tripura tourism ppt

Tourist Places in Tripura – A Complete Travel Guide on Tourism

Tripura , Northeast India

Last Updated on: Jul 16, 2023  

Northeast India is undoubtedly one of our favourite places and we keep going back there again and again. Sometimes it is the colourful festivals and the smiling locals, while at other times the stunning landscapes lure us in visiting the eight northeast states. Our Tripura tour was totally an impromptu decision. We were in Mizoram and had a few days spare. While Agni was inclined towards Assam, I was more interested in exploring the delights of Tripura tourism. Quite naturally, the man’s inclination was superseded and we were off to visit the offbeat as well as the tourist places in Tripura . At the end of our trip, we were simply ecstatic to discover this gem of Northeast. So here is a complete Tripura travel guide that will help you plan your trip to Tripura.

Tripura has been on mind ever since I had read “Rajarshi” by Rabindranath Tagore. It has been one of the oldest princely states in ancient India and the remnants of the olden days are still left in the state. The buildings and architecture have a regal touch to them and the people are also quite proud of their history and lineage. We had quite less number of days to spend in Tripura considering the amount of time we spent at Mizoram. But we utilized these days to the full and made use of the excellent Tripura transport system in our travel. Tripura is one of the northeastern states that have an excellent local transport system as well as good railway connectivity. Our journey towards Tripura started from Silchar, the quaint little town in Assam.

Where is Tripura located?

Tripura is located in one of the extreme end of Northeast India and has been so long away from India’s popular tourism circuit. The third-smallest state in India, Tripura shares its border with Bangladesh more than it shares with the other states of India. Tripura is surrounded on three sides by Bangladesh, while Mizoram and Assam shares border in its eastern and northeastern side. With only one highway connecting the state with the rest of the country, Tripura remains cut off from the rest of the country. While there are some very beautiful palaces, temples and archaeological sites in the state, very less is known about them, even to Indians. Nevertheless, Tripura is immensely beautiful with a large area of forest cover.

Did you know? Tripura has the largest primate diversity in India.

Tripura is small but beautiful. This tiny state beckons all the travellers with stunning vistas, ancient palaces, monuments and museums, temples, archaeological sites, rolling hills and tea gardens. There are quite an interesting number of places to visit in Tripura and we will tell you about them now.

History of Tripura

Myths, legends and anecdotes shroud the origin of the Tripura. The place finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and the Puranas as well as in the edicts of King Asoka. Interestingly, an intermingling of myths and realism plays an important part in the life of Tripura and its people. Many scholars have tried to delve into the past to decipher about Tripura and her people. The search is still going on.

Well, Tripura is claimed to be one of the oldest princely states in India. The rulers claim to have descended from King Yayati of Lunar dynasty, who finds mention in the epic Mahabharata. King Yayati’s successors were King Bavru, King Tripur, King Trilochan among others. The oldest state annals ‘Rajratnakar’ states that King Bavru conquered the countries up to river Baitarini in Orissa adding a portion of Burma to his kingdom. King Tripur and King Trilochan were contemporary kings of King Yudhisthira of Mahabharata.

If we look into history, then the land was ruled by the Twipra Kingdom of the Tripuri peoples whose history dates back before 65 AD when they migrated from western China. The history of the Tripuri Kings has been chronicled in Rajmala which states the rule of 186 kings of the land till the present time. Rajmala was written sometime in the 1400s.

The tales of the earlier kings are veiled in legends. It is usually believed that King Ratnamanikya started using the royal title of “ Manikya ” in the thirteenth century. The last King was Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur who reigned for the period from 1923 to 1947. He was well-loved by his subjects. He expired on May 17, 1947. Maharani Kanchan Prava Mahadevi, wife of the late king signed the Tripura Merger Agreement on 9 September, 1949 in New Delhi on behalf of her son Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya in accordance with the consent of her late husband Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. Thus the native princely State was merged with India on 15th October 1949.

Tripura Tourist Map 

Tripura Tourism | Tourist Places in Tripura

When we visited Tripura, honestly we had not known much about the state. We had only known about Unakoti, the capital city Agartala and Udaipur. Once we were there, Tripura unfolded its beauty gradually. We had only 4 days with us and obviously wished we had more days in hand. So here is a list of places to visit in Tripura.

Agartala, the capital city of Tripura is the second-largest city in Northeast India after Guwahati. But the city has a relaxed pace that is unlike most of the capital cities of India. The city is congested, but the pace of life is slow. The city holds on to its heritage and that is seen in the buildings and other structures. The most iconic attraction of Agartala is the Ujjayanta Palace located right in the heart of the city.

Ujjayanta Palace was built by King Radha Kishore Manikya in 1901 AD. The white building is a stunning example of Indo-Saracenic architecture and used to be the royal palace of the Tripura kings. Today the palace houses the state museum having various interesting exhibits.

Ujjayanta Palace is surrounded on 4 sides by 4 temples – Laxmi Narayan Temple, Durga Bari, Jagannath Temple and Umamaheshwar Temple. It is said that the King wanted to start his day by taking a visit to these temples.

Other places that you can visit in Agartala are the Chaturdash Devta Temple, Gedu Miyan Mosque and the Heritage Park that has the miniature of all the important attractions in Tripura.

Udaipur was the erstwhile seat of power of the Tripuri kings and was formerly known as Rangamati. Today, Udaipur is known as the “City of Lakes” as well as the “City of Temples”. The main attraction of Udaipur is the Tripura Sundari Temple, locally known as the Matabari. The temple was built by King Dhanya Manikya Dev in 1510 AD. The temple is revered among the Hindus and is considered to be one of the 51 Shakti peethas of Hindu worship.

Kalyansagar Lake is located just at the back of the temple and adds to its aura. In Tripura, you will find that each temple will have a lake near its vicinity. The lake is the home to tortoises and is venerated by the locals.

The other places of interest in Udaipur include the Bhubaneshwari Temple , the ruins of Rajbari and of course the Udaipur Railway Station . The Railway station has been newly constructed and is an attraction in itself. It is modelled after the Tripura Sundari Temple. White in colour, the station complex looks impressive and the interiors are also well decorated.

How to reach Udaipur: From Agartala, you can either take a bus or train to Udaipur. You will get buses to Udaipur from Nagerjala Bus Stop in Agartala.

Neermahal is perhaps the most beautiful and elegant architecture in Tripura. Do not miss this place on your Tripura trip. Neermhal is located in Melaghar, about 25 km from Udaipur town. Nerremahal literally means the water palace and is located right in the middle of the Rudrasagar Lake. Yes, you have to take a boat to reach Neermahal. The stark white structure with a red base looks spectacular and imposing even from a distance. Yes, I feel short of adjectives when I visited Neermahal.

Neermahal was built by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in 1930 AD as his summer residence. The palace was clearly inspired by the Mughal style of architecture. You can visit Neermahal from Udaipur or you can also stay at Melaghar.

