The city of Agartala is the second-biggest city in the north-eastern region after Guwahati. It is the administrative centre of the state and also extremely important in terms of connectivity with the rest of the country as it as a domestic airport and a fairly big railway station. Trains and flights help to keep the region connected to mainland India. This also contributes to tourism as it allows tourists easy travel to the city and the surrounding areas. Let us take a look at places to visit during one’s stay in Agartala.

Named by Rabindranath Tagore the Ujjayanta Palace is the biggest attraction in the city. It is a beautiful palace that was reconstructed after being badly affected by the earthquake of 1897. It was rebuilt under the initiatives of Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya and became functional in 1901. From 1972 till 2011 the palace served as the State Legislative Assembly. Post 2011 the palace has been converted in a museum and is one of the biggest museums in the north-eastern region.

The Jagannath Temple was built within the premises of Ujjayanta Palace. Also known as Jagannath Bari, it is an important pilgrimage site for the people. The temple houses the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Devi Shubhadhra. The temple architecture is unique as it is fine blend of Islamic and Hindu temple architectural styles. Islamic features are predominant on the exterior wall of the temple while inside it is the Hindu style that dominates.

There are a number of temples that are found within the premises of the Ujjayanta Palace. Ummaneshwar Temple and Jagannath Temple are located opposite to each other. The temple has typical Bengali temple architectural features. It is a saffron coloured temple. It is interesting to note that Tripura identifies with the state of West Bengal in a major way and Bengali is the language that is widely spoken here.

Jampui Hills is the highest mountain range in the region bordering the state of Mizoram and is also referred to as eternal hills of spring. The name comes from the fact that the area experiences a pleasant and cool spring like climate all through the year. The Jampui Hills is inhabited by the Mizo community and Mizo, Bengali and English are widely spoken here. The Jampui Hills is today very popular for orange plantations which started in the 1960s. Some of the best oranges are grown here and an Orange Festival is also celebrated.

The wildlife lovers and photographers can make a short 25 km trip outside the city to visit the Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is the home to large varieties of animals and birds. There is diverse flora and fauna found here. Clouded Leopard is very popular here as also crab-consuming mongoose. Winter is a good time to visit the sanctuary as birds and animals can be detected with ease. There is forest Bungalow called Absarika where tourists can lodge for the night.

Heritage Park in Agartala is another interesting tourist attraction. The park was created and designed to showcase the tribal culture, heritage and history of the people of the state. The park is divided into three parts. The first part of the park gives an insight into mini Tripura, the middle part displays the forest area that defines the state and the third part dedicated to medicinal plants, herbs and shrubs. There are beautiful flowering plants and trees adorning the park.

Kunjaban Palace is located few kilometres from Agartala was constructed by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya in 1917. It was built to serve as his private retreat on a picturesque hillock. It is said that Rabindranath Tagore had stayed in this palace during his last visit to the state. The Palace now serves as the Raj Bhavan or the official residence of the Governor of Tripura. The Palace is set in the midst of a beautifully laid out garden.