Agartala

Agartala
—  capital  —
Ujjayanta Palace
Agartala Location of Agartala in Tripura
Coordinates	23°30′N 91°30′E / 23.50°N 91.5°E / 23.50; 91.5Coordinates: 23°30′N 91°30′E / 23.50°N 91.5°E / 23.50; 91.5
Country	India
State	Tripura
District(s)	West Tripura
Population • Density	3,67,822 (2004[update]) • 6,251 /km2 (16,190 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	58.84 km2 (23 sq mi) • 12.80 metres (42.0 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 799001 • Telephone • +91 (0)381 • Vehicle • TR
Website	tripura.nic.in

Agartala /ˌɑːɡərtəˈlɑː/ (Bengali: আগরতলা Agortôla, Kokborok: আগরতলা) is the capital of the Indian state of Tripura and is the second-largest city in North-east India after Guwahati in terms of municipal area as Well as population. It is situated in North-east India. It lies on the Haroa River and is located 2 km from Bangladesh. Agartala has temples and palaces. As per 2011 census, Population of Agartala city has exceeded 5,12,000. The population of Agartala was 3,67,822 in 2004 after the municipal expansion^[1] (1,89,327 in the 2001 census).^[2]

History

Foundation

The ancient capital of the then Princely State ‘Swadhin Tripura’ was at Rangamati (Udaipur, South Tripura) by the bank of the river Gomati. In 1760 it was shifted by the Maharaja Krishna Chandra Manikya Bahadur (r.1829-1849) of Manikya Dynasty^[3] to present old Agartala by the bank of the river Howrah and was named ‘Haveli’. Due to frequent invasion of the Kuki's and also to keep easy communication with the British Bengal, the Maharaja Krishna Chandra Manikya started the process of shifting the capital from Old Haveli to New Haveli (present Agartala) in 1849.

During the British Raj, Agartala was the capital of the erstwhile 'Hill Tippera' state, it became a municipality in 1874-75, and in 1901 had the population of 9,513.^[4]

Agartala Municipality

The Agartala Municipality was established during the reign of Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya (1862–1896) within an area of 3 square miles (8 km²) having a population of only 875 by a royal proclamation in the last part of 1871. Mr. A.W.S. Power, the first British political agent for Tipperah was also appointed as the Chairman of the Agartala Municipality in 1872 who held office from 1872-73.

Planned city

Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur is called the founder of the planned city of Agartala. During the 1940s the town area was re-organised in a planned manner with new roads and a market building.

Geography and climate

Agartala is situated in a plain along the Haora River, though the city also extends to the low lying hills on its northern parts.

Agartala has a monsoon influenced humid subtropical climate with large amounts of rain almost all year. The city experiences long, hot and wet summers, lasting from April to October. Average temperatures are around 28 °C (82 °F), fluctuating with rainfall. There is a short, mild winter from mid-November to early March, with mostly dry conditions and average temperatures around 18 °C (64 °F).

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census,^[5] Agartala had a population of 189,327. Males constituted 50% of the population and females 50%. Agartala has an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 52% of the males and 48% of females literate. 8% of the population is under six years of age.

Historical population

In 1941 Agartala had a population of 17,693.^[6] By 1991 the population had risen to 157,358.^[7]

Growth of Agartala City.

Neighbourhoods

A road in Agartala

Agartala city consists of many Paras, which means "locality" in Bengali. Each neighbourhood or para is usually a municipal ward or division also.

Agartala town hall

Localities

Neighbourhoods of the city include:

• Banamalipur
• Dhaleswar
• Pratapgar
• Math Chowmuhani
• Kashari Patti
• Ker Chowhamani
• Kaman Chowmuni
• Krishnanagar
• Radha Nagar
• Shibnagar
• Ramnagar
• Joynagar
• Abhoynagar
• Arundhutinagar
• Gol Bazar
• Gurkha Basti
• Kunjaban
• College Tilla
• Indranagar
• Bholagiri
• Arundhuti Nagar
• Bhati Abhoynagar
• 79 Tilla
• New Capital Complex
• GB Bazar
• Amtali
• Badhar Ghat
• Collegetila
• Jagaharimura
• Lake Chowmuni
• Ganaraj Chowmuni
• Durjoynagar
• Bardowali
• Bottala
• Melarmath
• Khayerpur etc.