How to reach Neermahal: Melaghar is about 23km from Udaipur. You will get buses from Udaipur as well as Agartala towards Melaghar.

• Timings: 9AM – 5PM
• Ticket Cost: Rs.80
• Boat Ride cost: Rs.20 per head

Unakoti is one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Tripura. The thought of seeing huge stone sculptures on the face of mountains really excited me. Unakoti literally means “one less than a crore.” There are a number of legends about Unakoti and how it came into being.

Unakoti is a popular Shaivite pilgrimage of the Hindus. There are a number of rock-cut bas-relief images on the hill face, the most impressive one is the 30 feet image of Lord Shiva known as Unakotishwar Kal Bhairav. The other impressive statue is that of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga. The entire place is surrounded by greenery and forests. Visiting Unakoti had been one of our highlights in Tripura.

How to reach Unakoti: You can reach Unakoti from Agartala either by train or bus. You can take a train from Agartala to reach Dharmanagar, a small town 20 km from Unakoti. You can stay at Dharmanagar and make a trip to Unakoti. You can also take a bus from Agartala and reach Kailashahar, 10 km from Unakoti.

Both Dharmanagar and Kailashahar have decent hotels and guest houses.

Unakoti remains open from 8AM – 5PM everyday.

While we had known about Unakoti from before, we had not known about Chabimura. We came to know about the place after seeing an advertisement for Tripura Tourism Department. And we were completely bowled out. I knew that whatever happened, we have to visit the place.

Chabimura (mountain of pictures) is also known as Devatamura (mountain of Gods) and is located in Amarpur in Gomati district of Tripura. The place is a rare combination of nature and history. There are a few panels of images carved on the steep rocky walls of the hill along the Gomati River. These rock carvings are made on vertical rocks at a height of 250 metres. The best part is that you have to take a boat ride on the Gomati River to view the colossal panels.

The boat will take you through the river that is surrounded on both sides by dense vegetation. It was a surreal feeling to take a boat ride on the Gomati River. The first panel lies immediately on the right as you will start the boat journey. Finally, you have to travel downstream to see the final image of Devi Durga as Mahisasurmardini. Chhabimura was truly a revelation for us, another very strong reason for falling in love with Tripura.

How to reach Chhabimura: To visit Chhabimura, you have to reach Amarpur. Take a bus from Agartala or Udaipur to Amarpur town. From there take a local auto or car to visit the riverfront at Devatamura. From there, a boat ride on Gomati will take you all the way to the Mahisasur Mardini image.

Jampui Hills

Jampui hills run from north to south of the state in the eastern border of Tripura. It is the highest range in Tripura bordering Mizoram and stands at an altitude of above 3000 feet. Jampui Hills is known for its beautiful landscape and charming weather. The hills are inhabited by the Lushai Mizo tribes and the Reang tribes.

Different season offers a different view of the Jampui Hills. From October to December, the orange orchards on the hills are in full bloom and the entire region is painted in orange. Come March, the hills are full of beautiful and colourful orchids. The orchid season stays up to May. The rainy season between June to September is undoubtedly the most romantic one. There is greenery everywhere and misty clouds roll over the hill range.

The sunrise and sunset from the hilltop is also a sight to behold. The highest peak of Tripura ‘Betlingchhip’ falls in this hill range at an altitude of 3600 feet. You can get a panoramic view of Mizoram, Chittagong hill tracts and various other hill ranges of Tripura.

How to reach Jampui Hills: The place is 220 km from Agartala.

Dumboor Lake

This is another destination in Tripura that has completely bowled me over. Dumboor lake is also located in Amarpur subdivision. The lake looks like a dumru (a small drum-like instrument said to be used by Lord Shiva) and hence got the Dumboor Lake. The lake is 41 sq km in area located on the confluence of River Raima and Saima and has about 48 islands in it. The small islets look like emerald green dots on the blue waters of the lake.

When we first reached Tirthamukh (that is what the place is called) and went to the Dumboor Lake, the first sight disappointed us. We had covered a long way from Agartala and the last bit of road was truly in bad condition. We felt that all the trouble was not worth it. After all, it looked like just another lake. We are personally not so fond of boating and so decided to give it a skip. Also, this is such an offbeat place, hardly any tourists visit here. We both were the only people there. A boat ride would cost us Rs2000! Usually, the boatman takes 10 people on a boat, so it becomes Rs200 per head. But there were no other tourists, so the entire amount was to be borne by us if we took the ride.

As I said, the first sight of Dumboor Lake did not impress us, so we decided not to take a boat ride. But a few locals constantly urged us to take the boat ride. They told us that we were missing out on some wonderful experience. Fortunately, another group of tourists came by at that time and they too wanted to take a boat ride. So with a bit of misgiving, we decided to go for the ride.

And thank god we did. Because Dumboor Lake turned out to be one of the most beautiful lakes I have visited. The nondescript lake suddenly turned out to be a ravishing beauty just as we rode the boat for a few minutes. The lake is simply vast, the water is totally blue in colour dotted with a number of emerald green islands. The boat ride turned out to be simply spectacular. I was reminded of our boat ride at Inle Lake of Myanmar.  The boat took us to an island that was perhaps developed as a picnic spot. There is construction with rooms and toilets, but now all lying abandoned and uncared for. We stayed for about 15 minutes on the island and were back to the mainland.

The entire episode took about 2 and a half hours. And we were really happy that we finally took the boat ride. We would have really missed out on this place otherwise. At Dumboor Lake, we really wished that we had a drone. I am sure that drone pictures would turn out to be marvellous. And to be honest, if I again had to visit Dumbor Lake, I would pay the Rs 2000 to take the boat ride and explore the lake.

There is a hydel project near the lake from where the River Gomati originates. This area is called Tirthamukha. A big fair is held here every year on Pous Sankranti (falls on 14-15 th January).

How to reach Dumboor Lake: Dumboor Lake is located in Amarpur district in Tripura. We could not find any direct local transport to the lake. We took a bus from Udaipur and reached Amarpur town. Buses to Amarpur are available from Agartala as well. From Amarpur, we hired a car to visit Dumboor Lake, which is about 40 km from Amarpur.

Courtesy | Wikimedia

Pilak is another interesting archaeological site in Tripura that is a treasure house of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. We were quite interested in visiting Pilak, but again time was a constraint for us. The sculptures excavated in Pilak are believed to belong to 8 th and 9thcentury AD. There is a huge statue of Avalokiteshwar and Narasimha found in Pilak that looks quite impressive. We heard there are several statues and sculptures found in the area of different Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Pilak festival is held here during the month of December.

How to reach Pilak: The nearest railway station is Jolaibari. You can take a train from Agartala and reach Jolaibari. From Jolaibari, Pilak is just 2 km. you can also take buses from Agartala or Udaipur to Jolaibari.

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is said to be the biodiversity hotspot of Tripura and the home to the famous spectacled monkey or Phayre’s Langur. But we were a bit disappointed with our visit. The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of about 18 sq km, but the place is actually a bio complex having a botanical garden, zoo and eco-park. Tourists are actually not allowed to enter the wildlife sanctuary area and can only enter the zoo.

