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The former Maharajas had
constructed beautiful palaces in
different locations of the
state. These palaces provide a
glimpse of the royal past of
this erstwhile princely state.
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 Ujjayanta
Palace
This royal house, which stands
in the Capital city Agartala
covering one sq.Km. area was
built by Maharaja Radha Kishore
Manikya during 1899-1901.It is a
two storied mansion, having a
mixed type of architecture with
three high domes, the central
one being 86’ high. The
magnificent tile floor, curved
wooden ceiling and beautifully
crafted doors are particularly
notable. The palace is set with
huge Mughal style gardens,
beautified by pools and gardens
and tiled floors. Flood lighting
and fountains have also added to
its beauty.
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.
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.
Location
Agartala |
 Kunjaban
Palace
A green hillock
known as Kunjaban (
a bower) for its
scenic beauty stands
to the north of
Ujjayanta palace at
a distance of about
1 Km. Maharaja
Birendra Kishore
Manikya (1909-1923)
selected this
beautiful place for
building a suburban
palace for retreat
and constructed a
palace in 1917 which
was named as
‘Pushbanta Palace’.
The Maharaja himself
being gifted artist
is said to have
drawn the plan of
the palace and its
adjoining garden.
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.
Poet Rabindranath
Tagore stayed in the
eastern apartment of
this palace during
his 7th and last
visit to the state
in 1926. This palace
was the mute witness
to many of the great
poet's creations
including a number
of popular songs.
There are well laid
gardens and lawns
inside the palace
which is the
official residence
of the Governor of
Tripura now. The
southern side of the
garden has been made
open for the public
and has been named
as ‘Rabindra Kanan’.
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.
Location
Agartala |
Malancha Niwas
The bungalow
adjacent to the
Kunjaban Palace was
originally a Kutcha
house where also the
Tagore 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.
Location
Agartala |
 Neermahal
This magnificent
lake palace was
constructed as a
summer resort in
1930 by late
Maharaja Birbikram
Kishore Manikya
Bahadur in the
middle of a natural
lake called
Rudrasagar having an
area of 5.35 Sq.Km.
The construction was
undertaken by Martin
& Burn Co. and it is
the only lake palace
in the entire
eastern India.
A good combination
of Hindu and Mughal
architecture is
noticed on the domes
of the palace. There
are mainly two parts
of the palace - one
on the western side
known as Andar Mahal
which was used by
the royal family and
another on the
eastern side which
was used for the
security personnel
and servants. There
are 15 rooms in the
main Andar Mahal.
There is a beautiful
garden laid in the
western side of the
palace. In the
garden there is an
open stage where
drama, theatre, etc.
use to be organised.
Maharajas used to go
by motor boat to the
palace from Rajghat.
There is a motor
boat ghat inside the
palace upto which
the motor boat could
go and there are two
,stairs at the motor
boat ghat - one for
Maharaja and one for
Maharani.
Flood lighting of
the palace has been
arranged in the
evening. In
addition, water
sports facilities
are being extended.
The palace is going
to be renovated and
a museum depicting
the royal life style
will be set up
inside the palace.
In addition Light &
Sound show on the
historical past and
cultural heritage of
Tripura will be
organised in the
palace. In water
number of migratory
birds are found in
the lake surrounding
Neermahal.
Location
53 k.m. from
Agartala. |
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