Temples of Tripura with their beautiful architectural design and calm and peaceful settings offer a suitable option for pilgrimage. Tourists and devotees from all corners of the world visit the Tripura temples which are reputed for their grand design and attractive sculptures. The Indian state of Tripura is known for its beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples where one can get to enjoy a very peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. There are several temples in Tripura of which the most renowned are the "Mata Tripureshwari Temple" at Udaipur, "Bhuveneshwari Temple" at Udaipur, "Fourteen Goddess Temple" at Old Agartala, "Benuban Vihar" at Agartala, etc.
Tripura Sundari Temple
"Tripura Sundari Temple" is one of the most-visited Hindu temples of Tripura which is situated at a distance of about 55 kms from Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. Maharaja Dhanya Manikya founded the Tripura Sundari temple in the year 1501 A.D. Since this temple of Tripura was severely damaged by lightning, the same was again repaired in the year 1681 A.D. by Maharaja Rama Manikya.
Situated on the top of a small hill at Udaipur, Tripura, the temple possesses a conical dome and a sanctum. It is affirmed by the Archaeological Survey of India that this temple holds 2 identical images of a single goddess. The two deities in this temple are known as "Chhotima" and "Tripura Sundari" in the state of Tripura.
The image of the goddess Chhotima is 2 feet in height whereas the idol of Tripura Sundari is 5 feet in height. The Maharajas of the Tripura state carried the idol of Chhotima at the time of war. "Kurma Pitha" is also the name of the Tripura Sundari Temple. The temple premise is similar in look to that of a "Kurma" or tortoise. This temple also possesses an idol of Goddess Kali which is made out of "Kasti Pathar" which is having a reddish black colour. The idol of Goddess Kali is worshipped in the form of "Soroshi" in this temple. This temple of Tripura is among the 51 pithasthanas of the Hindu faith. As per legends, the toe of the right foot of Maa Sati fell at this place.
Kamalasagar Kali Temple
"Kamalasagar Kali Temple" is another renowned temple in Tripura situated 27 kms away from the capital city of the state. The Kamalasagar Kali temple is also called the "Kasba Kali Bari". It is positioned over a small hill in Tripura which overlooks the Kamala Sagar. The Kamalasagar Lake is at the Bangladesh border which is well-known for its scenic beauty and a major spot for excursion. The goddess worshipped inside the Kamalasagar Kali temple is similar to that of the "Mahishasurmardini". The image of this goddess is constructed by sandstone and it has certain resemblance with the Goddess Dasabhuja Durga. But here the goddess is worshipped as the Goddess Kali. There is a Shivalingam placed at the feet of the deity in the Kamalasagar Kali Temple. It is believed that Maharaja Manikya Bahadur unearthed the Kamalasagar Lake in the 15th century. In the 17th century the Kamalasagar Kali temple was founded.
Bhubaneswari Temple
"Bhubaneswari Temple" is one of the renowned Tripura temples erected at the time of the Maharaja Govinda Manikya, who ruled from 1667 to 1676. This temple is constructed on a terrace which is about 3 feet in height. It also serves as the setting of the well-known drama "Bisharjan" and the novel "Rajarshi" by the great poet, Rabindranath Tagore. The Bhubaneswari temple is famous for its four-chaal style. It boasts up with crowns in the shape of stupas on the entrance and at the core chambers. The stupas are decorated with floral motifs, adding more to the temple"s beauty. There are numerous tourist destinations in close proximity to the Bhubaneswari temple like Kalyan Sagar, Jagannath Dighi, Mahadev Dighi, Amar Sagar etc.
Fourteen Goddess Temple
"Fourteen Goddess Temple" is situated at a distance of 14 kms from Agartala and exactly at a place which is known as old Agartala. In the month of July, every year a Kharchi festival is organized at this place and devotees and pilgrims in large numbers take part in it.
Buddhists Temples of Tripura
Apart from the presence of a large number of Hindu temples in Tripura, there are several Buddhist temples in this Indian state. One of the significant Buddha temples in Tripura is the "Benuban Vihar". This temple is an example of the patronage and hospitality of Tripura towards the culture and religion of its neighbours. The peaceful environment of this temple and its monastery located amidst natural greenery is a major tourist attraction. Buddha Jayanti is the prominent festival at this temple on the day of Buddha Purnima.
The Buddhist temple at Pecharthal is situated in the northern parts of Tripura. It is the oldest among the Tripura Buddha Temples established in the year 1931. The idol of the temple was brought from Rangoon in the year 1931. The weight of the idol is 700 kg.
