TRIPURA
TRIPURA
Matabari- This temple is one of the 51 pithasthans in India as per Hindu mythology. As per mythology, Lord Vishnu had cut off the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces by Sudarshana Chakra and all these pieces fell at different places throughout the country and these places are known as pithasthans. It is said that 'right foot' of Mata Sati fell at Matabari This pithasthan is also known as Kurma Pith because the shape of the temple premises resembles to that of "Kurma" namely tortoise. Inside the temple, the idol of Maa Kali is kept which is made of 'reddish black Kastic pathar.' Maa Kali is worshipped in her 'Soroshi' form in this temple. There is an idol of smaller size of Maa Kali called 'Chotto Maa 'and this image used to be carried by Maharajas of Tripura during "Mrigaya" namely hunting and also during war.
The temple consists of square type sanctum of the typical Bengali hut type structure with a conical dome. The temple was constructed in 1501 A.D. by the then Maharaja Dhanya Manikya.
In the eastern side of the temple there is a famous Kalyan Sagar where fishes and tortoises of huge size are found and devotees feed them with "muri" and biscuits. No fishing is permitted in the Kalyan Sagar.
Every year on Dewali, a famous Mela takes place near the temple which is visited by more than two lakhs pilgrims.
Sepahijala- The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is located around 35kms from Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. The sanctuary is quite near to the National Highway 44, which connects it to other important places. The sanctuary was incepted in the year 1987 as a measure to protect the wildlife of the place. The sanctuary covers an area of around 18.53sq.kms and abounds in varied type of vegetation cover. The sanctuary is an ideal place for all those who want to enjoy the beauties of the Mother Nature at its best. The sanctuary offers various sightseeing sights like Botanical garden, lake, zoo etc.
Neermahal- Neer-Mahal – also means a ‘palace on water’, is located at Melaghar, in Tripura. It is about 55 km from Agartala. The palace was built by King or Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in the middle of the lake Rudrasagar in 1930. The palace is the 2nd largest of its kind in India after the Jalmahal in Rajasthan and the only one in Eastern India.
Known as ‘lake palace’ of Tripura, Neer-Mahal was constructed as a summer residence. It was Maharaja Birbikram Bahadur’s idea to build a palace in the beautiful Rudrasagar lake and in 1921 he accredited the British company Martin and Burns to construct the palace for him. The company took nine years to complete the work. Maharaja Birbikram Bahadur belonged to the ‘Manikya Dynasty’ which is the 2nd largest dynasty in the world. The palace is the establishment of Maharaja’s great taste and his fascinating idea of blending Hindu and Muslim traditions and cultures.
The palace is divided into two parts. The western side of the palace is known as Andar Mahal. It was made for the royal family. The eastern side is an open-air theatre where drama, theatre, dance and other cultural events were organized for the enjoyment of Maharajas and their royal families. The palace has 24 rooms in total.
Neer-Mahal has two stairways inside leading down to a landing on the water of Rudrasagar Lake. Maharajas used to go by motor boat to the palace from ‘Rajghat’.
Kamalasagar Kali Temple – It is located about 27 kilometers from Agartala. It is also known as Kasba Kali Bari. Kamalasagar Kali Temple at Tripura is situated on a hillock overlooking Kamala Sagar. Kamala Sagar Lake is located in the Bangladesh border and is one of the most popular sites for picnicking at Tripura.
The goddess housed at the Kamalasagar Kali Temple is identical to Mahishasurmardini. The image of the goddess worshipped at Kamalasagar Kali Temple of Tripura is made up of sandstone and bears a close resemblance with Dasabhuja Durga; but as the deity is worshiped as Kali. Moreover, due to the presence of a Shivalinga at the feet of the deity, the Kamalasagar Kali Temple is known as 'Kalibari'.
Kamalasagar Lake is said to be excavated in the 15th century by Maharaja Manikya Bahadur. The Kamalasagar Kali Temple at Tripura dates back to the 17th century.
The fourteen Goddess Temple -This Fourteen Goddess Temple is situated in Old Agartala. The history depicts that during a face of war with Samser Gazi, the maharaja of Tripura, Krishna Manikya had shifted his capital from Udaipur to Old Agartala. The temple is located at a distance of just 14 Kms from the existing capital of Tripura. It is situated about 14kms from Agartala at a place which is known as the old Agaratala because the capital was temporarily shifted to to the place while Maharaja Krishna Manikya was at war for a long time with Shamser Gazi. Here during the month of July every year and visited thousands of piligrims.
