Tripura

Introduction

Tripura is one of the eight states in the north eastern part of India. Within its small geographical area , Tripura offers plenty of attractions for the tourists in the form of magnificent palaces ( Ujjayanta Palace and Kunjaban Palace at Agartala and Neermahal - Lake Palace at Melaghar ), splendid rock-cut carvings and stone images ( Unakoti near Kailashahar, Debtamura near Amarpur and Pilak in Belonia Sub-divisions ), important temples of Hindus and Buddhists including the famous Mata Tripureswari temple ( one of the 51 Pithasthans as per Hindu mythology ) at Udaipur, vast natural as well as artificial lakes namely Dumboor lake in Gandacherra subdivision, Rudrasagar at Melaghar, Amarsagar, Jagannath Dighi, Kalyan Sagar, etc. at Udaipur, the beautiful hill station of Jampui hill bordering Mizoram, wild life sanctuaries at Sepahijala, Gumti, Rowa and Trishna and rich cultural heritage of Tribals, Bengalis and Manipuri communities residing in the state.

About 2/3rd area of the state is under forest cover where different species of trees, orchids, birds and wild life are found. Tripura offers excellent opportunities for eco-friendly tourism and different wild life sanctuaries in the state offer various attractions to the tourists. There are huge lakes at Udaipur namely Amarsagar, Kalyansagar, Jagannath Dighi, Mahadev Dighi and Sukh Sagar which were excavated by the then Maharajas. These lakes add beauty to the Udaipur town which is also known as City of temples and lakes.

Tourist Attraction

• Tripura Govt. Museum (External website that opens in a new window)
• Tripurasundari Temple (External website that opens in a new window)
• Ujjayanta Palace (External website that opens in a new window)
• Dumboor Lake (External website that opens in a new window)
• Buddhist Pilgrimage (External website that opens in a new window)
• Fourteen Goddess Temple (External website that opens in a new window)

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary was constituted on 2nd February 1987. The sanctuary has 456 plant species of monocotyledon and dicotyledon. Trees of Sal, Chamal, Garjan and Kanak exist predominantly. The secondary species consist of Pichla, Kurcha, Awla, Bahera, Hargaja, Amlaki, Bamboos and grasses. Sanctuary has the 4489 cum per ha.of timber biomass. Sanctuary has abundant Rauwalfia serpentina and home to other endangered and endemic species. Agar (aggreria agglocha) (the state tree), Nageshwar (Mesua ferrea- state flower), Dukul (the green Imperial pegion-state bird) and groups of Spectacled langur (Phary's leaf monkey-State animal) Spectacle monkeycan easily be sighted inside the sanctuary area.

Tropical moist deciduous Forest of Sepahijala harbours five different species of primates like Rhesus macaque, pigtailed macaque, Capped langur, spectacled langur, slow Lories and a lot of many other wild animals. More than 100 species of birds are found here. Wonderful habitat of Sepahijala attracts lot of migratory birds of which lesser whistling teal, white ibis, open billed stork is of prime importance.

Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Trishna wildlife Sanctuary was notified in the year November 1988. Total area of the Sanctuary is 194.704 Sq. Km. Trishna Sanctuary has diversity in its floral and faunal contents. The Sanctuary is famous for Bison locally known as "Gaba" and home to several species of "Primates". Sanctuary has a numbers of perennial water rivulets, water bodies, and grass land. One species of Bamboo (Oxtenanthera Nigrocilliate) locally known as Kaillai is plenty here, leaves of which are liked by Bison.

Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary

Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is the second sanctuary of the South Tripura district located in the south-east corner of the state. Its area is 389.54 km. Close to the sanctuary, there is a vast water reservoir covering almost 300 sq km of an area. This water reservoir attracts several resident and migratory water birds. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura has Elephants, Bison, Sambar, Barking deer, Wild goat or Sarow apart from many other animals and reptiles. This is a very ideal destination for the tourists interested in eco-tourism. The sanctuary boasts of a rich flora and fauna. One can find numerous medical and therapeutical botanical species in abundance in the surroundings of the sanctuary.

Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary

Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the north of the district, can be approached from Panisagar and is adjacent to the National Highway. Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura is a small wildlife sanctuary covering an area of 85'85 hectares and it is one of the few remains of the natural forests left. This sanctuary is easily accessible to the tourists from all around. Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary provides plenty of scope for study by the botanists, ecologists, environmentalist and students of wildlife system.

Rowa Wildlife sanctuary provides shelter to numerous species of birds, wild animals as well as primates and reptiles. Ornithologists, etymologists, botanists as well as wildlife enthusiasts have a merry time exploring the sanctuary and its offerings.

Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on: 20-02-2010