A Trip Through Tripura

Surrounded by more popular neighbours, Tripura, with its rustic appeal, rich history and culture, rare flora and fauna and friendly locals, deserves a mention in Indias tourism brochures and in your travel plans.

- Sugato Tripathy

States like Tripura hold within them uncanny surprises bound to delight the quintessential traveller. Sharing more than 800 km of border with Bangladesh, this nondescript Bengali-speaking state has some historical and architectural gems worth exploring.

Unakoti

It is uncertain who carved these colossal structures across large granite rock faces. Unakoti means ‘less than a crore’, indicating the estimated number of gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology. Archaeologists believe the carvings date back to the 11th-12th centuries, with no certain theory about the sculptors. There is something inexplicably magical about these larger-than-life sculptures spread across the undulating topography amidst lush green surroundings. Most carvings being of Lord Shiva in varied forms indicates this place was a Shaivite centre flourishing during the Pala dynasty rule. The bas-relief structures depicting huge Shiva heads are considered the largest such in India. The art style is unique and differs from the classical, suggesting typical tribal art forms from that era. Painting a vivid bathing scene are the three striking figurines of Lord Ganesha, carved out of a steep rock, with a seasonal spring flowing down over them. Farther up the hill from here lies a dilapidated brick temple, probably dating back to the 8th-9th centuries. Explore further and you can find sadhus in deep meditation, child priests playing with incense sticks and if lucky, a rare sighting of the extremely shy clouded leopard. Unakoti is four hours’ drive from the state capital, Agartala.

Neermahal Palace On The Lake