Agartala is not your ordinary touristy city. The capital of the erstwhile princely state of Tripura, Agartala has a layered past and is a sleepy yet delightfully chaotic town at the same time. Behind the congested bylanes lies a vibrant past and history waiting to be explored. Agartala is dotted with amazing sights- both natural and historical- and is waiting to amaze you with its abundant charm. Being a place deeply rooted in history and culture, there is no dearth of places to visit in Agartala. If you plan to visit this off-beat destination, you can be assured that you will not come back disappointed. Agartala buzzes with infectious vitality, and you will soon find yourself falling in love with this place. Check out some of the best hotels in Agartala to enjoy a memorable stay in Tripura and other cities.
Beautiful valleys carpeted with colorful flowers, rich culture, and a regal past- Agartala has all the ingredients to be the perfect holiday destination. In addition to this, the people here are exceptionally warm and friendly. Visit this exciting place just to get a taste of the incredible northeastern hospitality. Agartala, being the most developed city in Tripura, combines modernity with tradition, and offers its travelers the best of both worlds. Also, did you know that this city is also connected to Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore? Even he was charmed by this quaint place!
Tripura was once under the reign of Manikya kings and their capital was Agartala. Rabindranath Tagore shared a close relationship with the Manikya Kings. He visited Agartala many times, and after he won the Nobel Prize, the then King Birendra Kishore organized a function to celebrate the occasion. Rabindranath visited Agartala for the seventh and last time in the year 1926 when he was introduced to King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. His influence can be seen in the stunning palaces and monuments of Agartala. He was so mesmerized by the beauty of this place that he ended up visiting it multiple times and immortalized it through his writings.
If you still have doubts about visiting Agartala, read further, and by the time you reach the end of this article, you would want to take the next flight to this city! So, what are some of the most interesting places to visit in Agartala? Agartala is a place that has some of the most beautiful palaces, gardens, and boulevards in the state. There is no dearth of places to see here. Also, check out some of the best hotels in Agartala to enjoy a memorable stay in Tripura and other cities.
Ujjayanta Palace as the name suggests, was a royal palace many years ago. The monument still oozes grandeur and extravagance though now it serves as a museum and a center of tourist attraction in the city. Situated in the center of Agartala, the Ujjayanta Palace is the epicentre of all the hustle-bustle of the city. The name ‘Ujjayanta Palace’ was given by Rabindranath Tagore who found himself here on many occasions. The palace includes the Public halls, Throne room, Durbar Hall, Library, The Chinese Room and the Reception Hall.
The fact that Ujjayanta Palace was formerly a royal residence can be seen from the architecture of this place. Till 2011, it served as the meeting place for the Tripura Legislative Assembly and now it has been transformed into a museum and serves as a major tourist attraction in Tripura. The museum’s galleries exhibit the arts, crafts, culture, and traditions of Tripura and the entire northeast region. There is also a room on the Bangladesh War of Independence, which is an informative historical feature of this museum.
The palace is situated on the banks of a small lake and is surrounded by the beautiful Mughal Gardens in Agartala. It is spread over an area of 28 hectares and houses several Hindu temples dedicated to the deities Lakshmi Narayan, Uma-Maheshwari, Kali and Jagannath. The museum here is one of the largest in Northeast India and does a stellar job in depicting the history, art, culture, and lifestyle of the people here. Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, the Tripura King invested in the construction of the Palace in the years 1899-1901. It was named by Rabindranath Tagore, and in 1972-73, it was bought by the Tripura government that first used it as the meeting place for Tripura’s Legislative Assembly, and later turned it into a museum. The palace was built in an impressive Indo-Saracenic style and has Mughal-inspired gardens surrounding it from all sides.
Situated to the south of the main city of Agartala, the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is an 18-sq-km patch of forested land. It is an open-air zoo that serves as a popular picnic and boating spot. Here you can see a diverse range of animals including Indian tigers and Himalayan black bears. This place is also home to more than 150 species of resident and migratory birds, trees and plants, and animals. This place is a stunner! There are vast stretches of rubber and coffee plantations that will take your breath away. You can enjoy boating, visit the botanical garden, take an elephant joy-ride or just enjoy the beauty of nature here. The sheer beauty that this place exudes makes it one of the best places to visit in Agartala.