The zoo definitely has a large number of animals like leopard, clouded leopard, jungle fowl, civets, barking deer, wild pig, lions etc and a healthy primate population of spectacled langur, rhesus macaque, pigtailed macaque, capped langur, slow loris and hoolock gibbons. But all the animals are kept in captivity. We simply roamed around the zoo for some time looking at the people visiting the zoo rather than the animals. The spectacled langur is the state animal of Tripura and is found in the zoo. If you are lucky, you might see a few langurs in the wild.

Visit this place only if you are fond of zoos.

Kamalasagar and Kasba Kali Temple

Kamalasagar is located about 30 km from Agartala city near the Indo-Bangladesh border. Kasba Kali Temple is a red coloured temple standing in a serene location. The Kamalasagar Lake stands just in front of it, adding to its charm. Just beyond the lake is Bangladesh. The place is unique in itself. One can feel an inner calm in this place. We sat below the huge tree in front of the lake. At the same instant, while a devotional bhajan was being played in the temple, we also heard the distant sound of “azaan” coming from our neighbouring nation. It was at that time we could feel the sanctity of the place.

The ancient name of the place was Kamalagarh and Koilagarh. Maharaja Kalyan Manikya after defeating Surja, the then ruler of Bengal built a fort in the area and commissioned the construction of the temple. A township gradually developed surrounding the fort and Koilagarh came to be known as “Kasba” (meaning town). The construction of the temple was ultimately completed by Maharaj Dhana Manikya. He also dug a huge lake in front of the temple and named it Kamalasagar after his wife Kamala Devi.

Presently, Indo-Bangladesh border Haat (market) is held at Kasba near the temple which is also a huge attraction for tourists. The Haat is held every Sunday between 9.30AM to 3.00PM

Very recently, the remains of a Buddhist stupa was discovered at Boxanagar in the Sepahijala district of Tripura. The discovery of the Stupa, Chaityagriha, monastery and other Buddhist structure at Boxanagar have brought into front another aspect of art, architecture and history of Tripura that was hitertho unknown. Excavations went on from 2001-2004 when the massive red brick structure was unearthed. It is believed that these archaeological remains belong to the 6 th century AD when Buddhism found a hold in this area.

We had not visited Boxanagar due to lack of time, but We intend to visit the place in our next visit to Tripura.

How to reach Boxanagar: Buses are available from Nagerjala bus stand in Agartala to Boxanagar. The distance between Agartala to Boxanagar is about 44 km. You can reach Nagerjala Bus stand from Agartala town by auto and buses.

Mahamuni Pagoda

Mahamuni Pagoda located in Manubankul is a recent addition in the tourist places in Tripura. This is a Buddhist shrine located about 134 km from Agartala. The shrine draws people from our neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Japan.

How to reach Manubankul: The nearest railway station is Jolaibari. From there, take any shared transport to Manubankul.

Accommodation: Mahamuni Tourist Lodge, Manubankul Phone No: 03823-275382.

Akhaura Integrated Checkpost

We were quite surprised to know that there is an integrated checkpost right near the Agartala city. We were driving in the busy market area and in the next moment we were looking at the border checkpost! The Akhaura Checkpost at India-Bangladesh Border was jointly inaugurated in November 17, 2013 by Union Home Minister of Indian and his Bangladeshi counterpart. The checkpost has been created to facilitate easier movement for goods and passengers across the Indo-Bangladesh border. It is the second-largest trading Indo-Bangladesh trading centre after Benapole-Petrapole in the Bongaon region of West Bengal.

But what is interesting here is the flag-lowering ceremony that is held here every evening . The flags of the two countries are lowered down in a co-ordinated ceremony by the military personnel of both the countries. It is said that a Beating retreating ceremony like that of Wagah Border (India-Pakistan border) is done here too. We have not been to Wagah, so do not know what happens there.

At Akhaura, the military personnel move in a coordinated manner at the sound of trumpet and beagle, one of them lowers down the flag and then the head shakes his hand with his counterpart in Bangladesh. The entire ceremony can be seen by people from both India and Bangladesh. You can take photographs of the event, but professional videography is strictly not permitted.

The entire programme occurs in a very coordinated manner. After it gets over, there is a general sense of emotional bonding between the people of both countries. They smile at and greet each other cheerfully, and even take selfies. Well, it is good to see so much bonhomie between the neighbours!

How to reach Akhaura ICP: Just take any auto or car from Agartala to reach Akhaura Checkpost. The ceremony starts at around 4.45PM and goes on for about 15-20 minutes. Do carry any of you ID cards with you.

Our Tripura Trip Itinerary

Our Tripura trip had been a very short one. We merely stayed in Tripura for 4 days. But we utilized these days to the full. As we were coming from Mizoram, we had taken shared sumo from Aizawl to Silchar. From Silchar, we decided to take the train to Tripura. Shared sumos are also available for Silchar to Agartala, but a train journey is always more comfortable.

So we took the Silchar – Agartala passenger from Silchar. But instead of travelling all the way to Agartala, we got down at Dharmanagar. Our Tripura tour thus started from Unakoti. Here is a detailed itinerary of our Tripura tour.

Day 1 | Silchar – Dharmanagar (by train)

We took the morning train from Silchar and reached Dharmanagar by noon. We stayed at a hotel near the main market area. We thought of visiting Unakoti that afternoon itself but later decided to visit there the next morning. We stayed at Hotel Panchabati in Dharmanagar.

Day 2 | Dharmanagar – Unakoti – Dharmanagar – Udaipur

We hired a car from Dharmanagar to Unakoti, explored and got awed by the bas relief structures of Unakoti and then came back to Dharmanagar by the same car. The car took Rs 1000.00 for the entire trip. You can also take a shared jeep going from Dharmanagar towards Kailasahar and get off near Unakoti.

From Dharmanagar, we took a passenger train to Udaipur at noon. We reached Udaipur in the evening and stayed at the Gunabati Tourist Logde just behind the Tripura Sundari Temple.

Day 3 | Udaipur  – Neermahal – Udaipur

In the morning we explored the temples of Udaipur and then took a bus to Melaghar to visit Neermahal. After Neermahal, we were back at Udaipur.

Day 4 | Udaipur – Amarpur (Dumboor Lake & Chabimura) – Udaipur – Agartala

We took a very early morning bus from Udaipur to Amarpur (1 hour journey). We wanted to visit both Dumboor Lake and Chabimura in a day, as we were in short of time. At Amarpura, we could figure out how to reach Dumboor Lake. So we hired a car and went towards Dumboor Lake (40 km approx from Amarpur). After that, we returned to Amarpur and visited Chabimura (9 km from Amarpur market). You can get local auto from Amarpur that will take you to Chabimura.

After a day filled with adventure, we returned to Udaipur and took a late train to Agartala. Unlike the other northeastern states, we found Agartala awake and functioning all well quite late also.

