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TravelTips24 : North-East : Tripura

Tripura

Tripura [1] is one of India's Northeastern states. It is one of the regions least explored by foreign tourists, but offers immense natural beauty and an intriguing cultural heritage. Tripura is one of three Indian states ruled by communists, making their presence felt with murals and flags in many places.

District

Cities

Other destinations

Culture and History

Tripura belongs to the politically volatile North-Eastern region of India. As in neighbouring states, ethnic and communal strife has claimed many lives over the past years. The current ethnic setup in Tripura is a consequence of the Partition of India, when large groups of Bengali Hindus left the area that became East Pakistan (today Bangladesh). The previous majority population, the tribals, became a minority and socio-economically disadvantaged in comparison to the new majority.

Two major tribal rebel groups operate in the state, the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force, which wants Tripura to secede from India. There have been no known account of any violence against tourists in the state, nor any indication that tourist would be a target of violent groups. On the other hand, there are virtually no foreign tourists reaching the state at all.

Talk

The main language in the state is Bengali. The largest language of the tribal population (approx 30% of the population of the state) is Kok Borok. Other languages include Manipuri, Chakma, etc.. Hindi is very rarely used in the state, but is understood.

Travel to Tripura & Visa Requirements

Tripura is mainly surrounded by the Bangladesh border. There is a border crossing point at the outskirts of the state capital Agartala. There is a direct bus service Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala.

Agartala is connected by air from Kolkata, Guwahati & Silchar. The airport code is IXA. Foreign citizens need to register at the airport on arrival.

Tours & Getting around Tripura

Buses are the main transport between towns of the state. If time is more of an issue than money, one can hire a vehicle with driver. Do note that road conditions might be bad, even by Indian standards. On some legs, vehicles travel in military convoys, moving extremely slowly through the countryside. Some rural areas are not safe to travel by nighttime.

The fastest way to travel internally in Tripura is an helicopter service that connects Agartala with the northern parts of the state.

Tripura attractions and sightseeing

  • Ujjanta Palace, Agartala
  • Neermahal Palace
  • Kali temple, Udaipur

Itineraries

Tripura city tours

Tripura Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Typical Bengali cuisine includes rice, fish and dal (lentils). Bengali sweets are also commonly available.

Tripura nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Stay safe

Get out

For Bangladeshi visas, there is a Bangladeshi consulate in Agartala.

This page was last edited at 13:11, on 24 March 2008 by Mike. Based on work by Colin Jensen, David, Gobbler and Ravikiran Rao, Wikitravel user(s) Cacahuate and Soman and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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