The beautiful Chittagong Hills consist of mini-mountains, rolling valleys, and seven rivers that gush down from the mountains to meander in the valley. It is a picturesque place that is worth visiting if you happen to find yourself here in Agartala.
The beautiful, elaborate, and fancy Jagannath Temple situated in the Ujjayanta Palace grounds is dedicated to the Hindu Gods- Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. It was built by the Maharaja of Tripura in the nineteenth century. The temple, besides being a religious and spiritual destination, is also known for its impeccable architectural beauty. The temple’s interior and exteriors are so stunning that you can click amazing pictures here. The architecture of this grand building has a tinge of the Islamic style of making edifices. The base of the Jagannath Temple is octagonal in shape and supports brightly colored orange walls. The pillars of the temple sport pyramidal conic structures. It is widely believed that the Neel Madhav idol at Puri was donated from the Jagganath Bari Mandir of Tripura. The main rituals followed here are the Nitya Puja, Bhoga offerings and distribution, and the evening Aarti. You should not miss the Aartis here. The temple displays a brilliant exuberance during Aartis and the excitement here is infectious. The temple authorities organize the beautiful Rath Yatra here every year. If you are in Agartala, you should pay a visit to this temple.
The most fascinating aspect of the Jagannath Temple is that it carries the essence of Islamic architecture. It beautifully blends the Hemadpanthi and Arabic style of architecture on the exterior with its Hindu aspect reflected on the inside of the temple
Situated at a distance of 55km from Agartala in Udaipur, formerly known as Rangabati, this 500-year-old temple Tripura Sundari Temple is one of the oldest temples in the state. Tripura Sundari temple is one of the 51 Sakti Peethas in India and is believed to be the place where the toe of Sati fell. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu had cut Sati’s body into 51 pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra, and the places where her body parts fell came to be known as Shakti Peethas. In this temple, Sati’s toe fell. One interesting fact about this magnificent temple is that it is shaped in the form of a tortoise, and is also known as Kurma Peeth. During Diwali- held during October or November- you will see a swarm of devotees coming here to seek the blessings of their beloved deity.
Tripura Sundari Temple has the distinction of being one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the country. It is also known as Matabari, and the priests who serve here don bright red robes. This attractive temple is one of the most splendid places to see in Agartala and attracts hundreds of devotees from all over the country daily. According to the folklore, King Dhanya Manikya, who ruled Tripura during the fifteenth century, had a dream in which the goddess asked him to install the idol of Goddess Tripura Sundari in the temple present on the hilltop.
Neermahal or the Lake Palace of India is unlike any other place you might have visited in India. This stunning architectural masterpiece is located right in the middle of the Rudrasagar Lake and derives its name from its location. It is one of the two water palaces in India. The Manikya King, Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, commissioned its construction. It served as the summer palace for the king and his family. You can almost see how royal life at this palace must have been while walking around its highly ornate interiors and majestic exteriors. The palace lies surrounded by fabulous lawns and colorful flower beds.
During the evening, Neermahal hosts a fascinating and informative light and sound show to make people aware of the culture, history, and legacy of this place. The palace also has some interesting water sport activities. So if you are a water sports enthusiast, then you should visit here. The ‘Neermahal Water festival’ attracts several tourists to this mahal with aspirations to win the boat races.
Fondly known as the eternal hills of spring, Jampui hills impress us with their densely forested cover. It experiences pleasant weather all year round and attracts travelers wanting to spend some quiet moments in the lap of nature.
At a distance of 96km from the main city of Agartala lies the Buddha Temple that was constructed in 1946. Its construction signified the presence of Buddhism in the society of Tripura. In the sixteenth century, Buddhism was completely wiped out from the face of Tripura owing to the defeat of Buddhist Kings. However, the seventeenth century saw the revival of this reformist religion and since then it has permanently existed in the state. The temple houses two idols- one of Buddha and the other of Bodhisattva. The latter is believed to have a Burmese origin. Check out the various hotels in Agartala to enjoy a hearty stay in India’s east.
Agartala, despite its commercialization, is still on a different plane from the big cities of India. It is clean, green, and deeply rooted in history and culture. Tucked in the northeastern part of India, the beautiful city of Agartala is waiting to mesmerize you with its impeccable beauty! Do plan a visit for an experience of your lifetime.
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