Day 5 | Agartala

This day was totally devoted to Agartala. We visited the Ujjayanta Palace, Gedu Miyan Mosque, Sepahijala WLS, Kamalasagar and in the evening went to Akhaura Checkpost to see the flag down ceremony.

Day 6 | Agartala – Kolkata

Our brief Tripura trip was over. We wish to come back again to Tripura and explore the other attractions here.

Tripura Tourism | How to reach Tripura?

Agartala will probably be your first stop in Tripura tour. Agartala is well connected by air from Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Imphal, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Railway in Tripura is quite good. Agartala is well connected by railways from Howrah, New Delhi, Guwahati and Silchar.

You can also reach Agartala by road. Overnight buses are available from Guwahati as well as Shillong and Siliguri. Guwahati is about 587 km from Agartala and the journey is about 24 hours. Shared sumos are available from Silchar in Assam. Silchar is 250 km from Agartala.

Incidentally, Tripura is also connected by regular bus service to Dhaka in Bangladesh. The journey time to Dhaka by road is about 4-5 hours (distance is only 150 km), quite lesser than the time required from Guwahati.

Tripura Tourism | Getting around Tripura

Tripura is one of the northeastern states that can boast of better road conditions. The main roads and highways are all in excellent conditions. Only when it becomes remote that the roads become worse. All the major towns of Tripura are well connected by public buses. You will get buses from Agartala to Udaipur, Sarboom, Dharmanagar, Amarpur etc. The bus fare is also quite nominal. Bus fare from Agartala to Udaipur is Rs50 and the distance is about 50 km.

Buses from Agartala run from Nagerjala Bus stop. From Agartala town, Nagerjala bus stop is around 2.5 km and you can take an auto or rickshaw to get there. From Nagerjala, you will get buses from almost all the towns of Tripura.

The best part, however, is the train service in Tripura. As I have already mentioned, Udaipur has a railway station. Dharmanagar is the nearest railway station to Unakoti and you can reach Pilak and Mahamuni Pagoda by reaching Jolaibari or Sarboom by train. The local trains in Tripura are quite comfortable to travel and are yet to see the mad rush of train passengers.

Where to stay in Tripura?

All the major towns in Tripura have hotels and guest houses. Agartala has both luxury and budget hotels. Smaller towns like Dharmanagar, Kailasahar, Amarpur has hotels of budget category. You can get a single room or a dormitory bed at as low as Rs300 in Tripura.

If you are travelling with family, I would suggest you stay in the Tourism department lodges. All of them are in the best locations, though I cannot guarantee their prompt service there. The room in which we stayed at Gunabati Tourist Lodge in Udaipur was quite good and clean as well. But a water pipe in the bathroom was leaking and it was not repaired even after complaining. Well, we hardly stayed in the room for long, so it did not matter much to us.

What is the best time to visit Tripura?

Tripura has a tropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Tripura is the winter between December to March. The weather remains cool in the morning to explore outdoors. For the rest of the year, the weather remains hot and humid. May to September is the monsoon season and Tripura remains prone to heavy rainfall.

We had visited in the month of October, just after the Durga Puja . There were pandals all around Tripura, just like the Durga Puja in Kolkata. While the days were quite sunny and warm, the weather remained clear without any rainfall. It was also not very hot either. We had arrived Tripura after Mizoram, where the temperature was colder and there was occasional rain as well. The weather in Tripura was completely opposite with sunny and clear skies. It was just perfect.

Tripura Travel Guide (FAQs Answered)

Q. Is it safe to travel to Tripura?

Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to Tripura these days. Insurgencies, Naxalite movements are all things of the past. Just like the poachers who had converted into protectors in Bodoland , The insurgents of Tripura too have laid down their arms for a better life. Tripura is quite safe to travel now.

Q. How is the mobile and internet connectivity?

The major cities and towns have proper mobile and internet connectivity. Only when you go to the interiors, the internet connectivity gets poor. Both our Vodafone and Jio numbers worked fine in all the places we visited. Only at Dumboor Lake and Chabimura, we did not get internet connectivity.

Q. Is any permit required to visit Tripura?

Indians do not need any permit to visit Tripura. Foreigners too do not require any Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit Tripura.

Q. Are there ATMs in Tripura?

Yes, ATMs are available all through the state. We found enough ATMs at Agartala, Dharmanagar and Udaipur. Of course, if you are travelling to remote places, it is better to carry cash.

Q. How is the local transport in Tripura?

The local transport in Tripura is excellent among the northeast states. Roads are good, buses are in plenty. The best part is, there is a railway connection between Agartala to Udaipur and all the way to Sabroom. Bus tickets are also quite cheap. From Agartala to Udaipur, it takes about Rs50-60. So backpacking across Tripura will definitely be not hard on your pocket.

Q. How is the food? Is vegetarian food available?

We found the food to be quite delicious. Tripura has a huge Bengali population and so Bengali food is available in plenty. Pork is quite a favourite here along with fish and chicken. We ate a fish chutney in almost all the restaurants in Tripura. You will also find a lot of options for vegetarians as well. Cost of food is also quite reasonable.

Q. How is the weather condition in Tripura?

Tripura has a tropical climate with hot summers and warm winters. The best time to visit the state will be between October to March. But even in October, the weather was quite warm and we were sweating profusely while exploring Unakoti and Neermahal in the sun.

Q. What to carry?

Carry light clothes for exploring Tripura during the morning. Proper shoes are also a must as there will be a lot of walking around. Do not forget to carry sunscreen with you, as in most of the places you will be walking around in the sun. if you are visiting during winter, carry enough woollens.

Q. How many days required to visit Tripura?

That depends totally on you and what you want to do. You can take 4 days or 40 days. The number of days will depend on which places you want to visit. A typical Tripura itinerary will have 6D/5N.

We had a wonderful time in Tripura, more so because we had not anticipated the state to be so welcoming and beautiful. It just felt that we were in our home – not only because Tripura is a predominantly Bengali speaking state, but also it did not judge its travellers, just like the other northeastern states. Tripura gets a huge recommendation from us. So when are you visiting Tripura?

Agni Amrita

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10 comments.

Love your article..beautifully written about the places. But It would have been better if you describe about the tribal culture of tripura ..because without them its incomplete

Thank you for your input. I would definitely love to talk about the people and culture, maybe in the next post. Thanks again, for reading or blog.

EXCELLENT POST. I RALLY LIKED THE DETAILS YOUY MENTIONED AS YOU TRAVELLED. I AM THINKING OF TRAVELLING TO NORTHEAST IN MARCH 2024. BUT I HAVE JUST 10-11 DAYS WITH ME TO COVER TRIPURA, MIZORAM, NAGALAND AND MANIPUR. CAN YOU SUGGEST A FEW PLACES THAT I MUST VISIT IN TRIPURA WHERE I HAVE 3 DAYS

Thanks a lot for reading our blog. For Tripura, explore Agartala, Udaipur and Unakoti in the 3 days you have. However, we feel that 10-110days only is quite less to explore all the states you mentioned.

