Tripura is the second smallest state in India that lies in the southwest corner of the northern eastern region of the country. It poises a fascinating destination for discerning tourists. This state shows a metamorphous is from a princely state to an independent state with a unique combination of the old order and the new and a fusion of the styles and culture of the hills as well as plains. It is this remarkable bid that gives Tripura a unique identity of it's own. Blessed with a salubrious climate, famous for its distinctive cultural pattern and its overgrown and breath taking scenic beauty, extend the tourists a cordial invitation to visit Tripura. This stake was formally declared a union Territory on Nov 1st. 1957 and elevated to the status of a full fledged state on January 21st 1972.

The vital rivers of Tripura are the "Khowai," the "Manu", the "Haorah", the Muhur" and the "Gomati" The largest and the most sacred river of Tripura is the "Gomati" which accepts myriad south-following streams, before cutting across the ranges in a steep sided valley from east to west and emerging out of the hills near Rad hakis horepur. The source of the river is thought to be Tirthamukh where also lies the most alluring "Dumbur" falls considered as a very pious and chaste place for the people to take a holy dip in the water. This place potrays the religious sentiments associated with the river Gomati and its source Dumbur. The riverbeds here are generally sandy in the hills and clayey in the plains. There is however no artificial canal system in the state.

People in Tripura generally experience very hot and humid climatic conditions; summer season commences in March and continues until May with average temperature 35oC. Winter has an average temperature of 10.5oC and continues from December to January. Monsoon season extends from May to August and the average rainfall recorded in and adjoining Tripura is 230 cm per annum. Flower, the state experiences the most pleasant weather for transitory period September to October.

The state of Tripura is divided into three district viz. Tripura west with Agartala as its head quarter also the capital city; Tripura north with Kalasahar and Tripura south with Udaipur as their district head quarters respectively. The state is linked with the rest of India by only single road, which runs through the hills to the border of cachar district in Assam. The only exception is Dharmanagar, a subdivision town in northeast, which also has railway services. Well connected by air from Calcutta is Agartala.

In Tripura, about 54.5% of the land is under forests, which are of mixed types. However, the quality of timber, was not of high quality. They consisted mostly of bamboo but have recently been replaced by usual timber plantations of sal, Garjan etc. Tripura is basically an agrarian state with about 24.3% of the land area available for farming. The principal crops being paddy, wheat, jute Mesta, sugarcane, potato and oil seeds. Tea plantations also form a major industry covering an area of 5.527 lakh hectares and producing 45-lakh kg of tea per year. However of late, Tripura has made significant strides in the domain of large as well as of small-scale industries, thanks to the innovative efforts of the entrepreneurs under the productive umbrella of industrial policy adopted by the state. An example, which can be cited in this respect being the oil and natural gas commission having set up one of its sprawling complexes on the green hills of Baramura.

The main religious population in Tripura is Hind is (1,83,4,218), Muslims (138,259), Christians (24,872) Sikhs (285) and Buddhists (54,806). Tripura largely consists of Bengali community inspire of the fact that the population also includes 19 scheduled tribes. The tribals with a distinct and rich culture of their own belong mainly to the Reang, Chakma, Halam and Usai communities. The Tripuri's" also called Tripuras' or Tipras' the original inhabitants of the state comprises of about 17% of the total and 55% of the tribal population of the state. Principal languages are Bengali, Kokbarak and Manipuri. Tripuri, the language of the community has no alphabet of its own and is written in Bengali alphabets. The Tripuri's therefore can speak and understand Bengali. Another important factor, which inspired the Tripuri's to embrace Bengali style, is the long association of Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore with the Royal court of Tripura, which gradually led to the mingling of Bengali style and giving rise to a composite culture.

The festivals and fair in Tripura are a manifestation of a cultural synthesis. The entire population whether tribal or non-tribal gets engrossed in the festivals and enjoy themselves in a joyous mood. Different festivals in every season speak of the people of Tripura and their bent towards celebrating through out the year from times immemorial. Of the many festivals celebrated, the most important being the worship of 14 Devtas popularly known as "Kharchi Puja" celebrated in July in the temple of the fourteen gods at old Agartala, about a distance of 5mtrs from the present capital Agartala. The entire population i.e. Tribals as well as non-tribals come and pray the festive occasion. The traditional tribal festivals such as "Ker" and "Garia puja" are also celebrated for two long weeks. This puja is held for the general welfare and well being of the people. Another two important and popular festivals of Tripura are the "Durga Puja" and "Diwali". Both are community festivals but "Durga Puja" has emerged to be main and greatest festival in Bengal and Tripura. The entire community with both male and female members are dressed in this best out fits and lake to dancing and singing and in turning the whole atmosphere sublime, delightful and in a mood of gaiety.