It continued to be the capital till it was shifted to Agartala. Near the sacred 14 goddess temple during the month of July every year a Kharchi festival is organised and thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this festival.
.
Pilak – Nestled in the lush green valley dotted with paddy-fields, sparse human habitation and occasional uplands, pilak in South Tripura’s Belonia subdivision holds the key to Tripura’s ancient history. Pilak in Tripura is a place of attraction for its archaeological remains of 8th & 9th centuries AD. Located at a distance of 100km from Agartala in Tripura, Pilak seems like a shrine of Hindu and Buddhist art.The Hindu and Buddhist Sculpture can be seen at its best here. The area displays numerous terracotta plaques, sealing with supa and stone images of Avolokiteswara, including the images of Narasimhan, found there dating back to Buddhist period. The images found here reflect survival of heterodox creeds and sects portraying both Hinduism and Buddhism. Pilak is closely associated with Mynamoti and paharpur in Bangladesh. Recently, further excavation has been taken up by Archaeological Survey of India to know more about the region and its history.
Dumboor Lake- A water area of 41 sq.km. with an un-ending spell of luxuriant green vegetation all around stands majestic for her exceedingly charming beauty and 48 islands in the midst of the lake. Migratory birds, Water sports facilities are additional attractions. 115 km away from Agartala, the place is connected by bus from Agartala and Udaypur. The panorama of transparent weaving water cover the vast span and the deep green dots of island in their midst are fascinating. There is a Hydel Project near the lake from where River Gomati originates and this is called Tirthamukh where on 14th January every year famous ‘Pous Sankranti Mela’ takes place. The lake is the confluence of rivers Raima and Sarma. Various species of migratory birds are noticed in the winter and it has rich reservoir of natural and cultured fishes. Nearby is Tirthmukh, a popular pilgrim center where tribal and non-tribal people assemble there to take bath during Uttarayan Sankranti.
Deotamura- One of the popular Tripura destinations has plenty to offer its tourists. The ancient town oozes oodles of old-world charm and is famed for its historicity. The etymological significance of the term Deotamura connotes the peak of the lords.
The picturesque town, basks on the banks of the Gomati or the Devtamura River and is sited at a distance of 75 km from the state's capital city, Agartala. Myriads of tourists are attracted to the stunning rock cut images that adorn the town's landscape. The Chabimura hills contain some exquisite carvings that date as far back as 15th or 16th century A.D.
In order to visit the ancient town and spend a fruitful weekend exploring the antiquarian sculpting, tourists can drive to Rangamati town by bus and then take a boat ride to the town. There are a multitude of accommodation options for tourists visiting Deotamura.
Tourists make a serendipitous discovery when the suddenly come across an age-old rock cut temple, nestled amidst the lush greenery. Majority of the shrines contain intricate images of the revered Gods and Goddesses like Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Mahishasur Mardini Durga, Kartikeya and Lord Vishnu. There are around 37 mammoth images on the gigantic vertical rocks and these images present a mind blowing spectacle. In fact, tourists can a glimpse of the magnificent sculptures that accentuates the natural beauty of the landscape as they cruise down the river on their sojourn to Deotamura.
Unakoti -It is siutated in the Kailashahar subdivision in the northern part of Tripura. Unakoti in Tripura is known to possess a large number of rock-cut images and stone sculptures depicting various gods and goddess of the Hindu Mythology. Unakoti, according to the archaeological Survey of India, has a past history that dates back to the 9th century or 8th century. Although there is an uncertainty about the origin of Unakoti; yet it estimated that Unakoti is one of the biggest bas-relief sculptures in the country. Legends believe that Lord Shiva halted at this site for a night, while on a journey to Kashi. It is believed that Lord Shiva had asked his companions to wake up in the morning so that they might depart to Kashi. But as nobody woke up before sunrise, Lord Shiva crushed his comrades into stones and proceeded towards Kashi.
Unakoti at Tripura is located about 178 kilometers from Agartala. It offers a wide opportunity for trekking. In fact, it is one of the most opular sites for sightseeing and adventure tourism at Tripura
Jampui Hill – It is situated about 3000 feet above the sea level, is the highest hill range of Tripura. It is located about 200 kilometers away from Agartala and about 90 kilometers from the district headquarter of Kailashahar. The Jampui Hill of Tripura offers a panoramic view of the villages and valleys of Mizoram.
