Ujjayanta Palace

Located in Agartala, the Ujjayanta Palace is a museum and the former palace of the Kingdom of Tripura, which is now the capital of the Indian state of Tripura. Founded by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the palace was constructed between 1899 and 1901 and stands on the banks of two lakes surrounded by gardens inspired by the European style. In October 1949, it was the home of the ruling Manikya dynasty until Tripura’s merger into India. In the year 1972–73, the palace was purchased from the royal family by the Government of Tripura for Rs. 2.5 million, and until July 2011, used to house the State Legislative Assembly. Along with a lot of stone sculptures, coinage of the Manikya dynasty, and some other artifacts, primarily showcasing the lifestyle, arts, culture, tradition, and utility crafts of communities residing in northeast India, Ujjayanta Palace is now a State Museum.

Attraction

People Spending time in Ujjayanta Palace Not only Agartala but also the pride of Tripura as a whole, Ujjayanta Palace is an amazing place to visit while in the Indian state of Tripura Agartala. Ujjayanta Palace too is no less grand, while Neermahal can boast of being a water palace located right in the heart of Rudrasagar Lake. In the middle of Agartala, this huge white palace stands right. Neo-classical and renaissance styles are incorporated into the architecture of the palace. Along with the fountains, artificial lakes, flower beds, the garden surrounding the palace and is clearly inspired by the Mughal-styled gardens. In Persian, Indian, oriental, and European styles, the interiors are decorated. The museum also provides visitors with a flight of stairs that looks simply grand.

History

Historical Place in Ujjayanta Palace Tripura demands itself as one of the ancient princely states of medieval India. During the reign of Maharaja Maha Manikya, who was adorned in 1400 AD, and was the first ruler under the royal title of Manikya, the royal line of Tripura began. King Ishan Chandra Manikya (1849–1862) constructed Ujjayanta Palace in 1862, 10 km (6 mi) away from Agartala. By the Assam earthquake of 12 June 1897, the palace was ruined. By Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya in 1899–1901, the palace was rebuilt in the heart of Agartala city, at a then exorbitant cost of 10 lakh /1 million rupees. In Tintin and the Cigars of the Pharaoh, it served as the model of the Maharajah’s palace and was built by Martin and Burn Co.

Inside/Outside Views

An area of approximately 1 km2, the Ujjayanta Palace compound is covered and includes public rooms such as the throne room, durbar hall, library, and reception hall. In the heart of Agartala, the buildings and grounds covered about an area of 800 acres (3.2 km2). Sir Alexander Martin of the Martin and Burn Company has done designed the neoclassical palace. There are three large domes on this two-storied palace, the largest of which is 86 ft (26 m) high, resting atop a four-storied central tower. A mixed influence of Mughal, Roman, and British is observed in this architecture. Decorated with pools and fountains, there are two large artificial ponds on either side of the garden. Dedicated to Lakshmi Narayan, Uma-Maheshwari, Durga, and Jagannath, several Hindu temples occupy plots adjacent to Ujjayanta Palace. A great repository of artifacts and collections is found in the museum. From the museum, you can get a clear-sightedness about the people, tribe, and culture of Tripura. Providing various writings of Tagore about Tripura and his correspondence with the Tripura Kings, there is also a section in the museum.

Entry & Others Fees

To get access inside the Ujjayanta Palace Complex you will have to pay an entry fee which is quite nominal. For Indians, it is INR 20 per head and for foreign tourists, INR 150-200 is needed. You will have to pay extra for a DSLR camera. Also, no bags or baggage is allowed inside the palace complex. At the gate, you’ll have to leave them. There are lockers available also, in case you are carrying valuable things.

How to Reach

By air: From the main city in Singerbhil, the Agartala airport is located about 12 km. As Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, it connects 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.

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