OVERVIEW
Tripura lies in the north eastern corner of India and is the third smallest state in the country. Due to the strategic location, it is only commutable by one route i.e. NH 8, which connects it to the rest of the country. Tripura is bounded by Bangladesh in the North, West and South, whereas the eastern part of border is shared with Mizoram and Assam. Agartala is the capital and located on a plain towards the West.
Tripura was always a princely state ruled by a Maharaja until the independence of India and was never under the supervision of Britishers. This kept Tripura from becoming a ‘winter –getaway’ like Shillong (Meghalaya) and Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) during the British era.
The Bengali Hindu people make for the ethno-linguistic population in Tripura and schedule tribes form about 30% of Tripura’s population. The Tripuri people, speaking Kokborok, are the major group among the 19 other tribes and sub -tribes.
Even though it is one of the smallest state in India, Tripura definitely has variety of spots with archaeological significance, religious importance, tribal and folk culture, and ethnic artefacts. These make up for a major part of Tripura.
With regards to the industrial sector, it is fairly underdeveloped. Tourism is major part of the economy since 1987. In term of agriculture, they follow jhum or shifting cultivation, and give significant importance to fishery and animal husbandry.
Rice is the staple food here. They cook their food mostly with mustard oil. Famous culinary delights are Jhaal-Muri (spicy snack made up of puffed rice and mustard oil), Machcher Jhol (fish curry), Thupka (clear soup), Rosgulla and Sandesh.
Being an agrarian state, the festivals celebrated here are based on agricultural activities. Like Garia dance is related to Jhum cultivation, while Lebang Boomani dance marks the arrival of monsoon season.