Indeed an awesome place. Thanks for the post.

Thank you so much!

Hey Agni and Amrita, I have been reading your blogs for some time now and I must tell you that I am in love. Would love to travel to Tripura one day.

Thank you author.Keep it up.

What a beautiful post author.Thank you. Keep it up.

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A travel guide to the best tourist sights and experiences in tripura, northeast india.

Tripura, a princely state in North-East India, is replete with a rich cultural heritage, architectural magnificence, and stunning allure, making it one of the best places to visit in the region. The state is adorned with modest mountains, captivating lakes, ancient temples, and an array of wildlife that satisfies every wanderlust spirit. These attributes mark it as one of the top tourist places in Tripura. The rich history of various tribal kingdoms, notably the renowned Manikyas, has resulted in numerous awe-inspiring historical sites worthy of capturing through your lens.

Significant excavations, like at Pilak , have unearthed numerous archaeological remains, architecture, and sculptures that speak volumes about the nation’s forgotten past. Exploring Tripura allows you to dive into this history, making it a unique cultural genre that warrants exploration. To savor the authentic essence of this north-eastern state, one must immerse themselves not only in sightseeing but also in the plethora of things to do, encapsulating the real spirit of Tripura .

This guide offers a glimpse into the top attractions and activities to partake in when visiting Tripura. Whether it’s diving into the local culture, discovering wildlife, or simply enjoying the stunning landscapes, exploring Tripura promises an experience that leaves lasting memories.

Take a Quick Look at the Short Tourism Highlights of Tripura

Check Out:   Popular Tripura Tourism Holiday Packages

Ujjayanta Palace – Experience Tripura’s Royal Past

Opposite the Jagannath Temple and adjacent to a tranquil lake stands the grand Ujjayanta Palace. Constructed by Tripura King Radha Kishore Manikya between 1899 and 1901, this pristine white edifice sprawls over about 800 acres. It houses a Throne Room, Durbar Hall, Library, and Reception. From 1972 to 2011, the palace served as the home for the Tripura Legislative Assembly. Today, it operates as a comprehensive museum and is regarded as one of the largest museums in North-East India.

Explore Jagannath Bari

Near the Raaj Baari (Royal Palace) of Agartala and Agartala Press Club is the Jagannath Temple, colloquially known as Jagannath Bari. This temple is dedicated to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Jagannath, and features beautiful idols depicting various mythological incidents. The temple complex also has a well-maintained pond where one can feed fishes, and large statues of Lord Krishna and Arjuna narrating the tale of the Mahabharata war.

Pay Respects at Matabari, Udaipur

The temple of Tripura Sundari Devi in Agartala is a major attraction that draws numerous visitors. Even if you are not religiously inclined, this temple is worth visiting for its cultural and historical significance. The Tripureshwari Temple, also known as Maata Bari, is located approximately 53 km from Agartala’s main city. This temple is considered one of India’s most renowned Shakti Peethas, with the goddess worshipped in a small sanctum where the priest conducts daily rituals.

Enjoy a Boat Ride to Neer Mahal

After visiting the Tripureshwari temple, head over to Neer Mahal, or the water palace. Situated in the Rudrasagar Lake, the only way to reach this palace is by boat. Neer Mahal is divided into two parts – Andar Mahal, where the royal family resided, and the eastern side, designed for entertainment activities. The palace also boasts an open garden and dome-like structures on the roof.

Seek Blessings from Pagli Masi (The Mad Aunt)

Near Neer Mahal is the temple of Pagli Masi, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Associated with several miraculous deeds, Pagli Masi mostly remains hidden and rarely speaks to anyone. However, those fortunate enough to converse with her are said to be blessed with a bright future.

Pay Homage to Goddess Kamaleshwari

Located around 30 km from Agartala City, the Kamalsagar Kali Temple or Kasba Kali Bari is a popular pilgrimage site. This temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, offers a unique sightseeing experience as it sits on the Kasba Border that separates this part of Tripura from Bangladesh.

Visit the Heritage Park

As the first heritage park in North-East India, Agartala Heritage Park offers a comprehensive view of the art, culture, heritage, and wildlife reserves of Tripura. The park is divided into three sections, each showcasing different aspects of Tripura’s grandeur.

Uncover Primitive Art Forms at Unakoti

Unakoti, around 135 km from Agartala City, is a sacred religious site and heritage lover’s paradise. This well-known heritage site is most famous for its mountains edges etched with life-size rock carvings.

Explore the Buddhist site in Pilak

Pilak, approximately 100 km from Agartala, is a treasure trove of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures . Excavations have unearthed 8th and 9th-century rock-cut images and terracotta plaques, providing an invaluable glimpse into the past.

Visit Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

Sepahijola Wildlife Sanctuary, around 35 km from Agartala, is one of the state’s four main wildlife reserves. The reserve is home to a sizable population of birds and six species of primates, making it a must-visit for nature and animal lovers.

Experience Tribal Life in Jampui Hills

Approximately 250 km away from Agartala city, the Jampui Hill range offers an immersive experience into the life and culture of the Lushai tribe. Every year in November, the area hosts the Orange Festival, featuring grand feasts and festivities.

Taste Dry Fish

Food enthusiasts can savor both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in Tripura. A special mention goes to the dry fish chutney, a delicacy known for its strong, lip-smacking flavor.

Attend Kharchi Puja

If you find yourself in Agartala in July, you’ll have the opportunity to attend Kharchi Puja, a popular festival in Tripura that lasts for seven days.

Shop for Bamboo/Cane Artefacts

Tripura is renowned for its bamboo and cane artifacts. Whether you’re looking for home decor pieces or souvenirs, you’ll find a wide range of items to choose from.

Experience the Durga Puja Festivities in Agartala

While Kolkata is synonymous with Durga Puja , the festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tripura. Notably, Dharmanagar and Kailasahar are the best places to witness Durga Puja in Tripura. However, the most impressive Durga Puja Pandals  are found in Agartala, where local and Kolkata artists showcase their artistic talent.

In conclusion, Tripura is a land of boundless beauty and cultural depth, brimming with top-notch attractions and immersive activities. This guide only scratches the surface of the best places to visit in Tripura and the top things to do, offering a blend of rich historical experiences, natural splendor, culinary delights, and artistic brilliance. From exploring royal pasts at Ujjayanta Palace to walking amidst the tranquil Jampui Hills, every corner of Tripura has something unique to offer. Visiting Tripura is more than just a holiday; it’s an adventure into a fascinating tapestry of cultures, traditions, and awe-inspiring landscapes. There’s no better time than now to plan your visit to this remarkable northeastern state and make unforgettable memories.

