Overview
Tucked
in north-eastern part of India, Agartala is the capital of Tripura state. With
its strategic location close to the neighbouring country of Bangladesh,
Agartala enjoys a special place in India’s political map. A historic place, Agartala
rose to prominence in the 19th century, when Maharaja Krishna Manikya declared
the city his capital. The magnificent palaces, architectural masterpieces,
temples and churches altogether display the rich past of the city. Nature has
blessed the charming city with rich and varied flora & fauna, lush hills,
picturesque lakes, pleasant atmosphere and unmatched beauty. Agartala is a
major commercial centre of the region and serves a major market for rice, tea,
oilseed and other ingredients. Agartala is a cultural melting pot of the region
and home to people of diverse cultures. Experience the unique culture of the
region in the lifestyle of locals including eating habits and dress senses.
Fairs and festivals also provide a fine glimpse of the varied culture and
traditions. The rich heritage of cane and bamboo handicrafts also adds more
charm to the city of Agartala. Get ready for a holiday in Agartala, where many
hidden jewells are waiting for you.
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| Agartala |
Fast Facts
Main languages: Bengali is widely
spoken and used in Agartala by locals along with Tripuri language ‘Kokborok’.
Manipuri, Chakma, Nepali and basic Hindi are also spoken.
When to go: Agartala experiences
a moderate climate all round the year that makes it ideal to visit any time.
Summers (April to July) are pleasant with maximum temperature touches a high of
35 degree Celsius, while monsoons (July to September) bring heavy rains. Winter
season (October to March) is also pleasant with temperature dips to a low of 5
degree Celsius. October to March is the best time to visit Agartala.
Local Transport: Cycle rickshaws are
main mode of local transport in Agartala. Auto-rickshaws locally called ‘tempu’
also ply in specific routes of the city. Buses are also available for long
routes and day trips to nearby places.
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR) 1
USD is approximately 48 INR
Voltage: 230V / 50Hz
Time Zone: Indian Standard Time
(UTC +5:30)
Location: North-East India,
along the banks of Haora River
Nearest Metropolis: Guwahati - 510 km
away, Kolkata – 1680 km away
Eating
Like
the normal lifestyle, the cuisine of Agartala is also highly influenced from
the Bengali culture. Fish dominates in almost all the meals and served with
boiled rice. Despite the strong influence of Bengali cuisine, Tripuri cuisine
also flourishes in Agartala. Like Bengali cuisine, fish and rice are the main
components of Tripuri cuisine. Locally called as ‘Berma’, the dried ‘puthi’
fish is used as a spice in most of the Tripuri dishes. Bamboo shoots, ginger,
green chili and other natural ingredients are also used for the preparation of
local dishes. Generally the Tripuri dishes are prepared without the use of oil.
Some of the popular Tripuri dishes are Awandru, Bwtwi, Chakhwi, Chakhwtwi,
Chatang, Deng, Gudok, Mosodeng, Peng, Rabra, Ser, Sok and Yohk. Many
restaurants in Agartala serve traditional Tripuri dishes along with Bengali
dishes.
Shopping
If
you are a discerning shopper and wish to buy something for yourself or near and
dear ones, then Agartala is a perfect place for you. In fact, Agartala is a
paradise for avid shoppers and offers a vast collection of traditional
handicrafts along with other interesting objects. The forestland of Tripura
produces bamboo and wood in large quantity that have been used as the raw
material for manufacturing of the handicrafts. Besides these, clay and palm
leaves are also used by the local craftsmen for making exquisite artifacts. The
bamboo and cane handicrafts of Agartala can be used to decorate the home
interiors. Explore the markets of Agartala to buy the bamboo or cane made
objects like floor mats, tablemats, room dividers, decorated lampshades, wall
panels and furniture (sofa sets, baby chairs garden chairs, tables, morah and
apple morah). You may also pick up hand-woven fabrics available in a variety of
designs and colors. ‘Travel Agartala’ – a government run shop is a perfect
place to buy authentic artifacts at reasonable prices. You may also visit the
private shops in the main market area that offer a wide array of items including
traditional handicrafts.