These areas are subdivided into residential blocks, such as Banamalipur which is divided into North Banamalipur, Madhya Banamlipur, South Banamalipur, etc.

Extensions

From 2004 the Agartala Municipal Council has been further extended, taking 16 Grams of Dukli R.D.Block, seven Grams of Mohanpur R.D.Block and two Grams of Jirania R.D.Block with area of 43 km². and 1,78,495 population in addition to the 16 km² and population of 2,00,000 in 2001 census.^[8][9]

City administration

The Agartala city is managed by the Agartala Municipal Council, AMC, which divides the city into wards. Each ward has an elected ward representative or municipal councillor. For postal administration the city is divided into postal zones.

Municipal wards

Politics

Agartala assembly constituency is part of Tripura West (Lok Sabha constituency).^[10]

Economy

The city is the state capital. Most of the population is employed in the state and central government, and other government owned enterprises.

Public sector

Major PSUs in Agartala are:

• ONGC
• GAIL
• BSNL
• NEEPCO [1] (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited)
• TSECL (Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited)

Private sector

The main business area of the city is the Battala Bazaar, Gol Bazaar and Kaman Chowmuhani area, which has shops, bazaars, banks, etc.

Major Indian banks serving Agartala:

• Tripura Grameen Bank
• State Bank Of India
• Punjab National Bank
• Axis Bank
• ICICI Bank
• Vijaya Bank
• Canara Bank
• UCO Bank
• HDFC Bank
• Union Bank
• Yes Bank
• Oriental Bank Of Commerce
• United Bank Of India
• Bank of Maharashtra
• Andhra Bank

Private companies serving Agartala:

• World of Titan
• Titan Eye+
• Giria Rubbers
• Jaipur Marbles
• Webstar Technology
• DS Group
• Sify
• Sangyog Network Private Limited
• Sahara India Pariwar
• Gitanjali Jwellers
• TATA
• Tanishq
• Magic Web India
• Senriyasa Technology
• S Infotech
• Anjali Microfinance
• IL&FS
• Muthoot Finance
• GPT Group
• Nagarjuna Construction Company
• L&T
• Ramky

The major commodities exported from Agartala are tea, rubber and gas/LPG.

Demography and culture

The city mainly consists of Bengalis and Tripuris. Bengali, or rather, a version of it, is widely spoken in the city as a result of the erstwhile regal patronage and high influx of Bengalis from Comilla, Sylhet, Noakhali, Chittagong districts of Bengal(Now part of Bangladesh). Kokborok is the other official state language and is widely used in the Krishnanagar area of the city. Durga Puja and Saraswati puja are celebrated with great grandeur and ecstatic enthusiasm, which reflect the influence of the culture of the Bengalis. The inter-cultural, inter-communal integrity is rather wonderful. Hence, nearly every festivity attracts participation from citizens of diverse and vibrant backgrounds. There is also a population of the native Tripuri people in the city. Among the native Tripuri festivals, the most famous are Kharchi and Garia Poojas. Kharchi puja is basically the puja of 14 Hindu deities including Durga, Laksmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, Shiva, Bramha, Vishnu etc.

Languages

While Bengali, or the local version of it, is the primary mode of communication, Kokborok is the also widely spoken, especially among the tribal peoples of Tripura. It is rather curious that Bengali has been the official language of the State of Tripura [it has never been under the British Raj] for over 250 years, even in the days when Farsi was the official language in Bengal! Tripuri, Manipuri, Chakma are the other major languages in use. There are 19 major tribes living in the state, many of whom reside in the Autonomous District Council(ADC) of the State. Since 1977, Kokborok has been the co-official state language. Kokborok is written both in the Bengali and the Roman script, and the issue of its script remains an unsettled matter, though the government uses the Bengali script for official matters. it is estimated that nearly 70% of the population speaks Bengali while majority of the Tribal people speak Kokborok.

