Tripura Tourism

Tripura
    
Agartala
        
Ujjayanta Palace
            The beautiful 19th century Ujjayanta Palaca was home to the Maharajas of Tripura and cost millions of rupees to build.  It is by far the most prominent building of the city and now serves as the center of the state's legislature.  Surrounded by a gorgeous park and two symmetric lakes, the palace is a testament to the wealth of the former maharajas.
        
Dumboor Lake
            Close to Agartala is Dumboor Lake, a pilgrimage site and source of the Gomati river.  Set in a magnificent backdrop of emerald hills, the lake is a common destination for many eco-tourists as well as picnickers.  In certain times of the year, it has a vast population of migratory birds.  It is also the site of Trithamukh, a Hindu pilgrimage site.
        
Devtamura
            Near Agartala on the Gomati River is the beautiful Devtamura peak, considered an abode of the gods by many Tripurans and the site of numerous beautiful rock-cut temples.  The many shrines are dedicated variously to Ganesh, Kali, Shiva, Vishnu and Durga, among many others.  The temples date from around 500 years ago and are among the most spectacular of their kind in India.
        
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
            Just south of Agar is the beautiful Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, famed for its population of rhesus macaques and spectacled monkeys.  The site has elephant rides available for visitors and is a good afternoon getaway for those seeking a natural setting.
        
Udaipur
        Called the "City of Lakes" for the many splendid ponds dotting its cityscape, Udaipur is arguably one of the prettiest cities in India and has many temples complimenting its peaceful ponds.  There are some significant and popular sites in its limits for religiously or culturally inclined tourists.
        
Tripura Sundari Temple
            One of 51 Shakti Peethas, sacred religious centers for the goddess Shakti, the Tripura Sundari temple is hundreds of years old and is a major pilgrimage site for Indians and Bengalis from neighboring Bangladesh.  
        
Bhuvaneswari Temple
            Bhuvaneswari Temple is held in high esteem by Tripurans as it is a a center of worship for its namesake goddess, Bhuvaneswari.  Built hundred of years ago by the maharajas of Tripura, the temple is an excellent example of Tripura's unique temple architecture.  Moreover, it has a special place in Indian culture nationwide, as it is the setting for two of Rabindranath Tagore's best plays.
        
Jagannath Digthi
            The ruins of an old temple lining a lake are a popular attraction here, with thousands of people coming to see the crumbing temple of Jagannath, dedicated to a form of Vishnu.  It is one of the best instances in the state of Tripuran architecture.
        
Amarsagar
            One of the many lakes of beautiful Udaipur, Amarsagar is a man made lake dug out hundreds of years ago in a scenic part of town.  The lake is frequented by picnickers and tourists, and is an interesting historical site in its own right.

History and Culture
    Tripura's history is very long, with references to the region as far back as the Mahabharata and the pillars of Ashoka.  The state is named after an ancient ruler of the same name, although some hold it is named after the famous Tripura Sundari temple in the state.  The area had a long association with both the subcontinent and neighboring Burma, and its culture is in some respects an amalgamation of the two.
    Ruled variously by many foreign empires such as the Mughals, Tripura came under British dominion in the 19th century.  Its maharajas retained their reign after capitulating to the Raj, and Tripura stayed a princely state until Indian Independence.
    Tripura was part of Assam until 1961, when it became its own state.  Since then, it has had its share of problems largely linked to the influx of Bangladeshi refugees fleeing the country during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war and nativist tendencies by some Tripuran nationalists.
    The state is covered in forest and has many hills, and many of its boundaries near Bangladesh decline towards the Ganges delta.  It is a very humid and tropical state, and several large rivers intersect the state.  For nature lovers, Tripura is a popular destination because of its unkempt wildlife.
    Most Tripurans are Hindu, with sizable minorities of Muslims, Christians, and animists.  Most also speak Tripuri, but many refugees speak Bengali and there are several tribes in the state speaking their own tongues.  The culture of Tripura is unique among India, as many of the Hindu beliefs have become enmeshed with tribal animism.
    Nowadays, Tripura is an up-and-coming tourist destination for both Indians and foreigners alike.  Its vibrant and diverse wildlife continues to amaze those who visit its rolling hills, and its splendid colorful culture impresses even the most jaded of travelers!