LAND:
Tripura is the second smallest state in India. It was formally declared as Union Territory on November1st, 1957 and was elevated to the status of a full-fledged state on January 21,1972. The state lies approximately between latitude 22o56' and 24o32' north and longitude 91o10' and 92 21' east. It is bordered by Bangladesh on the west, south and north, by Assam on the north-east and by Mizoram on the east.

The state is covered by picturesque hills and dales, deep and green valleys which have added beauty to its landscape. The state is connected with the rest of India by only one road which runs through the hills to the border of Cachar district in Assam. The state has three districts with ten sub-divisions. The three districts are Tripura west with Agartala as its headquarter (which is also the state capital), Tripura north and Tripura south with Kailasahar and Udaipur respectively as district headquarters.

From the east the principal hill ranges are the Jampoi, Sakham Tlang, Langtarai, Athara Mura and Bara Mura. The highest peak of the state is Be-talang-Shiv (3,200 ft) in the Jampoi hill range. A number of broad and elongated valleys - Agartala - Udaipur - Sabrum, Khowai - Teliamura - Amarpur - Silachari etc are located between the north-south trending, parallel to sub-parallel high ranges (topographic highs) such as the Baramura - Deotamura ranges, Atharamura ranges, Langtari ranges, Sakham ranges and the Jampui hill ranges.

The soil in the valley is fertile with rich alluvial deposits and therefore suitable for the cultivation of paddy, jute, oilseeds, pulses, fruits and vegetables. About 54.5% of the land is under forest. Only about 24.3% area is available for agricultural use.

The Tripuris also called Tripuras or Tipras are the original inhabitants of the state. They constitute about a little over 16 percent of the total and 57% of the tribal population of the state. The formal rulers of the land is believed to be the descendants of the Kshatriyas. In course of time, a section of this community came into close contact with the Bengali settlers, and was much influenced by their language, culture and custom. Then a new community, now known as Natun Tripuris, a sort of breakaway group of the original (Puram) Tripuris.

A few among the Tripuris who were close to the royal family (known as Thakur) settled in and around Agartala. They are quite advanced in education and general enlightenment. High public officials, writers, musicians, engineers and doctors are found among them.

The other group who live on the hill-slopes are not much improved regarding economic status or nature of occupation. They practice jhooming (or shifting cultivation), fetch wood from the forests, sell vegetables and bamboos. The women help men in jhooming, weave cloth on their traditional loin looms and take care of pigs, fowl etc. Their houses made of bamboo, are built five to six feet above the ground to avoid hazards from wild animals.

The Reangs the tribal group constitute about 14% of the tribal and 4% of the total population of the state. They are broadly divided into two groups. Meksha or Mechka and Marchai or Malchai. The former is again sub-divided into Masha, Raichak and some other sub-groups, while the principal sub-groups among the latter are Apet and Champung. The community is governed by a well-defined hierarchical institution; the chief enjoys the title Rai.

The Reangs are considered as one of the strongest pillars of the states military forces. The Reangs are Hindus and generally believers in the Sakti cult. Like other tribals they also believe in animism.

Another section of the Tripura community is known as Jamatia - the term seems to have originated from jamayet, which means a gathering or mobilization. Like the Reangs, the Jamatias also constituted the fighting force during the time of Tripura King.Their system of worship comprises both Hindu practices and animistic rites. Having many social institutions in common with the Bengalese, the Jamatias are taking to plough cultivation in preference to jhoom and are now settling down in the plain areas of the state.

History and Geography

Tripura has a long historic past, a unique tribal culture and a fascinating folklore. The history of Tripura can be understood from ‘Rajmala’ chronicles of king Tripura and writings of other Mohammedan historians. There are references of Tripura even in Mahabharata and Puranas. According to ‘Rajmala’, the rulers were known by the surname ‘Fa’ meaning ‘father’. There is a reference to rulers of Bengal helping Tripura kings in the 14th century. Kings of Tripura had to face frequent Mughal invasions with varying successes. They defeated the Mohammedan Sultans of Bengal in several battles. Nineteenth century marked the beginning of the modern era in Tripura, when king Maharaja Birchandra Kishore Manikya Bahadur modelled his administrative set-up on the British India pattern and brought in various reforms. His successors ruled Tripura till 15 October, 1949, when it merged with the Indian Union. Initially, a part 'C' state, it became a centrally administered territory with the reorganisation of states in 1956. In 1972, Tripura attained the status of a full-fledged state. Tripura is strategically situated between the river valleys of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Encircled almost on three sides by Bangladesh, it is linked with Assam and Mizoram in the North-East.

Irrigation and Power
Geographical area of the Tripura State is 10,49,169 hectare. It is assessed that about 2,80,000 hectare of land is cultivable. An area of more than 77,700 hectare of land has been brought under assured irrigation by providing lift irrigation, deep tube well, diversions, partly by medium irrigation, shallow tube wells and pump sets. This is about 27.75 per cent of the cultivable land in the state.

The generation of power in the state is 70 MW against an installed capacity of 105 MW. The Government of Tripura has committed to purchase 70-80 MW from the 280 MW of Monarchak Project of NEEPCO.

Festivals

Tourism Festival:
(i) Orange and tourism Festival-Vangmun
(ii) Unokuti Tourism Festival
(iii) Neermahal Tourism Festival
(iv) Pilak Tourism Festival.

Cultural Religious Festival:
(i) Makar Sankranti at Thirthamukh and Unokoti
(ii) Holi
(iii) Ashokashtami at Unokoti, Brahmakunda (Mohanpur)
(iv) Rash
(v) Bengali New Year
(vi) Garia, Dhamail, Biju and Hojgiri Festival,
(vii) Boat Race and Manasa Mangal Festival
(viii) Ker and Khachi Festival
(ix) Durgapuja
(x) Diwali
(xi) Christmas at Jampuri Hills
(xii) Budha Purnima
(xiii) Rabindra-Najrul-Sukanta Utsav
(xiv) Street Drama Festival
(xv) Chongpreng Utsav
(xvi) Khumpuli Festival
(xvii) Wah Festival
(xviii) Folk Cultural Festival (Loko Utsav)
(xix) Murasing Festival
(xx) Sanghati Festival
(xxi) Baishakhi Festival (Sabroom), etc are celebrated.

Transport

Roads: The total length of roads in Tripura is 15,227 km, of which major district roads constitute 454 km and other district roads are 1,538 km.

Railways: The total length of railway lines within the State is 64 km. It has been extended up to Manughat.

Aviation: The main airport Agartala is connected with Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi. There are airports at Kailashahar and Kamalpur.

Tourism

West-south Tripura Tourism Circuit:
(i) Agartala
(ii) Kamalsagar
(iii) Sepahijala
(iv) Neermahal
(v) Udaipur
(vi) Pilak
(vii) Mahamuni

West-North Tripura Tourism Circuit:
(i) Agartala
(ii) Dumboor Lake
(iii) Unokuti
(iv) Jampuri Hill