Tripura may be a small state but it is loaded with richness, boasts of varieties of nature and diverse cultures. Tripura is a wonderland of natural beauty complete with meandering streams, rivers, deep valleys and mountains. There are forests housing wild animals like bears, wolves, elephants, leopards and monkeys. There are also a number of historical buildings and architectural masterpieces that attract tourists from all parts of the country. Let us take a quick look at some of the places to visit while on a trip to Tripura.

Agartala is the capital city of Tripura and after Guwahati it is the second largest city in north-eastern India. It has a number of major tourist attractions for the visitors that include the gorgeous Ujjayanta Palace built in 1901. The palace now serves as the Tripura Government Museum that is among the most important museums in the region. There is a beautiful Heritage Park which has been designed to give tourists a glimpse of the art, culture and history of the state. The famous Jagannath Bari is also located here.

This was a beautiful palace built within Agartala originally but a massive earthquake of 1897 destroyed it and it was again rebuilt in 1901 AD by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya. The best part of this palace is the gorgeous Mughal garden complete with musical fountains, artificial lakes and green cover. The gardens add elegance and warmth to the surroundings and it is considered to be one of the must visit attractions in the state. The palace was given its name by noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Neermahal Palace or water palace is another grand architectural specimen in Tripura. It strongly resembles Jag Niwas Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan in terms of architectural style and design. Built by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in 1930, it was designed to serve as his summer residence. There is a dome on top of the palace which gives it an appearance of a fort. There is lake adjacent to the palace which is home to a large number of migratory birds and hence attracts bird lovers. There are boating and water sports organized here in the months of July and August.

Dharmanagar is another important city in Tripura and it is best known for its natural beauty and historical sites. There are several historical monuments, palaces and ruins. It is a major commercial hub in Tripura owing to its strategic position. The city also boasts of a large number of good schools in both Bengali and English medium. Many of these schools are using Digitical Class System and boast of a great education standard.

If you are a museum lover and make it a point to visit museums of different cities to learn more about the place’s history and culture, then you must take time out to visit the Tripura Government Museum. It was established with the objective of preserving and showcasing the culture, history and heritage of the people of Tripura. There is quite a collection of archaeological objects that have been collected from across the state, stone carvings, coins etc. it is a great opportunity to learn more about the place and its people and their daily lives.

This is an archaeological site in Tripura and is also referred to as Unakoti Archaeological Site. Unakoti means one less than a crore and is believed that there are as many number of rock carvings available here. There are beautiful murals of Hindu deities found here. It is a popular Saivite pilgrimage site as it believed that Gods and Goddesses were turned into stones by the curse of Lord Shiva. These rock carvings are spread across a significant area that defines its landscape. There are some beautiful waterfalls and lush greenery surrounding these carvings.

The Jagannath Temple is located at the centre of the Ujjayanta palace ground. The temple architecture is unique as one finds strong Islamic influences on the exterior part of the temple while the interiors are defined by brilliant Hindu architectural styles and designs. Lord Jagannath is the main deity who is worshipped here along with Lord Balaram and Devi Shubhadra. Apart from the religious significance of the temple, tourists visit it to witness this amazing blend of different architectural styles.

This is another sanctuary for tourists to visit, particularly wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary has Indian Bison as its primary attraction. Indian Bison is also known as Gaur. There are some endangered species of animals found here like a variety of apes known as Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur and Golden Langur.

Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is a major attraction in Tripura particularly for wildlife enthusiasts. The sanctuary is spread across an area of 19 km and houses animals like capped langur, spectacled monkey, clouded leopard, jungle fowl, barking deer, wild pig etc. There are varieties of flora and fauna found here apart from 150 species of both local and migratory birds. It is a great place for birding and for indulging in bird photography. There is a coffee and rubber plantation within the sanctuary botanical garden and provisions for boating and taking elephant rides.

Melaghar is a small village in Sipahijala district and is located only 10 km from Bangladesh border. Located about 50 km Agartala, the biggest attraction here is the Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary which is a great place for catching a glimpse of wild animals and a variety of birds. The Neermahal Palace or water palace is also located here on the banks of Rudrasagar Lake and is a popular tourist destination.

Located about 200 km from the capital city of Agartala, is the highest range of Tripura known as Jampui Hills. The hill range borders the neighbouring state of Mizoram. The gorgeous climate that one comes across here is truly mesmerizing not to forget the stunning and eye catching vistas and surrounding landscape. There is an orange orchard here that makes an interesting visit and a beautiful sunrise and sunset points.

Udaipur or Rangamati is the third largest city of Tripura. It served as the state capital during the rule of the Maharajas. Today Udaipur is most famous for Tripura Sundari Temple or Tripureshwari Temple. It is one of the major Shakti Peethas in the country. The idol is held in reverence by the people here and visited by large number of people. The city also has a number of lakes which helped it to earn the name ‘Lake City.’

Kamalpur town lies on the eastern part of the state and there are a number of beautiful places to visit in and around the town. There is Kamaleshwari Mandir that is dedicated to Goddess Kali and the village gets its name from the deity. Unakoti historical site is also located here which has unnumerable rock carvings and murals strewn across a huge area. The Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary is also located here rich in medical plants, spice plants, flora and fauna.