If you are looking for a royal and cultural experience in the northeast of India, then you should visit the Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. The palace is one of the prime attractions in the city, and has a rich history and architecture. The palace was named by the famous poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who was a regular visitor here. The palace is now being transformed into a weekend tourism hub by the Tripura government, which aims to promote tourism in the state.
The history and architecture of Ujjayanta Palace
Ujjayanta Palace was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya of the Manikya dynasty between 1899 and 1901. The palace is a three-storeyed building that covers an area of 800 acres. The palace has a blend of Mughal, Roman, and British styles of architecture, and is adorned with exquisite doors, tiled floors, wooden ceilings, and domes. The palace has 28 rooms, which include a throne room, a library, a reception hall, and a Durbar hall. The palace also has a museum that displays various artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and weapons related to the history and culture of Tripura.
The palace was named by Rabindranath Tagore, who visited the palace several times and composed some of his famous poems here. The palace was also the witness to some important events in the history of Tripura, such as the merger of the state with India in 1949. The palace was taken over by the Tripura government in 1972, and was converted into a museum in 1974.
The weekend tourism hub at Ujjayanta Palace
In order to boost tourism in Tripura, the state government has decided to transform Ujjayanta Palace into a weekend tourism hub. The chief minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, inaugurated the project on August 15, 2023. According to the project, the area around the palace will be declared as a no-traffic zone on every Saturday and Sunday, and will host various cultural and recreational activities for the visitors. The visitors will be able to enjoy a 20-minute light and sound show at the palace every weekend, which will showcase the history and glory of Tripura. The visitors will also be able to taste the local cuisine from various food stalls set up near the palace. The project also aims to create awareness about the heritage and culture of Tripura among the tourists.
The weekend tourism hub at Ujjayanta Palace is expected to attract more tourists to Agartala and Tripura, and generate revenue for the state. The project is also expected to create employment opportunities for the local people. The project is a part of the government’s vision to make Tripura a preferred destination for tourists in India.
FAQs about Ujjayanta Palace
Here are some frequently asked questions about Ujjayanta Palace that you may find useful:
- Where is Ujjayanta Palace located?
Ujjayanta Palace is located in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. It is situated in the heart of the city, near a lake called Jagannath Dighi.
- Who was the regular visitor here?
Rabindranath Tagore was a regular visitor at Ujjayanta Palace. He named the palace as Ujjayanta, which means victorious or splendid. He also composed some of his famous poems here, such as Sonar Tari (The Golden Boat) and Bhanusimha Thakurer Padabali (The Songs of Bhanusimha Thakur).
- Who is the Chief Minister of Tripura?
Prof.Dr.Manik Saha is the current Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which formed an alliance with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) in 2018. He became the chief minister on March 9, 2018.