Other Interesting Blogs to Read

• Best Pilgrimage Destinations to Visit in Northeast India
• Most Famous Festivals in North East India
• Best Destinations for Family Vacation in Northeast India
• 10 Best Souvenirs You Must Have from Northeast India

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Published: 04 Aug, 2023 | Last Updated:  05 Feb, 2024

About the author

Swairik Das

Brought up from the cultural capital of India, Kolkata, Swairik Das is a passionate traveller who seeks to travel and explore the length and breadth of the country. He is also a dedicated travel writer, blogger and photographer who by heart is also an adventure freak. His focus is mostly into exploring and writing on trekking, jungle safaris and several adventure activities; religion, festival, heritage, people and cuisine.

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11 Famous Monuments of Tripura

Table of Contents

Tripura is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by Bangladesh to the north, west, and south, and the Indian states of Mizoram to the east and Assam to the northwest. The capital and largest city of Tripura is Agartala.

Nestled among the majestic hills of northeast India, Tripura is a unique state, being the only Hindu tribal princely state in the country. Known for its exotic beauty, the state awakens to the echoes of Vedanta in the morning, and the call to prayer from its neighboring country, Bangladesh, which is just a mere 5 km from the capital city.

Exploring the monuments of Tripura allows one to gain a wealth of knowledge about the state’s history and culture. These monuments serve as a testament to the state’s royal past and offer a glimpse into the grandeur of the former Maharajas of Tripura. These architectural wonders, located in various cities throughout the state, are a popular attraction for thousands of tourists, providing them with a unique opportunity to discover the rich history of the princely state.

In addition to that,  here are 11 famous monuments of Tripura:

1. ujjayanta palace.

Ujjayanta Palace is a historical palace located in the Indian state of Tripura. It was built by the Tripura royal family in the year 1901, during the reign of Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya. The palace is an excellent example of British colonial architecture, and it was designed by an English architect.

The palace served as the residence of the Tripura royal family until 1949, after which it was converted into the State Legislative Assembly building. The palace is a four-storied building with a combination of traditional and European architectural styles. It features a central dome, arches, and columns, and it is surrounded by beautiful gardens and lawns.

Ujjayanta Palace is considered as one of the most important heritage sites of Tripura and it is open to visitors. The palace is located in the heart of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, and it is a must-visit destination for history and architecture enthusiasts.

2. Tripureswari Temple

Tripureswari Temple, also known as Tripurasundari Temple, is an ancient temple located in the city of Udaipur, in the Indian state of Tripura. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Tripura Sundari, also known as Shodashi, and is considered to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, or holy sites associated with the worship of the goddess.

According to Hindu mythology, the temple is believed to have been built by the demon king Tripurasura, after whom the state of Tripura is named. The temple is constructed in the traditional Bengali style of architecture and is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. The temple complex also includes other smaller shrines dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses.

The temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and it attracts thousands of devotees every year, especially during the annual Tripura Sundari Mela festival, which is celebrated in the month of March. The temple also serves as a major center for the study and practice of Tantra, a branch of Hinduism that emphasizes the worship of the goddess as the ultimate reality.

3. Maharaja Bir Bikram College

Maharaja Bir Bikram College (MBB College) is a college located in Agartala, Tripura, India. It is one of the largest and oldest colleges in the state, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a variety of disciplines such as Arts, Science, and Commerce. The college is affiliated with Maharaja Bir Bikram College University and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Maharaja Bir Bikram College, constructed by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma, is a testament to the rich architectural tradition of Tripura. It stands as a monument to the state’s history and cultural heritage.

4. Neermahal Palace

Neermahal is a palace located in the Indian state of Tripura. It was built by the last ruling Maharaja of Tripura, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma, in the 1930s. The palace is located in the middle of a lake called Rudrasagar and can only be reached by boat.

It is a unique blend of traditional Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful palaces in India. The palace was used as a summer palace by the royal family and it is now open to the public as a tourist destination.

5. Bhubaneswari Temple

Bhubaneswari Temple is a Hindu temple located in the Indian state of Tripura. The temple is dedicated to Bhubaneswari, a form of the Hindu goddess Kali. The temple is considered to be one of the most important shrines of Tripura, and it is believed to be more than 1000 years old. The temple architecture is of traditional Bengali style, with a large courtyard and a multi-tiered shikhara (spire) on the main temple. The temple is located in the Udaipur area of Tripura and is surrounded by lush green hills and serene environment. It is a popular place of worship for the local people and also attracts many tourists and devotees from all over India.

Bhubaneswari Temple is currently managed and overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was constructed by Maharaja Govinda Manikya during the years 1660-1676.

6. Rock reliefs of Unakoti Tirtha

Unakoti is a rock-cut archaeological site in the Indian state of Tripura, located about 180 km from Agartala, the state capital. It is known for its ancient rock-cut sculptures and rock-cut carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses.

According to Hindu legend, Lord Shiva and a group of one crore gods and goddesses were on their way to Kashi when they stopped to spend the night at Unakoti. Lord Shiva requested that they all wake up before sunrise to continue their journey, but unfortunately, only he woke up. In anger, Lord Shiva cursed the rest of the group to become stone images, which is why there are thousands of rock carvings at Unakoti, hence the name “Unakoti,” meaning “one less than a crore” in Bengali.

7. Gunavati Group of Temples

The Gunavati Group of Temples is a collection of three brick-built temples located in the ancient capital of Tripura, Udaipur. The northern temple features an inscription that states it was constructed by Queen Gunavati, wife of Govindamanikya in 1668 CE.

The temple is square in shape and has a small entrance porch. The other two temples are similar in design and architectural elements. The temples are topped with unique stupa-like finials and were dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by the queen in 1668 CE.

8. Devtamura

Devtamura, also known as Debtamura, is a hill range located in the South Tripura district of the Indian state of Tripura. It is renowned for its archaeological site of rock sculptures, featuring a panel of carved images of Hindu deities such as Durga, Ganesha, and Kartikeya on the banks of the Gomati River. These stone images are believed to have been carved during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The site boasts monumental carvings of the image of Devi Chakrakma. The purpose and creators of these carvings remain unknown. The statues are carved on the steep rock cliffs of the Kalajhari Hills, which overlook the Gomti River. In total, there are 37 rock-cut images on the site, including depictions of Ganesha, Kartikeya, Mahishasuramardini, Durga and many others.

9. Gedu Miar Masjid

Gedu Mia’s Mosque, also known as Gedu Miar Masjid, is located in Agartala, the capital city of the Indian state of Tripura. It is considered to be one of the oldest mosques in the region and is a popular tourist attraction. The mosque is believed to have been built in the early 18th century by a wealthy Muslim trader named Gedu Mia.

The mosque is known for its unique architectural style, which is a blend of Tripuri and Islamic architectural elements. The mosque is a popular tourist attraction and is visited by many people for its historical and architectural significance. It is also considered a sacred place for Muslims in the region. The mosque is also used as a place for prayers and religious activities.

10. Malancha Niwas

During his visit to Agartala in 1919, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore found a temporary home in Malancha Niwas. The palace, which was a private retreat for Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Bahadur, was made available to Tagore due to the strong friendship between the king of Tripura and the literary giant.

