Temples Of Tripura

Tripura is a tiny State in India’se northeast. Although full of hills and jungles, this ancient princely State boasts of a rich heritage of rock-cut sculptures of deities dating back to the remote past as also numerous temples and holy shrines.

Temples of Mother Goddess

Revered as one of the " 51 Satee Peeths", the renowned ancient temple of Tripura-Sundari at Udaipur , the headquarters of South Tripura district , attracts thousands of devotees at its famous Diwali Mela in October every year. Built by Maharaj Dhanya Manikya of Tripura in 1501 A.D., this small but beautiful temple is situated on a hillock on the southern outskirts of Udaipur town, only 53 km. from Agartala by road. Visitors are enthralled to see a number of very old and big tortoise species and also ‘shol’ fish of the adjoining Kalyansagar Dighi. They come near the travellers fearlessly and take their feeds from their hands!

Now in almost ruins, another famous temple of goddess Bhubaneswari is still there on the northern bank of the river Gomati at Udaipur. This is the ancient temple which has been immortalised by Rabindranath Tagore in his Bisarjan and Rajarshi, the famous books glorifying the magnanimity of the then pious monarch of Tripura, Maharaj Gobinda Manikya.

Another famous temple of Mother Goddess built by the kings of Tripura is situated at Agartala. It is Durgabari temple. Besides daily worship, Durgapuja and Basantipuja are also performed there with solemnity every year.

A recent but magnificent temple of Mother Bhabatarini, situated at Kumarghat in North Tripura district has by now become one of the attractions of all devotees. About four decades ago a forest officer of the Tripura Government discovered a holy relic of ancient times in the remote interiors of a jungle. Since then this temple has been erected with that relic on a marvellous spot of scenic charm. It is indeed a must for all visitors to the State.

The Uma-Maheswar mandir, adjacent to the famous Ujjayanta Palace of Agartala is also a serene and peaceful temple built by the Manikya Maharajas. Though the temple is small, it charms all visitors. The Mangal chandi Temple at Amarpur, the ancient capital of Manikya kings, is also worth mentioning. Besides these, numerous Kali temples are there in almost all sub-divisional towns and elsewhere in this State.

Vaishnav temples

‘These are also innumerable in Tripura. The Laxmi-Narayan Bari mandir and Jagannath bari mandir at Agartala are most revered and very popular among all sections of the people. Built by the former rulers of Tripura, these holy shrines attract hundreds of devotees throughout the year. The Jagannath Temple, now entrusted to the Shri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, has become all the more popular and attractive now-a-days. Numerous Vaishnavite festivals are solemnised there with devotion, pomp and splendour.

Ashrams and maths of different religious sects, with their respective temples and shrines, are also revered by many. The Ramkrishna Ashram temples at Gangail Road and Dhaleswar at Agartala and also at Amtali, delight the hearts of thousands. The Satsanga Ashrams of Thakur shri Anukul Chandra at Krishnanagar, Agartala, at Rajarbag,Udaipur, at Belonia and many other places give solace and bliss to devotees and visitors alike. The Gorokshanath Temple at Dhaleswar is also a place of devotion. The Bholagiri Ashram and temple, north of Kunjaban, Agartala, the Ram Thakur Ashrams at Banamalipur and Pratapgarh at Agartala, the Loknath Baba Ashram and temples off Laxmi-Narayan Temple and also at Pratapgar, the Ajachak Ashram at Amtali,Agartala, the ‘Deendayal Ananda Ashram and the temple of Saptalokeswar Shiva at Camper Bazar ,Agartala, are worth visiting. The smaller and secluded Ramkrishna Ashram temples at Ranir Khamar, Konaban, take the visitors in the realm of peace and inner happiness. The Hari Mandir and Kali Bari mandir of Dharmanagar, the northern -most and second biggest town of Tripura , are also renowned to devotees and pilgrims.

Aptly and fondly called a Temple Town, Udaipur has many more holy shrines in and around it. The Mahadev Bari Temple and Jagannath Temple, though dilapidated now, are also memorable as both, like many others, were established by the saintly rulers of Tripura. Numerous smaller temples, specially in Vaishnab Akharas, are innumerable and they are spread over every nook and corner of the State.

Buddhist and Bahai Temples

Locally called by its popular name, Buddha mandir, the serene, peaceful and beautiful Venuban Vihar, the only temple of Lord Buddha in Tripura, is a unique holy shrine within an easy reach. Being the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatar, Lord Buddha and his merciful message of peace and love drew devotion and admiration of the whole mankind. The picturesque shrine is a real pride of Tripura.

Although somewhat neglected for a long time now, this temple was a favourite resort of peace-loving people till three decades ago. Since it possessed quite a good number of ancient Buddhist religious scrolls and scripts along with some invaluable paintings, this temple is still a pleasant and delightful spot in Tripura.

A few other small temples of Lord Buddha are there at Pecharthal in North Tripura, Manu-Bankul and also near Kalsi and Jolaibari in South Tripura district. But none of them is as charming as Venuban Vihar.

Although totally unknown to most of us, it is a fact that more than one Bahai Temple exists in Tripura. Standing no comparison with the famous Lotus Temple of Bahai’s in New Delhi, the temples of this faith in Tripura, one at Dharmanagar and the other at Kunjaban, Agartala, are actually neat meditation halls with no deity or image therein.

The Dharmanagar temple also has a school for kids as well. It is like a placid oasis of peace amidst harsh noise and bustle. One is charmed with its tranquillity once inside the temple.