West Tripura
LOCATION AND AREA
While Tripura as a whole lies approximately between the north latitude 22 degrees 56' and 24 degrees 32' and between longitude 91 degrees 0' and 92 degrees 20' east, the West Tripura district lies approximately between latitude 23 degrees 16' to 24 degrees 14' north and longitude 91 degrees 09' east to 91 degrees 47' east. The West Tripura District is bounded by Bangladesh in the north and west by North Tripura in the east and by South Tripura in the south. Total area of the district is 3544 sq.kms. The district headquarters is located at Agartala, which is also the capital of the State. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.
HISTORY
Tripura was a princely State. Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya was the last King. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.After the death of Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in May 1947, a council of regency under the leadership of his widowed wife Maharani Kanchanpura Devi took over charge of administration on behalf of the minor prince Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya.
Monarchy came to its end on 9th September 1947. Tripura was taken as a Part-C state administered by Chief Commissioner. Tripura became a Union Territory on 1st November 1956. The Territorial Council was formed on August 15, 1959. The dissolution of Territorial Council and formation of Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers in July 1963 were notable events. Finally Tripura became a full-fledged State in January 1972. The district administration was run by one District Magistrate and Collector upto 31.8.1970. For better attention of problems of land and tenancies, for accelerating the pace of development in this backward area especially in the remote Tribal areas and for bringing the people closer to the administration Tripura was divided into three districts, viz., North Tripura District, West Tripura District and South Tripura District. Three district Magistrates and Collectors were appointed for the three districts from 1-9-1970. While it was one District Union Territory there were 10 sub-divisions. When it became a full-fledged State, the 10 sub-divisions remained the same. The West Tripura district comprises three sub-divisions viz., Khowai, Sadar and Sonamura while North Tripura District is comprises Kailashhar, Dharmanagar and kamalpur and South Tripura District comprises remaining Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia and Sabroom sub-divisions. Out of the six principal hill ranges namely Baramura and part of Athramura fall within the district. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.
TOURISM
Rich in flora and fauna, the scenic beauty of the hilly terrains, interspersed with splash green valleys in between, of the district as a whole may attract the tourists to find solace in the calmness of the nature. The following places may find place in the tourists map of the district in particular.
Ujjayanta Palace :
At the heart of the town of Agartala with in a compound covering an area of half a square mile, stands Ujjayanta Palace, the modern edifice of the royal house of Tripura. The construction of this well-balanced and beautiful palace had to be undertaken in 1899 in spite of the then stringent financial condition of the state because the old palace which was built in 1862 suffered very badly from a severe earthquake in 1898 and became unfit for habitation. It was completed in 1901 at a cost of little above Rs. 10 lakhs. Scintillating Special Holidays with us. The palace is a two storied mansion having a mixed type of architecture with three high domes, the central one being 86 ft. high. It had well-laid garden parks all around it and two large tanks on two sides, with the leading road in between them. The water cores and fountains were laid in the pattern of the Moghul garden. The main block covers 800 across and contains many public halls, viz., the Throne Room, Durbur Hall, Library, study, Recreation Hall, etc., After the merger of Tripura with the Union of India in 1949 the Royal Palace which was once full of life and brisk activity stood for lorn, being regarded as only a personal property of exruler until recently when it was taken over by the STate Government and transformed into the State Legislative Assembly. This commencing edifice stands erect as a pretty feat of modern architecture that once had a grandeur of its own.
Kunjaban Palace :
A picturesque hillock known as Kunjaban for its scenic beauty stands to the north of Agartala town and within a mile from the Royal Palace (Ujjayanta Palace) with tracts of some law-lying hillocks. Though not far away yet being a palace came to be regarded as ideal for relaxation and pleasure strolls in the past for its green beauty, green gardens, orchard and a small zoo. It may be interesting to add that Rabindranath Tagore stayed in the eastern apartment of this palace during his seventh and last visit in 1926. Around varandh attached to this eastern part, named as Gol Varandah was the most favourite place for its distant view of Baramura Hills on the eastern horizon. This varandah had been the mute witness of many a dear moment when the poet composed a number of popular songs which were in corporated in Vaikali series, or remained obsorted in silence. This palace has been taken over by the Government of Tripura and is being used as the official residence of the governor-Raj Bhavan. Scintillating Special Holidays with us.