Today, the palace serves as a popular tourist destination, with many visitors coming to see where Tagore once stayed. The original house, which was made of “kaccha” or mud, has long been demolished and replaced with a two-story concrete structure. It was only after this construction that the palace was given the name Malancha Niwas.

11. Kunjaban Palace

The Kunjaban Palace, formerly known as the Pushbanta Palace, is a historic royal palace located in Tripura. Erected by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya in 1917, the palace is situated on a hillock just a short distance from the Ujjayanta Palace.

Throughout its history, it has been a patron of the arts and was even the Raj Bhavan of Tripura until 2018. Today, the palace is being transformed into a national-level cultural museum and serves as the official residence of the Governor of Tripura.

(To know more about  Tripura State Tourism  check the link   here . )

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Beyond Wild Places

Your guide to the wilder side of life

A Travel Guide to Exploring Mizoram and Tripura

Mizoram and Tripura are often clumped together, not because they’re much alike, in fact they’re actually very different. However, they are both the least accessible and therefore, least explored states in  Northeast India and both get very few visitors, rarely any foreigners. 

Mizoram  is perhaps the most isolated state, basically making you pass through Silchar in Assam to come in and out of the state by road. The state is home to some of the last untouched wilderness in India, with incredible green rolling hills for miles.

Tripura  is an interesting state; a blend of cultures and religions, but is probably more ‘Indian’ than Mizoram and has a much similar vibe to Assam than to any other Northeastern state.

For exploring both Mizoram and Tripura by land,  Silchar  in Assam will be your base/start point and you may find yourself going back and forth from there a few times (as I did). Keep reading to find out how to explore these two states in Northeast India.

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Silchar, Assam

Silchar is a bustling town with a lively bazaar street in Assam state. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants around as it is also a major transport hub. This is the base from where you can easily explore both Mizoram and Tripura. Land transport into both of these states are very limited, and I found that using Silchar as a base was by far the easiest.

I stayed at  Sewak Lodge in Silchar. The rooms are large, the location is perfect for multiple transport options, staff were nice and the WiFi is also really good: what more could you want? I found it actually cheaper to book it online for some reason than turning up without a booking. It’s pretty popular and can often be full.

How to get to Silchar

Silchar is quite an easy place to reach from various towns in Assam. There is a train station and bus station, with multiple transport options depending on where you’re coming from.

Originally, I came by train from Jorhat , with an overnight stop in  Lumding  (half way point between Jorhat and Silchar). I then took another train the next morning from Lumding to Silchar.

If you’re coming from Guwahati , there are a couple of trains that head to Silchar as well. You can look up Indian train info and timetables here .

From Silchar, you can explore both Mizoram and Tripura. However, unfortunately, it’ll likely mean a return trip to Silchar in between. The roads between Mizoram and Tripura are extremely remote and rarely used, and I couldn’t find any public transport connecting the town states.

Mizoram is right up there as one of the least visited states in all of India. It’s quite an isolated state with very little transport connections to anywhere other than Silchar in Assam.

There’s not a whole lot to do in Mizoram and it doesn’t necessarily have any typical ‘tourist sights’. I was often asked, “What are you doing here?”. Still, the green rolling hills make the views spectacular from almost anywhere in the state and the people are very friendly.

English is extremely well spoken by most and many people will strike up a conversation with you either on the bus, in a sumo or on the street. They are genuinely curious and mostly want to know what you are doing in their state. Most people assumed I was either working or a Christian missionary and it took a bit of convincing to get them to understand that I was actually a real live tourist!

Still, I can recommend exploring a couple of places in the state, including the capital and some other towns further south.

Aizawl is a sprawling, modern city perched on the top of beautiful rolling hills. The capital of the state is a pretty clean, orderly and contemporary city centre if there ever was one in India (traffic even gives way to pedestrians!).

You’ll soon notice some differences between Mizoram and other parts of India. Women smoke openly in public, go for early morning runs in tights and walk around late at night without a hassle. In fact, a few local women told me on various occasions that I should feel 100% safe walking around, even at night or early in the morning, which was a refreshing change from other areas in India. 

The Mizos are fiercely independent and believe that history somehow went wrong for them and perhaps they would have been better off separated from India. Interestingly, the Mizos share much more of their culture and traditions with ethnic groups in Myanmar and further north to the Chinese border. In fact, their ancestors migrated from Myanmar to the hills in Mizoram centuries ago and so many of them (probably mostly the older generation) don’t truly feel ‘Indian’.

There is limited industry in Mizoram and they have had to rely heavily on trade with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar with very little infrastructure connecting them with the rest of India. Much of the economy is based on agriculture, yet surprisingly a lot of the hills are still covered in forest rather than crops which keeps the views spectacular.

Where I stayed

I stayed at  Arini Hotel , recommended by Lonely Planet, and seems to be very well known in general. I found the staff to be so friendly and always up for a chat and the rooms are really large, I was happy to spend a few days there. Check availability here .

The food is a little overpriced, however, I found a lot of the restaurants in Aizawl were pretty similar.

How to get to Aizawl

I took a shared sumo from  Silchar  at 8am. There are multiple companies in Silchar and they all leave at either 8am or 7pm, it’s best to book the day before in order to get a decent seat. The drive took around nine hours, but the views were beautiful, especially once you crossed into Mizoram. 

At the state border, foreigners need to register with the officer on duty there. He didn’t even know how to fill in the registry book for foreigners so I had to help him out a bit and I still don’t think he did it right! The official sign at the office says that foreigners still require a permit but that is untrue as of 2018 and only Indians from other states require an ILP.

Thenzawl was recommended to me as a pretty town. It’s on the way between Aizawl and Lunglei so it’s not too much of a hassle to stop for the night.

It’s most well-known for having some beautiful waterfalls nearby. If you’re visiting after the rain season then they should be full of water, but they were practically dry when I visited at the start of the year. It still offers some incredible nature and lovely picnic parks to explore.

Tuirihiau Falls is located just 5 kilometres south of Thenzawl and is considered the most beautiful of all the waterfalls in Mizoram. The uniqueness of this waterfall is that you can step inside from behind the falls when they’re flowing well.

Thenzawl has a good government-run Tourist Lodge if you want to stay the night. I found it really comfortable with private rooms and ensuite bathrooms. Restaurants are a little few and far between in town but the food at the Lodge was delicious and reasonably priced.

How to get to Thenzawl

From Aizawl, there is the State Transport Corporation (MST) bus and multiple sumo companies plying to  Lunglei , the state’s second largest city. I chose to go with the bus and there were two leaving at 6am. They were mostly empty when I bought my ticket and only had around 15 people on it for the whole journey. They will stop half way in Thenzawl, to let you out if you let them know.

To leave Thenzawl, I took a sumo from Mim Restaurant where you’ll find the only transport counter. There are sumos leaving throughout the day but I took the first one at 6.30am to be safe.

