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| Tripura |
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Profiles
of Tripura |
| Tourism
of Tripura |
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Tripura has
a lot to offer to the tourists. Agartala, the picturesque
capital, with its beautiful palaces, gardens, hills, temples
and lakes, scenic Tirthamulkh with its lakes; waterfalls
and reservoir are all worth visiting. Pilak Pather and
Lungthung are virtual treasure troves for those, historically
inclined. Jampol hills, Rudrasagar and Neer Mahal-the
lake cities, Sepahijala-the wildlife sanctuary, and the
temples in and around Udaipur, are the other major places
of interest in this tiny state. |
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| Capital
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Agartala |
| Area
(sq. km ) |
10,491.69 |
| Population
(2001) |
3,191,68 |
| Principal
Languages |
Bengali, Kokbarak,
Manipuri |
| Females per 1000 males
(2001) |
950 |
| Literacy rate (2001) |
73.66% |
| Ratio of urban population
(2001) |
17.02% |
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It is located in the northeastern
part of the subcontinent. It is bordered on the north, west,
and south by Bangladesh, on the east by the state of Mizoram,
and on the northeast by the state of Assam. Covering an
area of only 10,486 square kilometers, it is India's third
smallest state, after Goa and Sikkim.
Tripura is mainly a hilly territory with altitudes varying
from 50 to 3080 ft above sea level, though the major population
of the state lives in the plains. It has a moderate temperature
and highly humid atmosphere.
Tripura sends three members to the Parliament: one to the
Rajya Sabha (upper house) and two to the Lok Sabha (lower
house). The state has three administrative districts. Agartala
is the capital of this picturesque hilly state.
History
Historical evidence
of Tripura first appears in the 14th-century Rajamala,
the chronicle of the Manikya dynasty. Under this dynasty,
Tripura suzerainty was extended over much of Bengal, Assam,
and Myanmar in a series of remarkable military conquests.
It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that
the Mughal Empire extended its sovereignty over much of
Tripura.
It was an independent
administrative unit under the Maharaja even during the
British rule in India though this independence was qualified,
being subject to the recognition of the British, as the
paramount power, of each successive ruler. In 1905 Tripura
was attached to the new province of Eastern Bengal and
Assam and was known as Hill Tippera.
The last ruling maharaja of Tripura, Bir Bikram Kishore
Manikya, ascended the throne in 1923 and, before his death
in 1947, settled that Tripura should accede to the newly
independent country of India. Tripura officially became
part of India on Oct. 15, 1949, and was made a union territory
on Sept. 1, 1956. It became a constituent state of the
Indian Union on Jan. 21, 1972.
Society and Culture
Today, Tripura
is largely a Bengali community, in spite of the 19 Scheduled
Tribes that form more than 40 percent of the state's population.
More than half speak Bengali; Bengali and Tripuri are
the state's official languages. The other important language
is Manipuri. Hinduism is the religion of most of the people.
There are also small minorities of Muslims, Buddhists,
and Christians The tribals, with a rich and varied culture,
belong mainly to the Reang, Chakma, Halam and Usai communities.
Music and dance are an integral part of their lives. Garia
dances held for the prosperity of the people; dances of
the Reang community; 'Bizu' dances by the Chakmas denoting
the end of the Bengali calendar year; 'Hai Hak' dances
of the Halams and the Cheraw dance associated with the
confinement of Lusai woman, are examples. 'Basanta Raas'
is the charming dance of the Hindu Manipuris, in Tripura.
Handlooms and handicrafts of Tripura reflect the inherent
quality of workmanship, and uniqueness of the people.
Simple materials such as bamboo, cane, palm leaves and
ordinary yarn are used to create a fascinating variety
of handiwork. Intricately designed handlooms and silk,
cane and bamboo works are the main industries. Furniture,
toys, objects of daily utility such as lampshades, baskets,
calendars, ivory work and Tripuran tribal jewelry, make
shopping here a fantastic experience.
The main festivals of Tripura are the Durga Puja (at the
time of Dussehra), Karchi Puja, Diwali, Dol Jatra (Holi),
Pous Sankranti, Ashokashtmi and Buddha Jayanti, Id, Christmas
and New Year. The Garia, Ker Ganga and Gajan festivals
are important tribal festivities. During Ashokashtmi there
are special celebrations at Unnakoti. The Fourteen Goddess
Temple in Old Agartala attracts a lot of visitors for
its Karchi Puja, and so does Tirthamukh on the occasion
of the Pous Sankranti Mela. Other festivals are the Rabindra/Nazrul
Festival in May, the Boat Race at Melaghar in August,
the Orange and Tourism festival in the Jampui Hill range
in November.
Long and intimate association of Poet Rabindranath Tagore
with Tripura has added luster to the rich cultural heritage
of the state. The state has produced the famous musicians
Sachin Dev Barman and Rahul Dev Barman.
Economy and Infrastructure
Agriculture is
the mainstay of the economy; shifting cultivation
is gradually being replaced by modern farming methods.
Important cash crops are tea, jute, cotton, and fruit.
Wheat, rice, potatoes, and sugarcane are also grown.
Almost half the land area is still covered by forest.
Manufacturing is largely on a small scale and includes
many cottage industries, such as weaving, carpentry,
basketry, and pottery making. The state government
is active in fostering the growth of small-scale industries.
Industrial units also exist for the production of
tea, sugar, canned fruit, agricultural implements,
bricks, and footwear; larger establishments include
a spinning mill, a jute mill, a steel mill, a plywood
factory, and a pharmaceuticals plant.
Energy is provided by diesel-powered thermal plants
at Agartala, Ambasa, Khowai, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar,
Udaipur, and Bagafa and by the Gumti Hydroelectric
Project. Extensive resources of natural gas have recently
been discovered in the state.
Tripura's hilly topography renders communications
difficult. Moreover, with Bangladesh bordering the
state on three sides, Tripura is virtually isolated
from India; land routes consist only of the Agartala-Karimganj
(Assam) road and a meter-gauge railway link from Dharmanagar
to Kalkali Ghat, Assam. Most rivers carry boat traffic,
but this is generally for local transport. Agartala
is linked by air to Calcutta (in West Bengal) and
various towns in Assam. Intrastate air service also
exists.
The Government
of India has recently taken a number of initiatives
to develop infrastructural facilities in Tripura and
other Northeastern states. A broad-gauge Railway line
is being extended up to the state capital, Agartala.
Roads and Airport facilities are also being developed.
Telecommunication facilities are being upgraded. The
power tariff is also very low in Tripura. Moreover,
natural gas available in the state can also be used
as fuel (as substitute for electric power), which
provides an alternative to the industrial units coming
up in the state.
Hotels of Tripura
The State has
hotels of star and non star category catering to the
needs of the tourists visiting Tripura. Besides it
has resorts, restaurants and cafés, which cater to
the needs of all segments of travelers.
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