Best time to visit : September to May
Agartala is the capital city of Tripura, the North-eastern state of India. Situated on the banks of Haroa River, Agartala is just 2 km. away from Bangladesh as it lies on the Indo-Bangladesh border. Natural beauty, quietness of the surroundings and friendly and down to earth people of this calm city lure lots of tourists every year. Agartala is not just a spot for scenic beauty but also a religious site of Hindus because of the presence of many beautiful temples. Find more tourist information from the following sections of Agartala travel guide.
Facts
Bengali culture is most prominent in Agartala. Many Bengali festivals like Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja are celebrated with great pomp and show. Apart from the Bengali festivals, Agartala is also famous for hosting the annual Orange Festival. The favourite sport of people here is football and the city has its own official Football League.
Due to its close proximity to Bangladesh, food of Agartala has flavours of Bangladeshi cuisine. Some of the famous are wasung (slices of vegetables are filled in a bamboo tube which is sealed with a banana leaf. The tube is cooked on charcoal for few minutes and then the water is drained out. This dish is consumed with plain rice), bhapa ilish patey (steamed fish with minimal amount of spices), and chakhui butwi (it is fermented fish which is boiled with ginger and lime leaves till the gravy gets thickened, usually served with steamed rice).
Agartala is famous for its handicrafts made of bamboo, cane and clay. You can buy items such as cane floor mats and table mats. The local hand woven shawls are also a speciality of Agartala.
Nearby Places:
- Debtamura (about 80 km.): It is famous for the carved images of Hindi Gods and Goddesses on the mountain walls. These carvings date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Pilak (about 104 km.): It is famous for the terracotta plaques dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries. The entire area is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Remains of Buddhist shrines and stupas have been found during the excavations of this area.
- Unakoti (about 175 km.): It is famous for a 30 ft. tall rock carving of Lord Shiva. The entire area has hundreds of rock-cut sculptures making it a very unique place. Waterfalls on all sides of Unakoti make it a beautiful place to visit.
- Jampui Hills (about 170 km.): Popular for its orange plantations and the annual Orange festival held during December - January. Also famous for the breathtaking sunset and sunrise views and valleys.
Other attractions in the close proximity include Matabari Temple, Melaghar Camp, Sepahijala Zoo, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary and Dumboor Lake.