Lunglei is the second largest town in Mizoram. The drive from Aizawl to Lunglei is simply spectacular, with incredible rolling hills in all directions.

There are beautiful national parks and wildlife sanctuary’s to the south of the city, however, with limited tourist infrastructure and being an independent traveller these places are a little inaccessible. I spent most of my time around Lunglei and admiring the views from different parts of town.

Hotel Elite  in Lunglei is perhaps one of the best places I stayed in the Northeast. The owner is a very nice lady and the food was also very good. However, the view from the windows and balcony of the rooms is exceptional and I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a view from a hotel before, especially not a budget hotel for 600 INR per night. I can highly recommend it. It’s a steep walk up from the main street in town.

How to get to Lunglei

You can get to Lunglei on either the public buses or sumos. There are frequent departures between Lunglei and Aizawl, stopping in Thenzawl. The buses tend to have very early morning departures like 6am, while sumos leave a little later and throughout the day.

To leave Lunglei back to Aizawl, there are around six sumo counters next to each other on the Lunglei-Thenzawl Road. They leave throughout the day at around 6.30am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm, you can usually get a ticket on the day without pre-booking.

Note: Don’t plan on travelling in Mizoram on a Sunday. All transport stops on this rest day, with most of the population being Christian. It means you might have to spend the day in your hotel, with very few other shops open.

Tripura actually boasts a few beautiful tourist sights that are worth taking the time to explore. It’s a stark contrast to Mizoram, with less beautiful scenery but some interesting attractions. Tripura is also much more similar to Assam and the rest of India than Mizoram, with the bustling capital Agartala. However, it’s bordered on three sides by Bangladesh and its also home to some fascinating tribal groups.

The tourist offices and lodges all offer newly printed brochures and information on the state, but most of the sights are easily accessible on your own as well. Being a small state, most of the sights can be reached from Agartala quite easily.

Agartala, the state’s capital, is by no means a large city. It definitely has a small town vibe and is very walkable, although bustling enough to remind you that you’re in India.

The main attraction in Agartala is the  Ujjayanta Palace , which houses the  State Museum . It was so much more impressive than I had imagined and it’s definitely worth the 150 INR entrance ticket. It gives a nice detailed history and general information about Tripura but also the Northeast region as a whole with some beautifully displayed artefacts. 

For my first night in the city I stayed at  Hotel Welcome Palace , recommended by Lonely Planet and one of the most popular and well known places in the city. I discovered they are not exactly a budget choice and start from around 1000 INR. It was a nice bit of luxury for a change and the only hot water shower I had in the state. Check availability here .

How I got around Tripura

From Agartala, the main tourist sites in the state are relatively accessible. The  South Bus Station , south of the Battala Mahadev Temple roundabout and across the river, is the main transport hub for exploring the attractions in the south such as Neermahal and Udaipur.

There are buses, shared sumos and all sorts of other vehicles leaving in a constant stream and you only have to take one step near the place and you’ll have plenty of touts asking where you want to go. 

Neermahal  is a former royal palace built in the 1930s and although it might not be as extravagant as similar one’s in Rajasthan, it’s still a beautiful place to visit. It’s built in the middle of the lake and there are boats available to take you there. You can either hire a private boat yourself or pay per head and wait until it fills up.

I went at sunset, which was a perfect time for two reasons. First, there were plenty of other locals going at the same time so I was able to jump on with them and pay just 30 INR round trip for the boat. Second, the lighting was perfect and I would say the best time to go for photographs. 

It’s empty and so there’s not much to see in the palace, but the architecture is nice and you are free to roam around the palace for an hour before taking the boat back.

How to get to Neermahal

There are frequent shared transport and buses leaving Agartala for  Melaghar  and back again. Melaghar is the main town where you can find the Neermahal palace. You can easily walk from where the bus drops you to the lake or take a tuk tuk.

In Melaghar, you only have to wait on the main street for a couple of minutes before a bus or other form of transport will come past for Agartala. 

Just 150 metres away from the boat dock for Neermahal is the  Tourist Lodge . You can stay for 700 INR for a single room. They also have food available which was delicious too. The manager is nice and handed me every brochure ever printed on tourism in Tripura that he found in his cabinet before I left!

Udaipur and Tripura Sundari Temple

Tripura Sundari temple is more than 500 years old and is one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the entire region. It’s still common practice to slaughter goats at the temple as a sacrifice, and many people come to bathe in the water of the lake. To be honest, it’s not very spectacular and despite it appearing on Tripura’s ‘must see’ attractions I wouldn’t go out of your way to see it, unless you time it with a religious ceremony or festival or are a Hindu yourself.

How to get to Udaipur

There are frequent buses leaving Agartala for  Udaipur  and vice versa, the journey only takes about two hours one way so you can see the Tripura Sundari Temple on a day trip from Agartala. Once in Udaipur you can take a shared autorickshaw for 20 INR to the temple. 

Kailashahar and Unakoti

Unakoti archaeological site is a pilgrimage place for worshippers of Lord Shiva. The rock carvings date back to the 7 th and 9 th century without any real evidence to suggest why or how. Sadly, a lot of the smaller rock-cut carvings have been defaced over the years. However, the larger ones are extremely impressive and are not something you will see anywhere else in India, adding to the intrigue.

The site is also free for both Indians and foreigners (although I’m not sure how long that will last) and it’s a very popular place for dignitaries and officials to visit when in the Northeast region.

Kailashahar is the main town from where you can explore Unakoti, located right on the border with Bangladesh. Unakoti Rock Carvings are around 10km from town and you’ll have to take an auto rickshaw to reach it.

At the moment, it’s a very underexplored place in the Northeast and I was an absolute celebrity for the one night I stayed in Kailashahar. Every second person stopped me to ask where I was from. I even met young girls in college who had never seen a white woman in person before! People were still relatively friendly, but it was a tiring place to spend time as a foreigner.

I stayed at the government  Tourist Lodge  in  Kailashahar  for 800 INR per night. I arrived in the morning and the lodge manager spoke zero English and kept shaking his head when I asked for a room.

He pointed to a sign that said all guests must pre-book online (which I hadn’t needed to for other tourist lodges). After standing my ground and not moving for a while, he finally called the only local guide who speaks English who came to translate and finally, I was given a room!

The guide, Rahul, told me there was actually a hotel in town called  Hotel Nirmala , where you can also stay as a tourist. Rahul is available to hire as a guide for Unakoti if you wish (every local will know him, just ask around). Otherwise, you can explore the archaeological site on your own.

How to get to Unakoti

I caught the train from Agartala (the same line that goes to Silchar) and got off at  Kumarghat where there are shared autos and vans waiting to take you to  Kailashahar , just 20km down the road. There are a few trains per day taking this route, I left on the earliest one at 6.15am.

I returned to Kumarghat the next day for the train to Silchar which passed through at 2pm (an hour later than scheduled). Shared autos and buses leave from Kailashahar for the station at Kumarghat when full. 

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