Neermahal palace

4.4

Location: Rudijala, Tripura , India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 hour

Built by Maharaja of Tripura Kingdom Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya bahadur of the erstwhile Kingdom of Tripura, India, Neermahal “Water Palace” is a former royal palace in the middle of lake Twijilikma which is now recognized as Rudrasagar in the 1930s. Located in Melaghar, it is at a distance of 53 kilometers from Agartala, the capital of Tripura. The palace assimilates the Hindu architectural style and is situated in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake.

Attraction

People Spending time in Neermahal palace Neer-Mahal was constructed as a summer residence, known as the ‘lake palace’ of Tripura. To build a palace amidst the splendid Rudrasagar lake, was Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma’s idea. In 1921, to construct the palace for him, he accredited the British company, Martin and Burns. It took them 9 years to complete the palace. Supposed to be the second-longest remaining dynasty in the world today, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma belonged to the ‘Manikya Dynasty. The establishment of the Maharaja’s fascinating idea of blending Medieval Hindu and Muslim traditions and cultures and his excellent taste are exposed by the construction of this palace.

History

In the year of 1930, the palace was built. The palace is the only one in Eastern India and the largest of its kind in India. It is so gigantic that, until you are at a distance of approximately 800 meters from the entrance, it cannot fit into a single picture frame on the standard camera. The other one is the Jal Mahal in Rajasthan, there are only two water palaces in India. However, In size, the latter is significantly smaller than Neermahal.

Inside/Outside Views

Inside View of Neermahal palace Divided into two parts, Andar Mahal is the western side of the palace which was made for the royal family. For the enjoyment of Maharajas and their royal families, the eastern side is an open-air theater where drama, theater, dance, and other cultural events were organized. There were 24 rooms in total in the palace. Leading down to a landing on the water of Rudrasagar Lake, Neer-Mahal has two stairways inside. Hand-powered boats were used by the Maharaja to go to the palace from ‘Rajghat’. Though poor maintenance and lack of exposure to tourists have led to the depletion of beauty and splendor, on the ceiling, the palace houses one of the most beautiful terrace gardens in India.

Opening Hours

Monday 9 AM – 5 PM
Tuesday 9 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday 9 AM – 5 PM
Thursday 9 AM – 5 PM
Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 11 PM
Sunday 9 AM – 5 PM

Entry & Others Fees

50 INR per person is needed to be paid as entry fee.
50 INR per person is needed to be paid as boating tickets.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By air: From the main city in Singerbhil, the Agartala airport is located about 12 km. Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, connect to most major metros of the country, but only via Kolkata and Guwahati. Daily passenger flights from and to the city airport are operated by airlines like SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India. From Kolkata or Guwahati to Agartala, the flight duration is only about one hour.

Situated at about a distance of 570 km, the nearest airport is the Imphal airport. At about a distance of 575 km, the second closest airport is the Guwahati Airport.

By rail: Be warned about traveling to Agartala by train, as it would take longer than the distance between Agartala and other cities. While from Kolkata, it’s about a distance of 12 hours, it takes about 28 hours, from Delhi.

By road: From Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar, there are regular and direct bus routes to Agartala which are preferred by tourists and businessmen alike. As buses now travel via the neighboring country, Bangladesh, the much-awaited Dhaka-Kolkata bus service has decreased the distance and duration between Kolkata and Agartala by almost half. Via National Highway 44, Agartala is connected to Assam and other states. KG Reliance Travels, Joy Ram Tours & Travels, Ezee Yatra Tours & Travels, and Tripura State Transport buses are the other well-known bus services that travel to and from the state capital city. To reach Agartala from Guwahati via Shillong, it takes about 24 hours through NH 44. You must keep in mind that it is not safe to travel to some rural areas after sunset.