Mainly consisting of hilly terrain, Tripura has moderate temperatures and a highly humid atmosphere. Tripura offers other tourist places of interest in the form of rock carvings at Unakoti, Debtamura and Pilak. The best time to visit Tripura is after October. The tribals of Tripura alongwith a majority of Bengali population lend a rich and varied colour to the culture of the state. The people of Tripura have music and dance as an integral part of their lives. Every occassion, happy or sad, is marked by dance performances which portray ther inner state of mind. Major places of tourist interest in Tripura are the rock carvings of Unakoti, Debtamura and Pilak, wildlife sanctuaries and temples around Agartala.
Ujjayanta Palace – Built between 1899 and 1901 by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, the Ujjayanta Palace is located in the heart of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. A two storeyed mansion, it has a wonderful tile floor, a wooden carved ceiling and beautiful doors. The beauty of the palace is enhanced by the gardens with beautiful Mughal style fountains surrounding it.
Kunjaban Palace – Situated at a distance of about 1 Km from Ujjayanta Palace, this is a suburban palace retreat built by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya on a Kunjaban (bower). This beautiful green hillock is known for its scenic beauty.
Malancha Niwas – The Malancha Niwas is a bungalow adjacent to Kunjaban palace. It was originally a temporary house, but subsequently was made a permanent one and named Malancha Niwas.
Neermahal – Situated around 55 Kms from Agartala, Neermahal was constructed by Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in 1930 as a summer resort. It is situated in the midst of a natural lake, the Rudrasgar. The palace combines both Hindu and Mughal architectural styles.
Rudrasagar Lake – The Rudrasagar Lake is situated at a distance of about 55 Kms. from Agartala. A large number of migratory birds visit this lake every winter. It also offers a boating facility for tourists. A boat race is organized here every year in July/August.
Fourteen Goddess Temple – This temple is located about 14 Kms from Agartala. A Kharchi festival is held here every year in July.
Unakoti Heritage Site – Situated at a distance of 178 Kms from Agartala, Unakoti has numerous rock cut carvings on steep rocky walls. According to legends, Lord Shiva made a night halt at this place when he was travelling to Kashi along with one crore Gods and Goddesses. The next morning, none of the Gods and Goddesses got up before sunrise, so Lord Shiva set out for Kashi alone and cursed all of them to become stone images. Hence, it is said that these many rock carvings exist here at Unakoti.
Even the setting of these rock images is exotic. Situated in beautiful landscaped forests full with carpets of green, Unakoti is a traveler’s delight. Every year in the month of April, the ‘Ahokasastami Mela’ is held here.
Devtamura – Just 75 Kms away from Agartala, lies the ‘peak of Gods’ or Devtamura. The rock cut images here date back to the 15th and 16th century. Devtamura is situated on the banks of the river Gomati and has rosk cut images on the vertical walls along the Gomati river.
Pilak Archaeological Site – The rock carvings at Pilak date back to the 8th and 9th centuries. It is situated at a distance of about 100 Kms. from Agartala. These images were found during excavation and represent both Hindu and Buddhist cultures. There are still many images buried underground awaiting excavation.
Bhuvaneshwari Temple – The Bhuvaneshwari temple is sitauted adjacent to a palace built by Maharaja Govinda Manikya on the banks of the river Gomati.
Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary – Situated at a distance of about 100 Kms from Agartala, the main attraction of this sanctuary is the Bison. It also houses other animals and migratory birds.
Dumboor Lake – Situated amidst picturesque hills thick with vegetation, the Dumboor lake is just 110 Kms away from Agartala. The lake has 48 islands and a hydel project near it. Migratory birds of all kinds can be seen here in winters. The lake also has a rich reservoir of fishes. A festival is held here every year on the 14th of January.
Apart from these beautiful places of tourist interest, the Vangmun village, at a distance of 200 Kms from Agartala, has an ‘Eden’ tourist lodge which offers comfortable accomodations. It has beautiful surroundings and the sunrise and sunset here are a delight.