Malanchabas :
The bungalow adjacent to the Kunjaban Palace was originally a Kutcha house where also the poet stayed during his previous visit in 1919. The Pucca building which still assumes the name Malanchabas, was subsequently built. Among other places of visit at Agartala, mention may be made of Maharaja Bir Bikram ?College campus which appears to have been garlanded by a number of lakes, the government Museum where many old archaeological findings in Tripura have been places, the Buddha Temple, Uma Maheswari Temple, handloom and Handicrafts, corporation etc. Jagannath Temple, Jagannath Temple at Agartala though a structure of late nineteenth century, is attractive both to devotees of Lord Jagannath and also to the visitors for its peculiar structure, being octagonal at the basement and having a nice Pradakshinapatha round the sanctum. Every pillar of the octagon is crowned by a square pyramidal cone rising above a multifoil niche which comes at the level of the terrace. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Old Agartala :
Puran Agartala or Puran Haveli as it is called, has been the capital of Tripura since the time of Maharaja Krishna Manikya who had shifted the capital from udaipur to old Agartala on the bank of Howra in the face of his continued fight with Sansher Gazi who had attacked Udaipur in 1784. It continued to be the capital of Rajay till it was shifted to the present site a few miles off old Agartala by Maharaja Krishna Manikya, who ascend the throne in 1830. Explore Special Holidays with us.
Old Agartala is still visited by a good number of pilgrims every year on the occasion of Kharchi Puja in the month of Ashara (July) at the temple of Chaturdas devata which was built there when the 14 deities were removed from Udaipur. Though originally a tribal festival, all classes of devotees both tribals and non-tribals participate in the worship of fourteen gods, popularly known as Kharchi Puja. The temple is situated at a distance of mile from Agartala town. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Rudrasagar and Nirmahal :
"Rudrasagar is deep and extensive lake situated about 53 km. from Agartala and about eight kms. from Sonamura town. The scenic beauty of the lake was so attraction that Bir Bikram Kishore (1927-1947) the late Maharaja to Tripura built a spectacular edifice on an island in the Centre of the lake and named it Nirmahal or palace in the water. The palace was provided with electricity and had a small well-laid garden at the courtyard. Nirmahal is no doubt one of the finestt beauty spots in Tripura an though now stands in a dilapidated condition and stripped of its past glory, still it cots its spell on the mind of the people who visit this palace on a moonlit night. The lake itself very beautiful, affords good sports for rowing and rears a good stock of delicious fishes.
Shipahijala : It is situated almost at a distance of 20 kms. south from Agartala town. It is really a green heaven in the earth-away from the work of near shattering noise and speed. Round the palace a natural lake runs where half a dozen of paddle boats awaiting tourists step at the landing. A dense forest all around gives pleasure to the eyes. It has been decorated with a dear park where deer move here and there. A mini zoological garden with pythons and peacocks is a great attraction to the tourists. the wooden bungalow with a beautiful view is a great attraction to the visitors for rest house. Explore Special Holidays with us.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Fairs held in the district - Rathajatra mela, Shivaratri mela, Sri Panchami mela, Charak mela, Janmastami mela, Baruni sran (Baruani mela), Shiva Chaturdashi mela, Sita Ram Kunda mela, Baishakhi mela, Mela (year ending), Narayan Khamar mela (on the occasion of Shripanchami), Kanchanmala mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Mela (on the occasion of Bengali Nababarsa), Nehal Chandranagar mela, Kalibari mela, Purathal Rajnagar mela, Shiva mela, Chaitra mela (on the occasion of Chaitra Sankranti), Gopalnagar Malaitaler mela (on the occasion of Shivratri), Kalacherra mela, Kerchi mela ( on the occasion of Kerchi puja), Rashmela (on the occasion of Rashpurnima), Poush Sankranti, Naba Barsa, Darger mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Birth day ceremony of Srimat Swami Nitya Krishnanda Abadaut Mahaaj at (Yogi Bari) on the occasion of Srabani Purnima), Saraswati mela (on the occasion of Saraswati puja), Battala mela (Poush Sankranti), Darga mela (name of which is Thakurmura Darga). Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India.
