Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of 4,051 sq mi (10,490 km2). It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by
Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are Bengali and
Kokborok. It was formerly an independent Tripuri kingdom and was merged with independent India on 15 October 1949 by the Tripura Merger Agreement. It was also known as
"Hill Tippera" (anglicized version of Tipra) during the British Raj period and has a history of over 2500 years and 186 kings.
History
Tripura finds mentions in the Mahabharata, the Puranas and pillar inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka. Tripura has a long historic past, its unique tribal culture and a
fascinating folklore.In the distant past Tripura was known as Kirat Desh.
Tripura was a princely state. The Tripuri Kings (bubagra) held the title of Manikya and ruled Tripura for 3000 years until its merger with the union of India. Udaipur,
in South Tripura district, was the capital of the Kingdom. The capital was shifted to Old Agartala by King Krishna Manikya in the eighteenth century, and then to the
present Agartala in the 19th Century. The 19th century marked the beginning of Tripura's modern era, when King Bir Chandra Manikya Bahadur Debbarma modeled his
administration on the pattern of British India and enacted various reforms.
The Ganamukti Parishad movement led to the integration of the kingdom with India signed by the Regent Maharani on September 9, 1947 and the administration of the state
was actually taken over by the Govt. of India on October 15, 1949 within Assam state. Tripura became a Union Territory without legislature with effect from November 1,
1956 and a popular ministry was installed in Tripura on July 1, 1963. On January 21, 1972 Tripura attained statehood. Tripura was heavily affected by the partition of
India and the majority of the population now comprises Bangalis, many of whom came as refugees from East Pakistan after independence in 1947.
Armed conflict in Tripura has been a problem since the end of the 1970s as an aftermath of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Mass migration of Bengalis from Bangladesh
during this time has resulted in widespread insurgency and militancy in the state with groups such as the Tripura National Volunteers, the National Liberation Front of
Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force aiming to drive away the Bengali people. This is the Tripura Rebellion.
Geography and climate
Tripura is a landlocked hilly state in northeastern India with altitudes varying from 15 to 940 m above sea level, though the majority of the population lives in the
plains. Tripura has a tropical climate and receives rainfall during the monsoons. It is surrounded on the north, west, and south by Bangladesh and is accessible to the
rest of India through the Karimganj district of Assam and Aizawl district of Mizoram in the east. The state extends between 22°56'N and 24°32'N and 90°09'E and
92°10'E. Its maximum stretch measures about 184 km (114 mi) from north to south and 113 km (70 mi) from east to west with an area of 10,491.69 km². Tripura is the
third smallest state of the country.
Although landlocked, Tripura has many rivers including the Manu River which originates here.