Religion

Laxmi Narayan Bari temple in the Palace Compound

Hinduism is the dominant religion and there are many temples across the city.

Islam, Christianity and Buddhism are the other religions followed in the city.

The major places of religion are listed below:

Temples

Some prominent temples are:

• Laxmi Narayan Bari temple in the Palace Compound.
• Jagannath Temple.
• Ram Thakur's Ashram in Banamalipur.
• Durga Bari Temple in the Palace Compound
• Pagla Debata Temple, Agartala Old Motorstand
• Satsanga Bihar, Krishnanagar
• Kalibari Temple in the Palace Compound
• Baba Loknath Temple, Laxmi Narayan Bari Road
• Umamaheshwar Temple(Shibbari), Central Road
• Ramkrishna Mission, Math Chowmani (Near Dhaleswar), Gandhi Ghat & Amtali
• Bhavatarani Temple, Melarmath
• Pagli masi Temple, Melaghar

Mosques

One Prominent Mosque is:

• Gedu Miyar Masjid

Universal Prayer Hall, Ramakrishna Mission,Agartala,India

Monastery

• Benuban Bihar, Kunjaban

Churches

• Agartala Baptist Church, Arundhutinagar, the oldest church in Agartala
• Agartala City Baptist Church, Krishnanagar
• Capital Baptist Church, Gurkhabasti
• City Baptist Church, Melarmath
• Khakotor Baptist Church, Abhoynagar
• St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Durjoynagar
• Presbyterian Church, Shyamali Bazaar

Universal Prayer Hall

• Universal Prayer Hall has been build up at Ramakrishna Mission Dhaleswar Complex in Agartala, which one is a great and unique initiative of Ramakrishna Mission, Tripura State Committee. Swami Purnatmanandaji Maharaj, Executive Secretary Of Ramakrishna Mission, Tripura State Committee and Former Editor of Udhbodhan, the publication of Ramakrishna Mission, has been broadly implemented the project. It a Prayer Hall for all the communities where each and every communal or religious program may be performed without any barriers and with open mind. Its a rear initiative of Ramakrishna Mission at Agartala and preferably only of its own kind. On 7 February the Hall has been inaugurated by Swami Swarananandaji Maharaj, Vice President of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Kolkata after a great eventual arrangement.

Transport

Road

National Highway 44 connects Agartala to Assam and the rest of India by road. The highways (NH44, NH 44A) connects Agartala with Silchar (317 km), Guwahati (599 km), Shillong (499 km), Dharmanagar (200 km) and Aizawl (443 km). A bus service connects it to Dhaka (150 km).

Agartala is well connected by road to other parts of Tripura state. National highway 44 has been extended to the south, thus improving the road connectivity between Agartala and south Tripura. Buses, Jeeps, Trekkers and SUVs are the most popular public carriers, and cars and vans are usually used for private hire.

The main mode of transport within the city consists of a network of cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws and buses.

Airport

Agartala is connected by air, via Agartala Airport which connects it to other cities in India. There are direct flight connections to Kolkata, Imphal, Delhi, Silchar, Aizwal, Guwahati, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Agartala airport is the second busiest airport in north east India after Guwahati.

The major airlines are Air India, Jet Airways (Operating Codeshare and Konnect Flights), Indigo Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, and Spicejet.

Railways

Agartala has been connected to other cities in India since June 2008. The foundation stone for the 119 km Kumarghat-Agartala railway project was laid in 1996 by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Agartala is the second capital city (after Guwahati, Assam) in the northeast to be connected to the country's railway network.

A rail link between Agartala and Akhaura, Bangladesh was approved by the Government of India in September 2011.^[11]

Communications

Telecommunications

List of Telecom companies serving Agartala:

• Bharti Airtel
• Aircel
• Reliance Telecom Limited
• BSNL
• Vodafone
• Tata Docomo
• Idea Cellular
• S-Tel
• Tata Docomo

Radio stations

• AIR

Television

Doordarshan (DD) has a television station in Agartala. Akash Tripura is a television channel in Agartla. It is a full time Agartala based news channel.