Festivals held in the district - Ker Puja, Kharachi Puja, Saraswati Puja, Druga Puja, Kali Puja, Shiv Puja, Dol Puja, Rath Jatra, Laxmi Puja, Poush Sankranti, Id-ud-Zuha, Good Friday, Easterday, New Year's day, Ganesh Puja Chaitra Sankranti, Manasa Puja, First baishakh, Biswakarma Puja, Rash Lila, Charak Puja, basanti Puja, Jhulan Jatra, Janmastami, Christmas day, Burdebta Moharram, Bishub Parab, Ganga Puja, Garia Puja, Sitala Puja, Nabanna, Birthday of Swami Vivekananda, Bishahari Puja.
Brief descriptive notes on selected fairs/festivals-
Kharchi festical : Kharch puja of this territory is performed with great joy and devotion. No other festival in Tripura is held with so much pomp and show as this. It is also called 'Chaturdash' or 'Chaudda Devata Puja'. The place where the festival fair is held is, known as 'Chaturdash Devata' or 'Chaudda Devatas bari, Old Agartala, the second capital of His Highness Krishna Manikya. Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India. The old Agartala was the capital of the former rulers of Tripura and 'Chaturdash Devata' were their family deities. When the capital was shifted to Agartala from old Agartala, the family deities were, however, left there for reasons not known. The then rulers of Tipura, however, appointed a group of tribal priests for the worship of these fourteen Gods. From that time onward the Gods are being daily worshipped. But in the month of Ashar (June-July) on the eighth day of the moonlit period (Suklastami), a special worship known as
Kharchi Puja begins which continues for seven days. As regards genesis of the deities it is believed that in the hoary past there was a king named Tripur who used to rule this land and after whom the place was named as Tripura. It is said that he was very cruel and oppressive towards the subjects. The tyranny and oppression of the king became so intolerable that his subjects lodged protest against him to Lord Siva, who being pleased with their prayers and worship, killed the king Tripur. Though the king was killed, the suffering and miseries of the people instead of abating aggravated, as they were left without a king. They once again prayed to Lord Siva for a king. Lord Shiva was pleased and said that soon the widow queen of Tripur, 'Harabati' would be blessed with a son, who would rule the kingdom to the satisfaction of all. He, however, directed the queen and others to worship daily the following Gods : hara (Lord Siva), Uma (Wife of Lord Siva), hari (Lord bishnu), Ma (Lakshmi), Bani (Saraswati), Kumar (Kartikaya), Ganesh (Siddidata), Brahma (creator of Universe), Prithi (Goddess of Earth), Samudra (God of Ocean), Ganga (Goddess of Ganges), Agni (God of Fire) Kamdev (God of Love and Romance), and Himalaya (God of all Hills). During Kharchi Puja another Goddess, namely 'Burama' is worshipped by a tribal priest. Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India.
The deity is made of stone nd kept in a separate hut which is open on all sides and constructed on a pucca plinth. All the year round the deity is kept these, although-worship is done only during Kharchi Puja. Every woman specially married ones after vermilion and lights candle in front of Burama with a fervent hope of being blessed with children. It is believed that ven a barren woman who offers Puja to Burama is blessed with children. The most redeeming feature of the Kharchi Puja is the sacrifice of thousands of the goats offered by religious minded people of all castes and creeds. This act of sacrifice is performed by a special group of priests known as Galim. Body of the animal after being sacrificed, is given back to the person who brings it, while the head is retained by the Galims. After each sacrifice, some quantity of blood and pieces of flesh of animal are offered to fourteen gods. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.
Ker festival -
probably the most outstanding and at the same time peculiar festival of Tripura is the Ker Puja. it is held just after a fortnight of Kharchi Puja. The worship for 'ker' is held only one the first Tuesday or Saturday after fourteen days of Kharchi Puja. It seems that the worship of ke has a direct link with the worship of Kharchi, because the ker is also worshipped by 'Chantai' the chief of the priests of old Agartala. In the performance of this worship a particular place is earmarked which is known as ker Chaumuhani at Agartala and it is demorcated from rest of the places by a bamboo fence. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.This festival is also held in several tribal villages of Tripura where 'Ojhai' (tribal priest) performs the worship. The main feature of this festival is the worship of a long invoked bamboo which is locally known as nagri Pura.
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