Sightseeing
The
city of Agartala houses plenty of attractions in its small area that include
magnificent palaces, important Hindu and Buddhist temples, massive churches,
wonderful museums, picturesque natural lakes, and beautifully managed parks and
gardens. Built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya in 1901, Ujjayanta Palace is a
two storied building and now operational as the state legislative assembly.
Just one km from Ujjayanta Palace is Kunjaban Palace also called Pushbanta Palace,
which is perched atop a hillock called ‘Kunjaban’. The palace is now the
official residence of Governor of Tripura and houses well laid gardens. The
southern side of the garden is named as ‘Rabindra Kanan’ and is open for
public. Malancha Niwas is another attraction close to Kunjaban Palace and
deserves a visit. After covering the palaces, move towards the temples situated
in the Palace Compound. Laxmi Narayan Bari Temple and Durga Bari Temple are the
main temples of the Palace Compound. Jagannath Temple, Venuban Vihar, Buddha
Mandir and Umamaheswar Temple are other noted temples of Agartala. Next, visit
the churches of Agartala such as Agartala Baptist Church and Agartala City
Baptist Church. After visiting the temples and churches, visit Tripura Government
Museum to see an excellent collection of rare images, sculptures and other
interesting objects. Located in the heart of city, Sukanta Academy is a science
museum and houses a small planetarium. Puratan Agartala, Tripura University,
Maharaja Bir Bikram College, New Capital Complex, Akhaura Checkpost, Nazrul
Kalakshetra, Agartala Railway Station and Gedu Miar Masjid are other places of
tourist interest in Agartala.
Activities
Usually
the visitors to Agartala spend relaxing moments amidst tranquil natural
surroundings. However, if you are looking for some leisure options then take a
stroll and cover the major spots of the city. With leisurely walks, you can
burn extra calories from your body and easily explore the city. Rose Valley
Amusement Park is a famous leisure spot in Agartala and thronged by tourists as
well as locals in large numbers. You can indulge in a variety of leisure
activities in the amusement park. Nehru Park and Children’s Park are also ideal
spots to spend relaxing moments with family members and friends. Enjoy boating
in the lakes of Agartala along with magnificent view of the surroundings. If
you wish to experience some high adrenaline adventure activities, then
undertake short to long treks to the hills around Agartala. Wildlife safari in
nearby wildlife sanctuaries is also a good leisure option.
Events
Agartala
is a happening city and celebrates many festivals round the year that draw a
large number of tourists as well as pilgrims. Hindu population predominates in
Agartala and most the festivals revolve around Hindu traditions. Agartala is
dominated by the Bengalis and Bengali culture flourishes in the city. Like West
Bengal, in Agartala too the festival of Durga Puja (October / November) is
celebrated at a large scale with great fanfare. Along with Durga Puja, the
Bengali culture can also be observed in the celebration of Saraswati Puja. Holi
also called ‘Rong Khela’ and Kali Puja (Diwali) are other famous Hindu festival
of Agartala. The city of Agartala also has a fair population of the native
Tripuri people, who celebrates several regional as well as religious festivals
that display rich culture and traditions. Kharchi Festival (July), Garia and
Gajan Festival (April), Charak Puja (April), Ashokastami Festival (April), Ratha
Jatra (June), Manasa Mangal (August) and Rasha Festival (November) are some of
the famous ethnic Tripuri festivals celebrated in Agartala. Eid-ul-Fitr and
Christmas are other important religious festivals celebrated in Agartala by
Muslims and Christians respectively. The state tourism department organizes
several special events in Agartala every year. The year begins with the annual
Book Fair in Agartala that provides a good opportunity to buy books at
discounted rates. The birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (January 23) is
also celebrated at a grand level in Agartala with colourful processions and
parades in the morning hours on the streets. Rabindra / Nazrul Jayanti (May) is
another important day celebrated in Agartala.
