Famous State of Tripura in india

  By Dhananjai | September 4, 2012 | INDIAN CULTURE

History Although Tripura is believed to have existed since the times when the ancient epic “Mahabharat” was written, the earliest documented history starts with the 14th century when the Manikyas conquered the state. The Manikya dynasty, former Indo-Mongolian tribal chieftains, later Hindu converts, ruled continuously right up to India’s independence in 1947 and later when it became a state of India in 1972. The Partition of Bengal in 1948 and subsequent creation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) led to famine, disease and war causing thousands of Bangladeshis to flee to Tripura. The original tribes, the “Tripuris” were slowly outnumbered by this wide influx of Bangladeshi refugees who were mainly the “Chakmas” from the Chittagong hills. Over time, the “Reangs” from Mizoram have also migrated to Tripura. Today, insurgency continues in many areas of the state as the original inhabitants fight for tribal autonomy and even independence. Famous among the Manikya kings was Udai Manikya (1585-96), who founded the city of Udaipur on the site of the old capital of Rangamati, and adorned it with beautiful tanks, buildings and temples. Best known in the dynasty is probably Maharaja Birchandra Manikya who ascended the throne in 1870 and contributed tremendously to the cultural and spiritual development of Tripura. His close friendship with Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate and Bengali poet, author and painter, established Bengali as the language of the court.

Economy Tripura is predominantly an agrarian economy with agriculture providing 64% employment. Rice is the main agricultural crop and rubber is the biggest revenue earner. The marshy condition of northern Tripura makes it ideal for rubber cultivation and the state is the second largest producer of rubber in India. Horticulture is another major source of income with orchards growing pineapple, oranges, jackfruit and litchi. Jute, cotton, tea, cashew nut, ginger, turmeric, chilly, potato and tapioca are also grown. Tourism, handicrafts and handloom industries also sustain the economy.

Language The tribes of Tripura are of Tibeto-Burmese origin.The Tripuris, the largest tribe live in the west while sizeable numbers of Reangs and Jamatias live in the north and south respectively. The Tripuris live in elevated houses made of bamboo called ‘Tong’ to keep away wild animals. The population is largely Bengali in spite of 19 Scheduled Tribes. The other tribes are Chakma, Halam and Usai. Some of the tribes still cling on to quaint customs like floating colourful parasols in ponds to honour the dead! The three principal languages of Tripura are Bengali, Kokbarak and Manipuri. English is not widely spoken although many road signs are in English. Hindi is spoken in urban centres.

Religion Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians live in this state and all festivals are celebrated with equal fanfare and gaiety.

Food The staple food in Tripura is rice. The tribals eat meat, fish and vegetables – the cuisine is bland and without the various spices that the Bengalis use in their dishes. The Bengalis, as elsewhere in India, are mainly fish eating and make delicious sweet dishes that are representative of the community.

Culture and Crafts The populace in Tripura has assimilated their diverse cultural backgrounds to an extent that all festivals are celebrated with equal fanfare and gaiety. Patronizing the arts is Tripuri tradition and the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, was honoured here. Music and dance are integral parts of the life of the people in the state. They mark joy and sorrow. The Garia dance of the Garia tribe and the Hozagiri dance of the Reang tribe are a celebration of prosperity. The Bizu Dance of the Chakmas marks the end of the Bengali year. Another charming dance is the Basanta Raas of the Manipuris. Tripura is famous for its bamboo and cane products. Room dividers, decorative wall panels, floor mats and attractive furniture made by the craftsmen of Tripura are bought all over India. You can watch the craftsmen at work in the villages of Tripura.

Tourist info centres

1. Tripura Bhavan, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110011 Tel: 011 23015157, 23010968 2. Tripura Bhavan, 1- Pretoria Street, Kolkata Tel: 033 282-3856

How to get there by Air There are direct flights to Agartala from Kolkata and Guwahati. The airport is 5 km away from Agartala city and taxis and autos will take you to the city.

How to get there by Rail Kumarghat, 140 km away, is the nearest rail station. But Kumarghat is insurgengy prone so check the current situation before going there. From Kumarghat you can take a bus to Agartala, the capital. Although it is possible to hire a 4WD with a chauffeur, it is safer to travel by bus.

How to get there by Road Roads also link the neighbouring states to Agartala. Direct buses from Guwahati (25 hours) and Silchar (12 hours) ply regularly. You may even hire 4WDs but buses are definitely safer.

Getting around It isn’t a very good idea to hire a car and move around Tripura because of the volatile political situation. All buses between Tellamura and Kumarghat have army escorts in case of attacks by insurgents. Inter city and inter state buses operate from Agartala, the capital. Apart from buses, there are shared jeeps that will take you to your destination within the state.

Where to Stay in Tripura

Tripura offers limited and basic accommodation. The capital city Agartalaoffers decent options for places to stay like Ginger Hotel and Hotel Rajdhani. Other basic accommodation options you can try in Agartala are Executive Inn Hotel, Royal Guest House, Welcome Palace, Ambar Hotel or Galaxy Inn. If you are in Kailashahar then you can try Unakoti Tourist Lodge, Nirmala Hotel or Circuit House.
Hotels in Tripura offer basic amenities and few have air-conditioned rooms. Please insist on a mosquito net to ensure you are not vulnerable to the malarial mosquito.

Best Time to Visit Tripura

Tripura is best visited from October to May. Heavy seasonal rains from June to September often disrupt life and vital communications.

Climate The climate of Tripura is moderate but humid. It is best visited after the southwest monsoons (rains) in October. The maximum temperature in summer can go up to 35° Celsius and the minimum in winter can come down to 10° Celsius. Average rainfall is 2100 mm. Kamalpur receives the highest rainfall at 2855 mm and Sonamura the lowest at 1811 mm.

Things to do in Tripura

Exploring old palaces, beautiful gardens and interesting temples is all included in the list of ‘things to do’ in Tripura. Visit the Ujjayanta Palace, Tripura Sundari temple or the unique Neermahal. Take an exciting boat ride on the arresting Rudrasagar Lake or try trekking to the highest peak of Tripura, Betalongchhip, the beautiful landscape and soothing climate will make your visit a memorable one.
Shop for lovely hand woven cotton fabrics or buy some decorative handicrafts and tribal jewellery for friends back home. Tripura’s cultural diversity can be seen in its traditional cuisine. While in Tripura, don’t forget to try the delicious and unique preparation of fish, the boiled ‘Hilsa,’ punched with mustard seed and green chilly. The inimitable tastes, tribal culture etc will surely make your trip to Tripura all the more enjoyable.