• Belonia railway station
• Jolaibari railway station
• Ambasa railway station
• Panisagar railway station

Bus Terminals – Tripura has its own line of state-run TRTC (Tripura Road Transport Corporation) buses which provide the connection between all the cities and towns within the state and also neighbouring states. These buses can be boarded at TRTC stops/terminals that are available in every major district and town in the state. The prominent town/city bus terminals in the state are located in almost every city and town - they can be easily found and are conveniently accessible.

Tripura is a heavenly state full of ecological attractions as well as incredible historical buildings and spots. Some amazing places to explore in Tripura are:

• Agartala – The capital city, which is known for its terrains - full of greenery, hills and beautiful valleys. A top attraction of this place is Ujjayanta Palace – a magnificent palace building set amidst some incredible gardens from the Mughal era.

Besides this, the city also has other attractions like the beautiful Gedu Mia’s Mosque built of white marble domes and towers, and Neermahal summer palace whose architecture is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles., and which is located in the middle of a Lake (Lake Rudrasagar).

• Kailasahar – An ancient town that is situated very near to Bangladesh borders, and has many historic spots. This town was the capital of Tripura in ancient times, and has many interesting attractions related to the state’s heritage.
• Jampui Hill – A tranquil hilltop spot for nature lovers, with lots of greenery.
• Tripura Government Museum
• Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

Tripura has few interesting places that people can travel to or explore; and which are perfect for a short vacation or a weekend getaway, such as –

• Jampui Hill – A tranquil hilltop spot for nature lovers, with lots of greenery.
• Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
• Agartala city – The capital city also has many other attractions like the beautiful Gedu Mia’s Mosque built of white marble domes and towers, and Neermahal summer palace whose architecture is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles., and which is located in the middle of a Lake (Lake Rudrasagar).

Tripura has quite a few historical gems. Some popular sites of historical significance in the state are –

• Kailasahar – An ancient town that is situated very near to Bangladesh borders, and has many historic spots. This town was the capital of Tripura in ancient times, and has many interesting attractions related to the state’s heritage.
• Tripura Government Museum
• Neermahal Palace