Another part of the festivals is the fairs, which are mainly of the religion type, which may last from a single day to many days. Important fairs are the "Pous-Sankranti" fair at Trirthamukh in Amarpur Sub-division, "Mahamanipara fair" at Belonia,"Muhuripne fair", Ashokastmi fair etc.

The folksongs of Tripura are quite rich and depict the history of the people of the land, its social rituals and religious structures in the form of mellifluous songs and dances. The song display profound thought and imagination and these people are found to possess an inborn aptitude to sing and dance. The melodious bamboo "flute" that accompanies the songs fills the atmosphere with utmost tranquility and peace and even a layman cannot resist himself from being enchanted by the foot-lapping music in store in this region. The people of Tripura are very passionate dancers. The Hai Hak' dances of the Halam community and the Cheraw dance associated with the confinement of Lusai woman, and the 'Basanta Raas' is the charming dance of the Hindu Mamipuri's in Tripura.

Tripura is known for its exquisite handloom fabrics, and it hardly needs any introduction in the realm of colorful and quality handloom weaving, creating dreams on the looms. They depict the inherent quality of work manship, and uniqueness of the people. Fascinating variety of crafts and handwork are created from simple materials such as bamboo, came, palm beaus. In fact, on these designed handlooms and bamboo works thrive many industries. Furniture, toys, objects of daily utility such as lamp shades, baskets, ivory work, Tripuran tribal jewelry provide good marketing potential attracting overseas tourists, catering to this new found demands.

Tripura a land of many firsts, it is pruned of its rare flora and fauna. Tripura is a treasure trove of Mother Nature, with its rich and dense forests, done with endemic, exotic and cultivated floral treasure. Nature in its generous abundance has bestowed on Tripura a unique array of vegetation. It is a nature lover and botanist's paradise. It can be said to be a storehouse of exotic flora, which is indigenous to the state of Tripura.

The appellation "Tripura" and its origin does not have a recorded source, towers, as per legends the land over its name to the son of the king Daitya, the 39th descendant of Druhya, But according to Hunta, the name Tripura, was probably given to the land in honor of the temple at Udaipur, once considered as the second "Trirtha" on sacred shrine in this part of Bengal; it was dedicated either to Tripurahana, the "sun-god" or to Tripureshwasi, the mistress of the three worlds. Again, according to Kailash Chander Singh, a Chronicler of the Tripura Rajas, Tripura name originated from Tu-pra" which is Tripura dialect means land adjoining water (tui:water, pra: near). It is therefore quiet apparent that the land bears the name Tripura because of its proximity to water. A relevance to the aspect can be noted in the fact that the hill people of Tripura pronounce the word as "Tripra" and not "Tripura." the former seems to be a corrupt form of Tripura and the latter of Tipra.

The early history of Tripura, particularly before the 15th century is a collection of myths of legend and tradition. If we view the state is history, two distinct periods can be traced out. The traditional period as recorded in the Rajmala' (Chronicles of the Tripura Rajas), and the historical period recorded in the writings of the Mohammedan historians as well as in 'Rajmala' The population, mostly of Tibeto-Burmese origin, took up Vaishnava Hinduism very early in its history and the state was continuously ruled by Hindus Maharaj's, till independence. However, Tripura had been a kingdom since mythical times ruled by numerous dynasties. It was often at war with its neighboring states and the British took advantage to make if a protectorate. They also divided it into parts. Some areas were left under the Maharaja's control while the tribal belt was under the direct control of the British.

Tripura therefore can be said to be a state of great antiquity having been ruled by the Maharaja's for 1,300 years before its accession to the Indian union on October 15th 1949. With the reorganization of state on September 1st 1956, Tripura became a union territory. The territory was then made a full-fledged state on January 21st, 1972.