Nightlife
Nightlife
options are not available in Agartala and you have to remain stuck inside your
hotel in the nights. But you can make your nights happening by attending
special programmes organised across the city. During winters ‘Kirtans’ (special
religious musical programmes) are organised at the major spots of the city that
go till the early hours of the morning. You can pass the night by attending a
Kirtan Party and enjoy the re-mix of the filmi songs in religious themes sung
by the chorus. A classical dance form, ‘Raas’ is also performed at Radha Madhav
Temple in Agartala each year during the full moon night of the Hindu month
‘Aghrayan’ to mark the love of Lord Krishna for his consort Radha. During the
festival, the local artists dressed up in traditional attire dance around the idols
of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha all through the night.
Excursions
Agartala
itself has plenty of natural and man-made attractions to enthrall the visitors.
But a short trip to nearby places increases the excitement of the trip many
folds. A calm and serene lake, Damboor Lake is thronged by nature lovers,
adventure seekers as well as leisure travelers from Agartala. Damboor Lake
offers a wonderful opportunity to indulge in water sports activities along with
other entertainment options. Known as the ‘mother of the tribals of Tripura’,
Raima Valley is a famous tourist spot and abounds with well laid-out gardens
and plantations. Situated at a distance
of 35 km from Agartala, Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary provides shelter to a
wide range of wildlife, avian species as well as primates. Spread over an area
of 18.5 sq km, the Wildlife Sanctuary has five distinct sections, namely
Carnivores Section, Primate Section, Reptile Section, Ungulate Section and
Aviary Section. The wildlife sanctuary also has Abasarika and Amrit Sagar lakes
that offer boating facilities. Close to Agartala, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is
another famous wildlife sanctuary and home to interesting animal, plant and
birds species. Also pay a visit to Gondacherra Wildlife Sanctuary, where you
can completely surrender yourself to unspoiled atmosphere and experience the
nature at its best. Explore the wildlife sanctuary and see the animals in their
natural habitat. Constructed in 1930 as the summer resort for the King Maharaja
Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, Neermahal or Water Palace (50 km away from
Agartala) is an Engineering marvel and presents a fine blend of Hindu and
Islamic architectures. Located 175 km from Agartala, Unakoti is known for
housing exquisite rock cut carvings and stone images. Although located at a
distance of 240 km from Agartala, but Jampui Hill deserves a visit due to
treasure trove of a variety of Orchids, oranges and unmatched natural beauty. Jampui
Hill is the highest hill range in the state bordering Mizoram. The rock cut
carvings and stone images at Deotamura (75), Pilak (100 km) and Unakoti (175)
are also considered among must visit places around Agartala.
Getting There
Air: Agartala Airport is connected to Kolkata and Guwahati by daily flight. The airport
also has flights from Delhi and Chennai via Kolkata. Auto-rickshaws are
available from the airport to various places of the city.
Rail: Agartala Railway Station is linked with a metro
gauge line with Assam. Lumding Agartala Express plies everyday between Lumding
(a railway station on Guwahati – Dibrugarh route) and Agartala. The train
journey between Lumding and Agartala takes around 16 hours. Kumarghat (160 km)
and Dharmanagar (200 km) are the nearest railway stations from Agartala. You
can hire a taxi from these railway stations that costs about Rs 2500 – 3000.
Road: NH 44 connects Agartala with other parts of Tripura
and neighbouring state of Assam and Meghalaya. Direct bus services are available from Guwahati (510 km), Silchar
(279 km) and Shillong (475 km) to Agartala.
Driving directions: From Guwahati –
drive South on Assam Trunk Road (NH 37) till you reach NH 40. After crossing
Shillong and Jaintia Hills proceed onto Agartala – Assam Highway (NH 44) that
takes you to Agartala (15 hours, 510 km).
Recommended for:
Agartala
is an ideal place for all types of travelers such as singles / couples
/ friends / single woman / senior travellers and
family with children
Top 5 Must See
- Ujjayanta Palace:
the palace of erstwhile Tripura Kings and now the state legislative
assembly
- Kunjaban Palace:
a marvelous monument providing a glimpse of the bygone era
- Jagannath Temple:
a Hindu temple of Vaishnava school
of thought
- Tripura State
Museum: to see a rich collection of rare artifacts
- Jampui Hill:
home to a variety of orchids and oranges
