Agartala Sights and Landmarks Guide, India

Agartala is not merely a city full of temples and palaces; Nature has been equally bountiful here and the place has great scenic valleys, hills and hillocks, rivers and lakes. The beckoning of the city’s unparalleled natural charm and its rich historic past have always been hard to ignore.

Ujjayanta Palace is the royal palace of the Manikya Kings. Built during the reign of King Radhakishore Manikya Bahadur in 1899, Ujjayanta Palace is constructed in the Indo-Greek architectural style. The palace has huge Mughal-style gardens that have pools and fountains. Today, it serves as the Assembly House of Tripura.

There are a number of temples around the palace, of which the temples of Jagganath and Ummaneshwar are very revered. The two temples are both orange in color and stand face to face. The Jagganath temple is bordered by the Jagganath dighi (dighi is a local terminology for a lake).

Among other important palaces in the city are the Kunjaban Palace and the Neermahal Water Palace. The Kunjaban Palace is the official residence of the Governor of the State of Tripura built in 1927. Originally named Pushbanta Palace, the building was a retreat built for King Birendra Kishore Manikya. The Nobel laureate poet, Rabindranath Tagore, would stay in Kunjaban Palace whenever he visited Tripura.

Standing at the center of the Rudrasagar Lake, Neermahal was a summer resort. Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur commissioned Martin & Burn Co. to construct the palace in 1930. The lush green lawns, the colorful flower beds and the occasional sighting of migratory birds add to the appeal of the place.

The Ravindra Kanan is another palatial house, which was built by King Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya for his friend, Ravindranath Tagore.

Unakoti located some 175 kms from Agartala, is another important archaeological site. Built around the 8th-9th centuries, Unakoti is a Shaivite holy-spot. The site has some wonderful rock cut carvings and stone images.

The Venuban Vihar and Buddha Mandir are representations of Buddhism. Venuban Vihar, located at distance of around 2 Kms from the city of Agartala, has a Buddha temple; the temple is famous because it has a Burma-made metal idol of Lord Buddha. Buddha Poornima is celebrated with great pomp here. The Buddha Mandir has two beautiful idols, one of Lord Buddha and the other of Bodhisattva; these idols too are believed to be of Burmese origin and were formerly placed in the Royal palace.

The scenic attractions of Agartala are simply mesmerizing especially if you are speaking of the Chittagong Hills, the Jampui Hills or the Raima Valley. The Agartala area has three important wildlife haunts close by – Gondacherra Wildlife Sanctuary, Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary. These wildlife sanctuaries have abundant flora and fauna. The rich aquatic life of the water-bodies in these sanctuaries and the nearby Domboor Lake attract hosts migratory birds from other regions.

After you have had your share of natural wonders and the city’s rich historic past, round off your Agatala-stay by paying a visit to the Tripura Government/ State Museum.