Agartala - Nestling on A Royal Enigma
Agartala is a laid back place reminiscent of quaint towns of Bangladesh. Embellished with heritage monuments that recite the annals of time, Agartala is an ideal base to explore Tripura. Colonial brick bungalows surrounded by bougainvillea hedges and bright cannas, golden laburnum trees lining the streets give Agartala's outskirts an attractive appearance. Remember to leave your footprints inside the magical Ujjayanta Palace situated in the heart of the town. Built by the ruling king in 1901, the palace, similar to Kolkata's Victoria Memorial, now shares its space with the State Assembly. From the Palace itself you can see the stately orange ‘shikhara’ (tower) of the 19th century Jagannath Temple. Nestling beside the azure waters of a lake, the four-storeyed tower is indeed an amazing art to behold. Visit the State Museum nestling in the heart of town. The humoungous museum preserves some rare images, epigraphs and memorabilia which throw a curious light on the royal past of Tripura and some adjoining states.
Climb The Hilly Temptations
If you are interested in Hindu ‘tantra’, bow your head at the sacred shrine of Tripura Sundari. Situated in ancient Udaipur on the the Dhanisagar hillock, the temple is believed to be one of the holiest Hindu shrines in this part of the country. The Tripura Sundari Temple is considered as one of the 52 Shakti Peethas in Hindu mythology, and is flanked by red-robed priests and occult practitioners from all over the country. The temple architecture in itself is an amazement to many tourists. Built in a design that fetches everyone to the bygone rural huts of West Bengal, the temple will actually take you to a divine tour of the virgin 16th century villages of Bengal. Constructed by by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Dev Varma in 1501 A.D., the temple premise houses two identical images of the same deity inside the temple named ‘Chhotima’, one is around 2 feet in height and the other about 5 feet in height. Spend a holiday afternoon with the wild creatures of Sipahijala, a lush green botanical garden housing a small zoo. Stay in ‘Abasarika’, the forest bunglaow to get the real forest pleasure.
The charm of meeting the natives is unsurpassable. The tribals, with a rich and varied culture, belong mainly to the Reang, Chakma, Halam and Usai communities. Music and dance are an integral part of their lives. 'Garia' dances held for the prosperity of the people; dances of the Reang community; 'Bizu' dances by the Chakmas denoting the end of the Bengali calendar year; 'Hai Hak' dances of the Halams and the Cheraw dance associated with the confinement of Lusai woman, are examples. No doubt, they have dances for every season and reason. Enjoy watching the famous 'Basanta Raas', a charming dance of the Hindu Manipuris, in Tripura. |