The Jampui Hill at Tripura is known to be the paradise on earth. The virgin forests, luxuriant landscape, orange gardens and the eco-friendly environment of the Jampui Hill attracts tourists from the different parts of the world. The Jampui Hill in Tripura holds a sparse population and thus, it seems to be the ideal site for leisure tourism.
Besides the orange festival also forms an important part of the tourism in the Jampui Hill. Every year, the Jampui Hill witnesses the Orange festival during the month of November. The festival is celebrated with the people of the hills, irrespective of caste and creed.
Jampui Hill is known for the sunrise and sunset points. Tourists from the various parts of the world come to Tripura to see sunrise and sunset at the Jampui Hill. Moreover, the Jampui Hill, especially the watchtower at Betlingchip, provide a kaleidoscopic view of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dasda Valley and other hill ranges. Betlingchip is the highest peak of Jampui Hill and is about 3200 feet high. The boat racing festival is another important festival that adds delight to tourism at the Jampui Hill.
Ujjayanta Palace -This royal house, which stands in the Capital city Agartala covering one sq.Km. area was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901.It is a two storied mansion, having a mixed type of architecture with three high domes, the central one being 86’ high. The magnificent tile floor, curved wooden ceiling and beautifully crafted doors are particularly notable. The palace is set with huge Mughal style gardens, beautified by pools and gardens and tiled floors. Flood lighting and musical fountains have also added to its beauty.
Kunjaban Palace- A green hillock known as Kunjaban ( a bower) for its scenic beauty stands to the north of Ujjayanta palace at a distance of about 1 Km. Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya (1909-1923) selected this beautiful place for building a suburban palace for retreat and constructed a palace in 1917 which was named as ‘Pushbanta Palace’. The Maharaja himself being gifted artist is said to have drawn the plan of the palace and its adjoining garden.
Poet Rabindranath Tagore stayed in the eastern apartment of this palace during his 7th and last visit to the state in 1926. This palace was the mute witness to many of the great poet's creations including a number of popular songs. There are well laid gardens and lawns inside the palace which is the official residence of the Governor of Tripura now. The southern side of the garden has been made open for the public and has been named as ‘Rabindra Kanan’.
Tripura is a state in North-East India which borders Bangladesh, Mizoram and Assam. It is surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west: the length of its international border is 856 km (84 per cent of its total border). It shares a 53 km long border with Assam and a 109 km long border with Mizoram. The state is connected with the rest of India by only one road (NH-44) that runs through the hills to the border of Karimganj District in Assam and then winds through the states of Meghalaya, Assam and North Bengal to Calcutta. Tripura is a land of beautiful and picturesque landscape, festivals, lakes and rich culture. This princely state of India houses many sacred and historically important temples.
The temple consists of square type sanctum of the typical Bengali hut type structure with a conical dome. The temple was constructed in 1501 A.D. by the then Maharaja Dhanya Manikya.
In the eastern side of the temple there is a famous Kalyan Sagar where fishes and tortoises of huge size are found and devotees feed them with "muri" and biscuits. No fishing is permitted in the Kalyan Sagar.
Every year on Dewali, a famous Mela takes place near the temple which is visited by more than two lakhs pilgrims.
Sepahijala- The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is located around 35kms from Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. The sanctuary is quite near to the National Highway 44, which connects it to other important places. The sanctuary was incepted in the year 1987 as a measure to protect the wildlife of the place. The sanctuary covers an area of around 18.53sq.kms and abounds in varied type of vegetation cover. The sanctuary is an ideal place for all those who want to enjoy the beauties of the Mother Nature at its best. The sanctuary offers various sightseeing sights like Botanical garden, lake, zoo etc.
Neermahal- Neer-Mahal – also means a ‘palace on water’, is located at Melaghar, in Tripura. It is about 55 km from Agartala. The palace was built by King or Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in the middle of the lake Rudrasagar in 1930. The palace is the 2nd largest of its kind in India after the Jalmahal in Rajasthan and the only one in Eastern India.
