I have read the review on Agartala here on MS which is quite back dated as written in 2003. So, I am writing a review on the present Agartala.
I feel encouraged to write this review as myself having ancestral root in Tripura and a frequent visitor to the capital of Tripura.
North east India is often treated as ignored or neglected child of mother India. And, Tripura is no exception being surrounded by Bangladesh on its 3 sides, it has the narrow link to the greater India through Assam.
Origin: Despite all these odds, Agartala has rapidly emerged as a developing city in north eastern India and now the 2nd most popular and developed city in this region. Tripura was an independent state ruled by Manikya Dynasty for many years before it joined Indian Territory in the year 1949. It got the recognition of a state in the year 1972.
Overview: Agartala is a city with around 5 lac population. It is a small city compared to other non metro cities in many states of India, but still it is having all the facilities and amenities required for modern life style. The city still carries the legacy of Tripura royal family depicting the rich traditional back ground of this place.
Some of the important residential areas of the city are Ramnagar, Joynagar, krishnanagar, Abhoynagar, Banamalipur, kalyani, A.D Nagar, Shibnagar etc.
Communication:The only airport in Tripura is located in Agartala. You can fly to Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad from Agartala. Agartala rail station has also been set up in the year 2008, which has been a dream for the people of Agartala for so many years! Now, trains are available to ply between places in North and Dhalai Tripura.
One can also go up to Lumding station in Assam directly from Agartala railway station. Apart, night super luxury buses are still available to go to Guwahati or Silchar in Assam. So, communication system has really improved a lot. Recently, with inauguration of Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus service the communication system is supposed to get a new dimension.
City Life: Agartala has a nice and moderately paced city life. So, you can enjoy the luxuries of a city but always in a calm and peaceful environment. City Center located in the heart of the city in Paradise Chowmuhani is the new sensation. It is the hot spot of young generation in the city. It is now considered to be the prime zone to hang out. It has several branded shops, top quality restaurant, multplex cinemal hall and auditorium. It can be compared with any place located in metros like Kolkata. So, it is a must visit place for a tourist.
Apart, you can surely visit the Big Bazar and adjacent Rupasi Multiplex. Cinema halls in the city was shut down for long years, so people had no option to watch movie in theater.But, now with these two multiplexes, cinemas are released simultaneously in Agartala too.
If you are new to this city and want to do some marketing, just visit Hawker's Corner area in the main city, which is like Gariahat market in Kolkata. There is a big market named Bangladesh Market by the local people near Battala Market, and which is a big market for elctronic goods, home appliances, dress materials, winter garments etc. Elite people do not like to visit this place much, still you can get some top quality products at an affordable price. For Chinese products, this market is your best option.
Tripura is famous for its bamboo products and some of them are being imported to foreign countries. If you are keen to have a glimpse of these excellent handi crafts, just visit Purbasha, a store of handicrafts products, handloom and sericulture products managed by Government of Tripura. Prices are high but all these items are really awesome and worth purchasing.
Agartala has some quality restaurants in the heart of the city. They are capable to provide you mouthwatering dishes in both Indian, Chinese, Continental cuisine. Apart, you will get plenty of simple rice meal hotels, bakeries and confectioneries and sweet shops scattered around the city. As majority of the population in Agartala is Bengali, food culture is more or less same to that of Kolkata.
Medical Facility: Agartala Government medical college, that is, G.B hospital and Indira Gandhi Memorial hospital, Hapania Hospital have improved a lot as far as infrastructure and facilities are concerned. The city can also take pride in its one and only super specialty hospital named ILS. Overall, the health sector has really improved for last couple of years and people are treated and cured for even serious ailments.
Education:Agartala has always a passion for education. Tripura University, located in Suryamaninagar, 12 KM away from the capital is excelling day by day. Apart, this city has some top notch schools conducting either state board, CBSE or ICSE curriculum. These schools have been producing bright scholars year after year. NIT Agartala( previously Tripura Engineering College) is another example educational excellence in the state. The state has medical colleges too.
Maharaja Birbikram College(MBB College), established in the year of 1947, is a place of top quality education in science, arts and commerce streams. There are several other colleges in the city with proper infrastructure and education facility.
Tourist Attraction:Agartala has several places to attract the tourists. For the religious minded people there are several ancient temples to visit. Some of the temples worth visiting are Chaturdash Devta Mandir in old Agartala, Laxmi Narayn Temple, Durga Temple, Shiva Temple to name a few.
Ujjayanta Palace is another prime attraction in Agartala where the royal family stayed and later it was converted to the legislative assembly hall. It is an nice example of royal legacy of Tripura kingdom.
Rose Valley park located in Madhuban, a few Kms away from the capital city, is a great amusement park to spend a day with your family and friends.
Apart, Maa Tripurasundari temple located 55 Km away from the city which is a very popular temple and visited by several distinguished personalities and celebrities on several occasions. A grand festival with fair is organised every year in the temple premise with pomp and grandeur on every Diwali.
Apart, a tourist can visit Sipahijala Wid Life Sanctuary, Nirmahal( a palace in the lake built by the kings of Tripura), Kasba Kali Temple from Agartala. Echo Park is also a new tourist destination situated in the lap of Baramura Hills. All these places can be visited as single day trip from the capital.
Culture: Mostly habituated by the Bengali, Agartala has a long tradition of being a place of Bengal art and culture. It is considered as second kolkata to many people. Apart, local Tripuri culture is also present in the city and you can see a nice amalgamation of both these culture in Agartala. People speak in Bengali, but Hindi and English are well understood too. Durgapuja, Diwali are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Apart, Kharchi puja, Ker Puja are also celebrated in the city by the tribal community and Bengali people also take part in the process. Xams, Eid are also celebrated here.
There are lots of cultural programs, exhibition organised in Rabindra bhavan( old house of music legend Sachin Dev Burman), Town hall and newly constructed Najrul Kala khestra. It is a happening city in terms of cultural aspect and festivals. People eagerly wait for the Book Fair in every winter followed by other fares like Pushpa Mela, Shilpa Mela, Khadya Mela etc.
Sukanta Academy is another interesting place for the children to learn and explore space related information and astronomy.
Rabindranath Tagore had a strong bonding with the kings of Tripura. He visited the state couple of times. Malancha Niwas, Kunjaban Palace, Rabindra Kanan are some of the places associated with the famous poet and worth visiting for the tourists too. All these places have historical importance. Rabindranath Tagore used to stay in Malancha Niwas when he visited Tripura.
Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, the then king of Tripura was very much impressed with Tagore and also helped him while the poet was in the process of setting up Shanti Niketan. He wrote some of his novels, dance drama based on the Tripura.
Accomoadations: There are several hotels to stay here for the tourists as well as for the persons coming on business tour. Hotel Zinger, Hotel Welcome Palace, Langtarai Guest House, Royal Guest House, Hotel Rajdhani, Hotel City Center are some of the popular hotels in the city.
Tripura is always considered to be a good host for the people coming from other states. So, people from all parts of the country are always welcome to this tiny state. You will enjoy the simplicity of a small town mixed with the amenities of a developing city in Agartala.