Newspapers

Bengali-language media is dominant in the city. Major news publications are:

• Dainik Sambad (Bengali)
• Dainik Arohan (Bengali)
• Syandan Patrika (Bengali)
• Tripura Darpan (Bengali)
• Tripura Times (English)
• Ajker Fariad (Bengali)
• Daily Desher Katha (Bengali)
• Manush Patrika (Bengali)
• Tripura observer (English)
• Shokalbela (Bengali)
• Tripura Samay

Education

Agartala has educational institutions, schools and colleges, and a university.

Universities

• Tripura University
• ICFAI university, Tripura
• IGNOU
• Sikkim Manipal University

Colleges

• National Institute of Technology, Agartala
• MBB College
• Women's College
• Ramthakur College
• Agartala Government Medical College
• Tripura Medical College & DR.B.R.Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospitlal, Agartala
• Tripura Institute of Technology
• Women's Polytechnic
• Regional Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences And Technology(RIPSAT),Abhoynagar
• Tripura Institute Of Para-medical sciences,Amtali
• Holy Cross College, Agartala
• Bir Bikram Mameorial College

Schools

Umakanta Academy

• Umakanta Academy Estd-1890
• Maharani Tulsibati Girls H.S. School
• Holy Cross School
• Shishu Bihar Higher Secondary School
• Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Amtali
• Sri Krishna Mission School,
• Hindi Higher Secondary School
• Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kunjaban
• Kendriya Vidyalaya, Badharghat
• Bardowali Higher Secondary School
• Ramakrishna Vivekananda Vidyamandir
• Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School
• Don Bosco
• St. Paul's School
• Budhjung H.S. School (Boys)
• Budhjung Girls H.S. School
• Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan
• BaniVidyapith School
• Bhavan's Tripura Vidya Mandir
• Pragati Vidhyabhaban
• Sankara Charaya Vidyayatan

Sports

Many sports and games are played. Favourite is football with its own city football league with clubs from the neighborhoods and localities. Tripura has a state team which plays in the Eastern division of the Ranji Trophy Championship, the national cricket competition of India.

The main stadiums are the Badarghat Stadium, College Tilla Cricket Stadium and the Umakanta Academy Mini-Stadium.

Tourism

Places of interest

Ujjayanta Palace

• College Tilla - Maharaja Bir Bikram College, Tripura University buildings, football ground, international cricket stadium, picturesque lush landscapes and serene natural lakes. Its also a National Bird Sanctuary
• Ujjayanta Palace - Palace of the Tripura kings, now converted to state legislative assembly.
• Jagannath temple — Hindu temple of Vaishnava school of thought.
• Umamaheswar temple — Hindu temple of Shaiva and Shakti(durga).
• Venuban Budhha Vihar
• Krishna Mandir
• Puratan Agartala
• Malancha Niwas
• Sipahijala Zoo
• Neermahal (Palace amidst a natural lake,Rudrasagar)
• Pilak (Buddhist sculpture of 7th & 8th century)
• Unokoti
• Kamalasagar
• Jampui Hill (The Kashmir of Tripura which produces Oranges)
• Rose Valley Amusement Park, Amtali
• Matabari, Udaipur

Parks

• Rabindra Kanan
• Children's Park
• Nehru Park
• kishans park
• Rose valley park

Museums

• Tripura State Museum at Post Office Chowmuhani.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Agartala

• Bengali newspaper of Tripura
• About AMC
• Agartala travel guide from Wikitravel
• Tripura tourism website, Government of Tripura
• Tripura University website
• Tripura Police website
• TSECL
• Agartala Horti Agriculture Government Offices
• Weather statistics at Weather.co.uk
• Agartala on GlobalGuide.Org
• Tripura tribal information and community portal
• Durga Puja from Agartala
• MSN Map
• [2]

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