Known as ‘lake palace’ of Tripura, Neer-Mahal was constructed as a summer residence. It was Maharaja Birbikram Bahadur’s idea to build a palace in the beautiful Rudrasagar lake and in 1921 he accredited the British company Martin and Burns to construct the palace for him. The company took nine years to complete the work. Maharaja Birbikram Bahadur belonged to the ‘Manikya Dynasty’ which is the 2nd largest dynasty in the world. The palace is the establishment of Maharaja’s great taste and his fascinating idea of blending Hindu and Muslim traditions and cultures.
The palace is divided into two parts. The western side of the palace is known as Andar Mahal. It was made for the royal family. The eastern side is an open-air theatre where drama, theatre, dance and other cultural events were organized for the enjoyment of Maharajas and their royal families. The palace has 24 rooms in total.
Neer-Mahal has two stairways inside leading down to a landing on the water of Rudrasagar Lake. Maharajas used to go by motor boat to the palace from ‘Rajghat’.
Kamalasagar Kali Temple – It is located about 27 kilometers from Agartala. It is also known as Kasba Kali Bari. Kamalasagar Kali Temple at Tripura is situated on a hillock overlooking Kamala Sagar. Kamala Sagar Lake is located in the Bangladesh border and is one of the most popular sites for picnicking at Tripura.
The goddess housed at the Kamalasagar Kali Temple is identical to Mahishasurmardini. The image of the goddess worshipped at Kamalasagar Kali Temple of Tripura is made up of sandstone and bears a close resemblance with Dasabhuja Durga; but as the deity is worshiped as Kali. Moreover, due to the presence of a Shivalinga at the feet of the deity, the Kamalasagar Kali Temple is known as 'Kalibari'.
Kamalasagar Lake is said to be excavated in the 15th century by Maharaja Manikya Bahadur. The Kamalasagar Kali Temple at Tripura dates back to the 17th century.
The fourteen Goddess Temple -This Fourteen Goddess Temple is situated in Old Agartala. The history depicts that during a face of war with Samser Gazi, the maharaja of Tripura, Krishna Manikya had shifted his capital from Udaipur to Old Agartala. The temple is located at a distance of just 14 Kms from the existing capital of Tripura. It is situated about 14kms from Agartala at a place which is known as the old Agaratala because the capital was temporarily shifted to to the place while Maharaja Krishna Manikya was at war for a long time with Shamser Gazi. Here during the month of July every year and visited thousands of piligrims.
It continued to be the capital till it was shifted to Agartala. Near the sacred 14 goddess temple during the month of July every year a Kharchi festival is organised and thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this festival.
.
Pilak – Nestled in the lush green valley dotted with paddy-fields, sparse human habitation and occasional uplands, pilak in South Tripura’s Belonia subdivision holds the key to Tripura’s ancient history. Pilak in Tripura is a place of attraction for its archaeological remains of 8th & 9th centuries AD. Located at a distance of 100km from Agartala in Tripura, Pilak seems like a shrine of Hindu and Buddhist art.The Hindu and Buddhist Sculpture can be seen at its best here. The area displays numerous terracotta plaques, sealing with supa and stone images of Avolokiteswara, including the images of Narasimhan, found there dating back to Buddhist period. The images found here reflect survival of heterodox creeds and sects portraying both Hinduism and Buddhism. Pilak is closely associated with Mynamoti and paharpur in Bangladesh. Recently, further excavation has been taken up by Archaeological Survey of India to know more about the region and its history.
Dumboor Lake- A water area of 41 sq.km. with an un-ending spell of luxuriant green vegetation all around stands majestic for her exceedingly charming beauty and 48 islands in the midst of the lake. Migratory birds, Water sports facilities are additional attractions. 115 km away from Agartala, the place is connected by bus from Agartala and Udaypur. The panorama of transparent weaving water cover the vast span and the deep green dots of island in their midst are fascinating. There is a Hydel Project near the lake from where River Gomati originates and this is called Tirthamukh where on 14th January every year famous ‘Pous Sankranti Mela’ takes place. The lake is the confluence of rivers Raima and Sarma. Various species of migratory birds are noticed in the winter and it has rich reservoir of natural and cultured fishes. Nearby is Tirthmukh, a popular pilgrim center where tribal and non-tribal people assemble there to take bath during Uttarayan Sankranti.
Deotamura- One of the popular Tripura destinations has plenty to offer its tourists. The ancient town oozes oodles of old-world charm and is famed for its historicity. The etymological significance of the term Deotamura connotes the peak of the lords.
