|
This
city is the capital of the Indian state of Tripura, and has a population of
nearly 370,000 in 2004. Agartala lies on
the Haora River, not far from Bangladesh.
Due to frequent invasion of the Kuki's and to keep considerable
communications with the British Bengal, the Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya
started the process of shifting the Capital from Old Haveli to New Haveli
(present Agartala ) in the year 1849. In
the times of the British Raj, this city was the capital of the 'Hill Tippera'
state. Agartala became a part of the
Union Territory in 1956. With its rich cultural diversity, the city is
well-known for its twin palaces-- Ujjayanta and Kunjaban.
The best time to visit Agartala is between the months of October and
April. The city is known for its
cultural and historical worth, littered with bright bamboo and cloth umbrellas
over ponds. These parasols are part of a
tribal custom, in which grandons commemorate the deaths of the grandfathers and
celebrate their anniversaries. One of
the top tourist attractions is the aforementioned Ujjayanta Palace,
built in 1901. This once-mansion now
houses the State Legislative Assembly.
Another major tourist attraction is the nearby Neermahal, a
summer resort built in the middle of Lake Rudrasagar. It is the only lake palace in Eastern India,
and is built in the Hindu and Mughal styles.
There are many traditional religious sites in Agartala that are of much interest
to enthusiastic travelers. Don't forget
to visit the Debtamura, not far from Agartala, on the banks of the
Gomati river. Here you will find
carvings of Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu, Kartik, Mahisasur and Mardini Durga--
dating back to the 15th and 16th century.
|
