About Tripura
About Agartala, Tripura
- Tripura is one of the seven states in the north eastern part of India. There is a common belief that the name of the State has originated from "Tripura Sundari" - the presiding deity of the land which is famous as one of the 51 pethos of Hindu Pilgrims.
- Agartala is the capital of Tripura and is just 2 km away from the Bangladesh border, on the banks of the Haora River. It is a peaceful administrative town with red-brick government offices concentrated around the city centre.
- Dominating the landscape of this former princely state is the Tripura Palace, which now seats the Legislative Assembly.
- Agartala was established by the kings of the Manikya dynasty, and it was originally known as Puran Haveli. Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya was the ruler responsible for laying the foundations of the modern, planned city of Agartala.
- Over the decades, Agartala has seen quite a population explosion. Culturally the city is dominated by Bengalis, and most people speak Bengali on the streets. The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated with great pomp.
How to Reach Agartala
By Air
The main airport of the state is located in Agartala. Many public and private airlines operate regular flights to and from Agartala. From Kolkata and Guwahati it takes less than 45 minutes to reach Tripura by air. The state has 3 more airports in Khowai, Kamalpur and Kailashahar where small chartered-planes can land easily.
By Road
National Highway No.44 connects Agartala to Guwahati via Shillong in 24 hours. But the location of the state makes it more convenient to reach Agartala from Bangladesh by road.
By Rail
Kumarghat is the nearest railhead, which is at a distance of 140 Km. away from Agartala. Kumarghat is linked by railways to Guwahati, which is in turn connected to the rest of the country. One can approach Guwahati from most major railway stations in India.