The picturesque town, basks on the banks of the Gomati or the Devtamura River and is sited at a distance of 75 km from the state's capital city, Agartala. Myriads of tourists are attracted to the stunning rock cut images that adorn the town's landscape. The Chabimura hills contain some exquisite carvings that date as far back as 15th or 16th century A.D.
In order to visit the ancient town and spend a fruitful weekend exploring the antiquarian sculpting, tourists can drive to Rangamati town by bus and then take a boat ride to the town. There are a multitude of accommodation options for tourists visiting Deotamura.
Tourists make a serendipitous discovery when the suddenly come across an age-old rock cut temple, nestled amidst the lush greenery. Majority of the shrines contain intricate images of the revered Gods and Goddesses like Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Mahishasur Mardini Durga, Kartikeya and Lord Vishnu. There are around 37 mammoth images on the gigantic vertical rocks and these images present a mind blowing spectacle. In fact, tourists can a glimpse of the magnificent sculptures that accentuates the natural beauty of the landscape as they cruise down the river on their sojourn to Deotamura.
Unakoti -It is siutated in the Kailashahar subdivision in the northern part of Tripura. Unakoti in Tripura is known to possess a large number of rock-cut images and stone sculptures depicting various gods and goddess of the Hindu Mythology. Unakoti, according to the archaeological Survey of India, has a past history that dates back to the 9th century or 8th century. Although there is an uncertainty about the origin of Unakoti; yet it estimated that Unakoti is one of the biggest bas-relief sculptures in the country. Legends believe that Lord Shiva halted at this site for a night, while on a journey to Kashi. It is believed that Lord Shiva had asked his companions to wake up in the morning so that they might depart to Kashi. But as nobody woke up before sunrise, Lord Shiva crushed his comrades into stones and proceeded towards Kashi.
Unakoti at Tripura is located about 178 kilometers from Agartala. It offers a wide opportunity for trekking. In fact, it is one of the most opular sites for sightseeing and adventure tourism at Tripura
Jampui Hill – It is situated about 3000 feet above the sea level, is the highest hill range of Tripura. It is located about 200 kilometers away from Agartala and about 90 kilometers from the district headquarter of Kailashahar. The Jampui Hill of Tripura offers a panoramic view of the villages and valleys of Mizoram.
The Jampui Hill at Tripura is known to be the paradise on earth. The virgin forests, luxuriant landscape, orange gardens and the eco-friendly environment of the Jampui Hill attracts tourists from the different parts of the world. The Jampui Hill in Tripura holds a sparse population and thus, it seems to be the ideal site for leisure tourism.
Besides the orange festival also forms an important part of the tourism in the Jampui Hill. Every year, the Jampui Hill witnesses the Orange festival during the month of November. The festival is celebrated with the people of the hills, irrespective of caste and creed.
Jampui Hill is known for the sunrise and sunset points. Tourists from the various parts of the world come to Tripura to see sunrise and sunset at the Jampui Hill. Moreover, the Jampui Hill, especially the watchtower at Betlingchip, provide a kaleidoscopic view of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dasda Valley and other hill ranges. Betlingchip is the highest peak of Jampui Hill and is about 3200 feet high. The boat racing festival is another important festival that adds delight to tourism at the Jampui Hill.
Ujjayanta Palace -This royal house, which stands in the Capital city Agartala covering one sq.Km. area was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901.It is a two storied mansion, having a mixed type of architecture with three high domes, the central one being 86’ high. The magnificent tile floor, curved wooden ceiling and beautifully crafted doors are particularly notable. The palace is set with huge Mughal style gardens, beautified by pools and gardens and tiled floors. Flood lighting and musical fountains have also added to its beauty.
Kunjaban Palace- A green hillock known as Kunjaban ( a bower) for its scenic beauty stands to the north of Ujjayanta palace at a distance of about 1 Km. Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya (1909-1923) selected this beautiful place for building a suburban palace for retreat and constructed a palace in 1917 which was named as ‘Pushbanta Palace’. The Maharaja himself being gifted artist is said to have drawn the plan of the palace and its adjoining garden.
Poet Rabindranath Tagore stayed in the eastern apartment of this palace during his 7th and last visit to the state in 1926. This palace was the mute witness to many of the great poet's creations including a number of popular songs. There are well laid gardens and lawns inside the palace which is the official residence of the Governor of Tripura now. The southern side of the garden has been made open for the public and has been named as ‘Rabindra Kanan’.
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