Tripura, quite off the beaten track, is a storehouse of tribal crafts and culture as well as music and dancing. In the centre of this patch of intense greenery is the capital, Agartala, where gracious buildings were once the palaces of Tripura’s royal family.

Agartala (Tripura)

Rich in flora & fauna, the legendary state of Tripura is a fascinating world in itself. Agartala, the capital of Tripura gained prominence when Maharaja Krishna Manikya shifted his capital here in the 19th century.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area : 10,500 sq.kms.
Altitude : 1280 metres.
Temprature (deg C): Summer- Max. 35, Min. 21.7; Winter- Max. 25, Min. 10.1.
Rainfall : 22.4 cms (June to August).
Clothings : Cottons in Summer, Wollens in Winter.
Best Season : September to March.
Languages Spoken : Bengali, Kokborak, Hindi & English.
STD Code : 0381.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

• Air : Agartala is connected by airlines flights with Calcutta, Guwahati, Delhi.
  Fare: Calcutta-Agartala Rs.1025 (Y), Rs.1410 (J).
• Rail: The two nearest railway stations are Kumarghat (160 kms) and Dharama Nagar (200 kms). Both the stations on the North-East Frontier Railway, connectedby 203/204 Tripura Passanger with Lumding & Guwahati, where as Lumding and Guwahati are connected with Calcutta and other major stations in India.
  Fare: Calcutta- Guwahati Rs.235 (Sleeper), Rs.688 (1st), Rs.905 (AC-2A). Guwahati- Kumarghat (approx) Rs.85 (Sleeper), Rs.405 (1st).
• Raod: Good motorable raods connect Agartala with Silchar- 288 kms, Guwahati- 599 kms, Shillong- 499 kms, Dharmanagar- 200 kms.
• Bus Service: Tripura Road Transport Corporation buses connect Silchar, Shillong and Dharma Nagar to Agartala.

WHAT TO SEE

Ujjayanta Palace, Kunjavan Palace, Jagannath Temple, BenuVan Vihar, Maharaja Veer Vikram College, Old Agartala, Buddha Vihar, Rabindra Kanan, State Museum (1000-1700 hrs. Closed on Sundays).

EXCURSIONS

Sephahijala Wild-life Sanctuary- 33 kms, Rudra Sagar (Neer Mahal)- 60 kms, Kamala Sagar- 27 kms, Bramhakund- 48 kms, Udaipur- 52 kms, Deotamura- 70 kms, Dumbur- 110 kms, Pilak- 100 kms, Jampui Hills-250 kms, Unakoti- 200 kms, Tripura Undari Temple- 67 kms.

ENTRY FORMALITIES

Foreign tourists visiting Tripura are required to obtain a permit from The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, South Block, New Delhi.

INFORMATION CENTRES

1) Directorate of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Government of Tripura, Gandhighat, Agartala- 799 001. Tel: (0381) 5930, 3839.
2) Tourism Office, Government of Tripura, Swet Mahal Palace Compound, Agartala- 799 001. Tel: (0381) 22-5930/3893.
3) Govrnment of India Tourist Office, B.K. Kakati Road, Ulubari, Guwahati, Tel: 31381.
4) Laision Officer, Tripura Bhavan, Lachit Nagar, Guwahati- 781 007, Tel: 28767.
5) Tourist Information Centre, 1-A, Pretoria Street Tripura Bhawan, Calcutta- 700 071. Tel: 242-5703/3836.