One of north east India’s seven sisters, Tripura, boosts of cleanliness and peace. The independent state was under the rule of the Tripuri royal family and later joined free India in the year 1949. Bengali and various tribal communities have a huge contribution is the culturally ethnicity and lifestyle of the residents here.
Kamalpur, a town located in the Dhalai district, lies on the eastern side of the state. The district headquarters of Dhalai is Ambassa. The best places to visit in and around Kamalpur are mentioned below.
1. Kamaleshwari Mandir
Situated in the heart of the city, this pilgrimage centre is an ode to Goddess Kali, another name to Kamaleshwari. She is the deity representing love and desire. She is a form of Shakti, taking after Goddess Sati, wife of Lord Shiva. Sitting on a lotus, she is pictured to be young and extremely beautiful. The city of Kamalpur gets its name from this Goddess and her temple. All around the year, tourists and devotees come here to seek blessings and to ask for their good health and prosperity. The best months to visit are in summer season, due to stringency of rains and hence, a problem free travel.
2. Heritage Park
A two hours’ drive from Kamalpur, the twelve-acre Heritage Park is a premium tourist destination. This park is one of its kinds in north east India. It was inaugurated in the year 2012 by the Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar. It is a resemblance of the history, heritage, traditions and culture of tribal and non-tribal Tripura. It showcases architectural displays of landmarks and important sites of the state in a miniature form. Flora, fauna, medicinal herbs and fruit bearing trees adorn the surrounding premises. It also has a wide amphitheatre, a fossil fountain, bamboo huts, rock garden, waterfalls and artificial lakes as well as a natural grown forest area. An entire day goes away when you enjoy each attraction to its fullest.
3. Unakoti
The word Unakoti means ‘one less than a crore’ in Bengali. It is a celebrated religious site among Shiva worshippers, as there are huge sculptures of his embedded in the stony hills here. They date back to the 7h century. The way it is built in its might and grandeur is breath taking and mesmerizing. Apart from Shiva, figures of Vishnu, Ganesh, Nandi, Narsimha, Hanuman and many other Goddesses can also be seen. Many deities still remain unidentified. The Sita Kund nearby is visited by tourists too. A grand festival takes place here during Shivratri, Makar Sankranti, and the Ashokasthami Mela. Local myth believes that it was the legendary sculptor Kallu Kumar who carved these figures when Lord Shiva instructed him to do so, in a dream.
4. Raima Valley
Raima is popularly known as the mother of Tripuri tribes. The Raima river flows below. It is a lush green area, vast in size and serene to look at. The area is covered and surrounded with trees and shrubs. The empty space helped commission the Gumti Hydel Project. It is an ideal picnic spot and a must visit place.
5. Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Despite being a little smaller in size, Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary is a frequented tourist destination. It covers up to 86 hectares of land and stands adjacent to the national highway, making it easily accessible to interested tourists. Khasi tribal communities were hailed as original care takers here. It is one of the few remaining natural habitats of the state. It is rich in spice plants, medicinal plants, flora, and different fruit growing trees, botanical shrubs, fodders and even age old trees with sprawling roots. It is used by botanists, ecologists and environmentalists to conduct research and different studies. More than 120 species of wild animals and birds can be spotted, residing in their natural habitat. The best time to visit is during the winter months, as it is comparatively pleasant and cool.
Kamalpur is accessible through road and flights too. It is the best place to visit, as it is away from the main cities and still not in an isolated region, making it the best of both worlds.
Some Other Places To Visit In Tripura:
