Tripura Travel by District: Agartala, Neermahal and Unakoti
Photo: Kingshuk Mondal, CC BY 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
The water palace at Rudrasagar Lake in Tripura, reflected in still water at dusk.
Tripura is almost an island of India, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides and joined to the rest of the country by a narrow strip of hills.
Eight districts
Tripura, in the far north-east, has eight districts: West Tripura, Sepahijala, Gomati, South Tripura, Khowai, Dhalai, Unakoti and North Tripura. Its people include Bengalis and many indigenous communities, such as the Tripuri, Reang and Jamatia, and both Bengali and Kokborok are official languages. For centuries, it was ruled by the Manikya kings, whose palaces and temples still stand.
Agartala and the palaces
Agartala, the capital, sits in West Tripura, close to the Bangladesh border. Its centrepiece is the Ujjayanta Palace, a white royal palace completed in 1901 and now a museum of the state's history and cultures. South of the city, in Sepahijala district, the Neermahal water palace rises from Rudrasagar Lake. It was built as a royal summer retreat in the 1930s, and boats carry visitors across to it.
Temples and rock carvings
At Udaipur, in Gomati district, the Tripura Sundari temple, built in 1501, is one of the most important goddess shrines in the region and hosts a large fair at Diwali. In the north, Unakoti is a forested hillside covered in huge rock-cut faces and figures of Shiva and other gods, carved many centuries ago. On the Gomati river, the carvings of Chabimura are reached by boat. The Jampui Hills, in North Tripura, hold an orange festival in November.
Getting around
Agartala has an airport with flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi, and a railway line now connects it to the rest of India. Roads to the north and south are slow but scenic. October to March is the best season; the monsoon, from June to September, is heavy.
A five-day loop
Day one: Agartala, with the Ujjayanta Palace, now the Tripura State Museum, and the old royal quarter around it. Day two: south to Rudrasagar for Neermahal, then on to Udaipur and the Tripura Sundari temple. Day three: Chabimura on the Gomati, by boat, before returning to Agartala.
Days four and five: north to Unakoti, near Kailashahar, for the rock carvings, and on to the Jampui Hills if the season is right. Trains run north from Agartala towards Dharmanagar, which helps on this leg.
Getting in from Bangladesh, and onward
Agartala sits close to the Bangladesh border, and the Akhaura crossing links it by road with Dhaka. Travellers who combine the two countries need the right visa for each and an entry point that the visa allows; check this before you travel.
Tripura also fits on a longer North-East trip. Trains and roads run north through Assam to Silchar and Guwahati, and from there to Meghalaya. The Tripura guide covers food and festivals.
Districts to know
- West Tripura: Agartala and the Ujjayanta Palace.
- Sepahijala: the Neermahal water palace.
- Gomati: the Tripura Sundari temple and Chabimura.
- Unakoti: the great rock carvings.
- North Tripura: the Jampui Hills.
- Dhalai: forests and hill villages.
At Neermahal, the palace seems to float, and the evening boats are in no hurry.
Plan your visit
| Best season | October to March. The monsoon, June to September, is heavy. The Jampui Hills orange festival is held in November, and the Tripura Sundari fair at Diwali. |
|---|---|
| How to reach | Fly to Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, 12 km north-west of Agartala, with daily flights from Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and other cities. Trains run to Agartala and Ambassa from Sealdah, Delhi (Anand Vihar) and Silchar. |
| Getting around | Buses and shared taxis from Agartala; a hired car for Neermahal, Udaipur and Unakoti in one trip. |
| Where to stay | Agartala's central areas near the palace; Udaipur for the south; Kailashahar or Dharmanagar for Unakoti; Vanghmun in the Jampui Hills. |
| How long to spend | Four to five days. |
| Entry fees | The Tripura State Museum at Ujjayanta Palace and its light and sound show charge entry tickets; check the current rate at the gate. |
| Permits | None. Tripura has no Inner Line Permit, and it is not a Protected Area for foreign visitors, who need only a valid Indian visa. |
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to visit Tripura?
No. Indian visitors need no Inner Line Permit, and foreign visitors need only a valid Indian visa. Tripura is not on the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of Protected Areas.
How many districts does Tripura have?
Eight: West Tripura, Sepahijala, Gomati, South Tripura, Khowai, Dhalai, Unakoti and North Tripura.
Where is Unakoti?
In Unakoti district in the north of the state, near Kailashahar. It is a long day by road from Agartala, or a train ride north and a short drive.
Can I travel from Dhaka to Agartala by road?
Yes, through the Akhaura border crossing. Check that your visa allows entry at this land border before you travel.
Read next
Written by Muthu, editor of Aura of India. Sources: Tripura State Portal: Tripura at a glance (8 districts), Dhalai District, Government of Tripura: How to reach (air and rail), Ministry of Home Affairs: FAQs on Protected and Restricted Area Permits. Last verified: 13 October 2026.
Your turn: Have you taken the boat to Neermahal or stood below the faces at Unakoti? What time of day would you recommend?
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