History Of Agartala

Perched on the banks of River Howrah, the low-key capital city of Tripura-Agartala- entices the excursionists and sightseers with its past splendor. With its head-reeling assortment of exciting tourist attractions, a trip to Agartala promises to be nothing short of a joy trip. Erstwhile a princely state, today Agartala stands as a part of the Indian Union. Along with the rich cultural influence and natural beauty, the city is equally renowned for its royal history that testifies to the dominance of Manikya Dynasty in the region. The slew of historical monuments that juts out proudly delineates the imperial grandiosity of the royal families that ruled the land before the city ceded its throne to the British Raj. With a sparse population of nearly 200,000, the city serves as a mini store house of rich diversity, amazing culture, welcoming people and pleasant weather. Go ahead and explore the write-up to know more about Agartala history.

Agartala History

Early History Of Tripura
From the mythological, epigraphic and archaeological evidences excavated by the historians, it is clear that the glory of Tripura is a long-flourishing one. With early references in epic texts like the Mahabharata, the legacy and historical importance of this quaint city can be easily gauged. In the past, Tripura served as the capital to several noted Hindu kingdoms. Although a clear chronology of the rulers is not available, records reveal that the land was formerly ruled by as many as 179 Hindu rulers, starting from mythological King Druhya to the last king of Tripura, Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya. Apart from the great Hindu rule, Tripura also witnessed the glorious rule of the Mughals. However, with the rise of British power in India, the state came under the governance of English in 1808.

Origin Of The City
Erstwhile, the capital city of Tripura was at Rangamati, the modern day Udaipur in South Tripura. In 1760, Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya shifted his capital to 'Old Agartala', the present day 'Khayerpur' on the banks of River Howrah and named it as 'Haveli'. However, unable to bear the frequent invasion of Kuki's and to establish easy communication with the British government in Bengal, Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya transferred the capital from 'Old Haveli' to 'New Haveli' in 1849. Even today, New Haveli 'serves as the capital of Tripura with the new name 'Agartala'.

New Image Of City
Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Bahadur of Tripura is known as the founder of modern city of Agartala. It was during the early years of forties when the king took initiative to give a new look to the city by completely re-organizing the infrastructure of the city with the newly established roads and buildings.

The Era Of Reformation
With the waves of Indian Independence, the people of Tripura started Ganamukti Parishad movement to include the state as the kingdom of India. The then queen of Tripura Maharani Kanchanprava Devi signed the agreement on 15th October 1949 permitting the government to merge the province with independent India. On July 1, 1963, Tripura became a centrally administered Union Territory and attained the status of full-fledged state on January 21, 1972. Agartala was named as the capital of Tripura.