The hilly state of Tripura is located in north-eastern India and is bordered on three sides by Bangladesh. It is a beautiful state boasting of gorgeous natural beauty, mesmerizing landscapes, mountain ranges, rich wildlife and a diverse cultural heritage. Like other north-eastern states, Tripura too has a sizeable tribal population that lends it a distinct character of its own. There are a decent number of activities for tourists to indulge in during their stay in the state. Here is a snippet of travel guide to see in Tripura.

By Air:

The capital city of Tripura, Agartala has an airport which gives the state air connectivity with the rest of the country. Agartala Airport is also known as Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is a domestic airport and located about 12 km the city centre. There are several flights operated by Spicejet, Indigo and Air India that transfer people to cities like Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Delhi etc. From the airport tourists can hire auto or cab to reach the city.

By Rail:

Unakoti in Tripura has a railway station known as Kumarghat Railway Station. The station is located 126 km Agartala and has two platforms. Though not a big station, it nevertheless provides the much needed rail connectivity with neighbouring cities like Guwahati, Kolkata and with far flung cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. Tourists can take bus or cabs from the station to reach Agartala or their preferred destination.

By Road:

The different parts of Tripura are well connected by roads with the neighbouring cities and districts. There are a fair number of state roads and National Highways that crisscross through the state. There is National Highway 44 that connects Tripura with Guwahati via Shillong. There are luxury coaches that are operated by both public and private companies that ply regularly between different parts of Tripura and cities like Guwahati, Shilliong, Silchar as well as Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Getting Around:

Road transport is most important in Tripura as there are few railway stations to connect the different districts and towns of the state. Commuting is not difficult as there are well developed roads and National Highways that help to connect the different regions. Taxis, cabs, buses regularly ply between different areas.

Summer (March to May):

Summer in Tripura is a two months affair lasting from March till May. End April and May are considered to be the hottest months but the temperature does not exceed 33°C. As compared to other parts of the country summer in Tripura is not overtly uncomfortable or unpleasant. This is because of the hilly terrain of the state. Humidity tends to remain on the higher side which can cause some sweating but overall the weather remains comfortable for a trip.

Monsoon (June to September):

Monsoon is quite a long drawn affair in the state. Starting from end May the rains continue till September. All the four months are characterized by considerable amount of rainfall. The presence of hills, the windward side receives lot of rainfall. The incessant showers cause rivers to overflow and lead to frequent flooding in different parts of the state. The heavy rainfall also increases humidity in the air and Tripura is best avoided during the monsoons.

Winter (October to February): 

If you want to get the best flavour of Tripura and enjoy your stay in the state, winter is the best season. The climate takes a turn for the best. There may be scattered incidents of rainfall but it is not very frequent and skies remain clear for most parts. Humidity falls and the climate is cool and pleasant and extremely enjoyable for indulging in outdoor activities like nature walks, hiking and exploring the different regions.

Trip to Ujjayanta Palace:

Named by Rabindranath Tagore, Ujjayanta Palace is located on the banks of a lake just opposite to the very popular Jagnnath Temple. The palace was damaged severely by earthquake in 1897 and was rebuilt by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya and became functional in 1901. The palace is a beautiful specimen of architectural brilliance and continues to dominate the surrounding areas. From 1972 the palace has functioned as the State Legislative Assembly till 2011 when it was converted into a museum.  

Religious Visit to Jagannath Bari:

Jagannath Temple, also popularly referred to as Jagannath Bari is in Agartala located near the Raaj Bari or Royal Palace. The temple houses the idols of deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Devi Shubhadra. The architecture of the temple deserves a special mention as it is a blend of Islamic and Hindu architectural styles. The outer walls of the temple have strong Islamic influences while the interiors follow the usual Hindu style of architecture.

Go Boating in Neermahal Palace: 

Neermahal Palace or Water Palace is another beautiful palace in Tripura. It is located on the banks of Rudrasagar Lake and to reach the palace entrance you need to take a boat. The lake presents a great opportunity for boating for tourists as they can club this pleasant outdoor activity with a visit and tour of the palace which is another grand piece of architecture.

Explore Unakoti:

Unakoti is a rather interest tourist destination in Tripura. Here tourists will come across innumerable specimens of rock carvings and murals of Hindu deities strewn across and defining the landscape. The rock carvings are a testimony of the brilliant workmanship and artistic skill of the people of previous times. There are carved images of Ganesha, Vishnu, Hanuman, Uma-Maheshwar among others. There are some amazing waterfalls in the area which makes Unakoti a must visit destination for the tourists.

Like most parts of India, Tripura too boasts of a flavourful and delectable local cuisine bursting with flavours. It however offers a range of options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, though for non vegetarians the options are a little more. While in Tripura tourists must try Mui Borok which is their traditional cuisine and is delicious. Apart from this there is strong Bangladesh influence because of their proximity to the country and Chinese cuisine is also extremely popular. There is a particular chutney made of dry fish that is highly recommended and must be tried along with dal and rice.

Tripura presents a great opportunity for shopping for interested tourists. Bamboo and cane works are very popular here and are beautiful. There are table mats, room dividers, table lamps, floor mats and furniture made of cane and they make a great choice for gifting as well as for decorating one’s own house. Tourists can take these back as souvenirs of their trip. Apart from cane and bamboo items woven tribal shawls and mekhla are very popular here.