Travel Guide toTripura
Land of Fourteen Gods
Why travel to Tripura ~ Introduction
Where fourteen gods guard the land.
“The people of Tripura like the Sikhs were a military race, and their soldiers often played the same part as the Praetorian guards did in Rome.”
— Reverend James Long(Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 19th century)
The third smallest state of the country, Tripura is tucked away verdantly in a corner of Northeast India and shares boundaries with Bangladesh extensively towards the west. Tripura's history finds mention in the epic Mahabharata, in the ancient religious texts of Puranas, and the Edicts of Ashoka. For most parts of it, the land was ruled by the Twipra Kingdom of the Tripuri peoples whose history dates back before 65 AD when they migrated from western China, as noted in the 15th-century text Rajmala, a chronicle of the lives of the 179 kings of the mighty kingdom.
Under the British Empire, the region was a princely state known as Tippera until the kingdom joined the newly formed India in 1949 and came to be known by its present name. Through the recent decades of cross-cultural exchange brought about by democracy, the Bengali Hindus from mainland India form the majority population of the state while about thirty percent of the state consists of numerous indigenous communities including the Kokborok speaking Tripuri people.
With only a single highway connecting the state to the rest of the country, Tripura remains disconnected, and less is known about its attractions and secrets. A wild land of five mountain ranges with interwinding valleys, the state has a tropical savanna climate and receives seasonal heavy rains in the monsoons. Largely forested, Tripura is known for its largest primate diversity in the country.
Small is beautiful can be an appropriate description of this tiny state that beckons travelers with scenery, ancient places, knowledge houses, monuments, museums, rolling hills, splendid gardens, temples, and wilderness. The various cultures of the state coexist in harmony and respect — mainstream Indian cultural elements have found togetherness with the traditional practices of the indigenous groups.
Travel to Tripura for its culture
A fusion of faiths and ancient kingdoms.
There is a colorful diversity of cultures in Tripura. There are no less than 19 tribes in the state who prefer to live in the hills, such as the Tripuri, Reang, Noatia, Chakma, Garo, Kuki, Uchoi, Manipuri, and Mizo. The majority of the population however are the Bengali Hindu people from mainland India and their culture has influenced the land since the time of the Tripuri kings who were great patrons of Bengali culture, especially literature.
The people of Tripura are skilled in the arts and crafts. Handloom is extensively practiced and is peculiar for its horizontal and vertical stripes scattered with colorful embroidery. The people are also extremely skilled in bamboo and cane handicrafts creating items such as furniture, utensils, hand-held fans, replicas, mats, baskets, idols, and decorations.
Music and dance are integral to its various cultures. The garia dance of the Tripuri people is a religious performance. The Reang people are known for their hojagiri dance where young girls dance balanced on earthen pitchers. There are many other dance forms such as the lebang dance, bizhu dance of the Chakma, wangala dance of the Garo, and the hai-hak dance of the Halam Kuki people.
Sites across the state stand testimony to Tripura's rich culture. From the stone carvings of Unakoti, the palace on the water named Neermahal, to the palatial library of Ujjayanta — a fusion of mainstream religions and indigenous tribal beliefs is evident everywhere.
Travel to Tripura for its environment
India's primate capital.
Five anticlinal hill ranges, their valleys, and plains make up the gorgeous landscape of Tripura. More than half of this land remains covered by evergreen and moist deciduous forests peculiarly interspersed with bamboo and cane growths. A small portion of grasslands and swamps can be found in the plains where herbaceous plants and shrubs flourish.
The biodiversity is rich for a tiny state and further improved by conservation endeavors in protected areas covering four wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks. More than 90 mammals can be found in the state including species such as elephants, bears, binturong, porcupine, barking deer, leopard, clouded leopard, and other species of small cats and primates.
Tripura has the highest primate diversity in the country hosting seven out of the fifteen primates found in India. More than 400 plant species are found in the state. The avifauna consists of more than 300 bird species. Gumti Lake is an Important Bird Area where thousands of migratory waterfowl reside during the winters.
India's Highest Primate Diversity
Tripura hosts seven out of fifteen primate species found in India — the highest concentration in the country. From hoolock gibbons to capped langurs, these forests are a primate researcher's paradise.
Plan your travel to Tripura during festivals
Festivals of Tripura
Garia Puja
Garia Puja is celebrated as a harvest festival by the ethnic tribes of Tripura, held on the seventh day of April. Celebrations begin from the last days of March and continue with traditional dances, rituals, and community feasting throughout the state with splendor and joy.
Ker Puja
Ker Puja is held after a fortnight of Kharchi Puja and is a traditional tribal festival. The deity of Vastu Devata is invoked, and a large piece of bamboo is used to create the Ker boundary for the priest to perform the puja — believed to ensure the general welfare and well-being of the people.
Kharchi Puja
Kharchi Puja is one of the most important festivals of Tripura, dedicated to the fourteen gods who are believed to guard the land. The seven-day celebration at the Chaturdash Devata Temple is a unique blend of tribal and Hindu traditions.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja in Tripura is one of the grandest celebrations of this Bengali festival outside of Kolkata. The state comes alive with elaborate pandals, cultural performances, and a unique fusion of Bengali and tribal aesthetics that makes Tripura's celebration distinctive.
Our Travel Experiences in Tripura
We're still shaping our signature journeys through Tripura. Tell us how you'd like to explore, and we'll build an itinerary around you.
Plan Your Journey→The Seasons of Tripura
A living watercolor of Tripura's landscape. Select a month to watch the seasons transform.
January
WinterCool and dry — ideal for all exploration
February
WinterHigh 79°Low 54°Rain 0.8"Humid 62%Warming days, pleasant weather
March
WinterHigh 86°Low 61°Rain 2.5"Humid 58%Hot days begin, thunderstorms possible
April
SpringHigh 91°Low 68°Rain 5"Humid 68%Hot, Garia Puja festival season
May
MonsoonHigh 91°Low 73°Rain 10"Humid 78%Monsoon begins, heavy rain
June
MonsoonHigh 90°Low 75°Rain 14"Humid 85%Peak monsoon, frequent flooding
July
MonsoonHigh 90°Low 75°Rain 14"Humid 88%Heavy rain continues, Ker Puja festival
August
MonsoonHigh 90°Low 75°Rain 12"Humid 87%Wet and humid, challenging travel
September
MonsoonHigh 90°Low 73°Rain 8"Humid 84%Monsoon retreating, still rainy
October
AutumnHigh 86°Low 66°Rain 4"Humid 78%Clearing skies, Durga Puja celebrations
November
AutumnHigh 82°Low 57°Rain 1"Humid 72%Dry and pleasant — excellent travel window
December
WinterHigh 77°Low 52°Rain 0.2"Humid 70%Cool and crisp, perfect for temples & trails
Winter
Dec – Feb · 50°F – 79°FCool, dry and comfortable. The best time for palaces, temples and forest trails.
Spring
Mar – May · 61°F – 91°FHot days with afternoon thunderstorms. Garia Puja falls in April, and the rain arrives in May.
Monsoon
Jun – Sep · 73°F – 90°FWet and humid, with the heaviest rain in June and July. Ker Puja falls in July. Travel can be hard in low-lying areas.
Autumn
Oct – Nov · 57°F – 86°FSkies clear for Durga Puja in October. November is dry and pleasant, one of the best months to visit.
A colorful temple near Agartala
The white Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala
Handmade vermicelli hung out to dry
An ornate temple in Agartala
A palm silhouetted against the sunset
A quiet village road in the countryside
Travel news from Tripura.
Stories from the field, our upcoming experiences, and other travel related news from Tripura.