Tripura

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Map of Tripura (Source: India-WRIS)

Tripura was known even in the Mahabharata and Purana period. The history of this state is also understood from the 'Rajmala' (chronicles of king Tripura) and other Mohammedan historians. Later the state came under the hands of imperial Guptas. The Manikya dynasty ruled over this state for several centuries. According to 'Rajmala' the rulers were known by the surname 'Fa', means father. This state was predominantly tribal dominated state. The Manikya ruler defied several efforts of the Sultan of the Bengal. Tripura Sundari, the wife of the founder of Manikya dynasty, led the brave tribals in a battle against Sultans of Bengal. This ruler built several temples and tanks for irrigation and drinking water all over the state. Last Manikya ruler honoured poet Rabindranath Tagore in a specially convened Durbar. Finally in 1949 (15th October) this state was merged with Indian Union. Up to 1972 it was a Centrally administered territory, but in 1972 this territory attained the status of full-fledged state.

Tripura is one of the northeastern states of India is bounded three sides by Bangladesh and on northeast by Assam and Mizoram. It is strategically situated between the river valleys of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The state has hills and sub-mountains in the central and eastern region. Nearly 55% of the total land area is under forest. The main rivers of the state are Gumti, Manu, Dhalai and Khowai. The other rivers are Juri, Langai, Deo, Surma, Raima, Laogang and Mukari etc.The state's climate is tropical moist or warm and humid.

The state is bordered with Assam and Mizoram in the east and Bangladesh mainly in the north, west and south as land locked in three directions.

The climate of the state is humid sub-tropical characterized by high rainfall. The monsoon starts generally in April and continues upto September. The state also receives winter and summer showers to a limited extent.summer starts in march and continues upto may and is followed by rainy season extending over about four months (May-August).The average maximum temperature in May-June and the average minimum temperature in December-january.

• Agriculture
• Industry
• Mines & Minerals

Agriculture is the main source of occupation of the state. In some tribal areas there is some Jhum cultivation but much of the state's agriculture is of the settled kind. Main food crops are rice, wheat, pulses, oil seeds. Cash crops are cotton, tea, sugarcane, fruits and rubber (NTFP) in some parts of the state. Nearly 55 percent of the land is under forest. These forest yields a considerable amount of bamboo, sal wood, grass, cane, medicinal plants. Bengali, the majority population loves fish. For fish they have to depends on Bangladesh on a large account. Remaining fishes are available from ponds, lakes and rivers.

Fruit preservation, tea, handloom and handicrafts are the main industries of the state. Besides, these aluminium utensils, PVC pipe, plywood industries are there. The cane and bamboo work are very famous in Tripura.

The Oil and Natural Gas Commission has done substantial work on discovering oil in the state. There is also natural gas reserve in the state. Lignite and clay deposits have also been traced at some places.

• Transport
• Education
• Health
• Telecommunication

The main airport Agartala is connected with Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi. There are airports at Kailashahar and Kamalpur though they are not functioning at present.

Agartala is the main tourist attraction. It has a number of palaces, temples in the city and nearby. Some of them are Ujjayanta Palace, Kunjaban Palace, Jagannath Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Uma Maheswari Temple. Besides these there are State Museum, Rabindra Kanan, Maharaja Bir Bikram College in Agartala. Fourteen Goddess temple at Old Agartala, Brahmakunda, Kamala sagar, Sapahijala Wildlife Sancuatury, Pilak in Belonia, Debtamura, Tirthamukh, Mandirghat, Dumboor Lake, Coconut Island at Dumboor Lake, Tripura Sundari Temple, Bhuwanneshwari Temple, Udaipur Reserve Forest, Kumarghat, Unakoti are the other tourist centres. Jampuria hills in the north attract a lot of tourists.