الوصف

Tripura /ˈtrɪpuːrə/ is a state in NortheastIndia. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers 10,491km2 (4,051 sq mi) and is bordered by Bangladesh (East Bengal) tothe north, south, and west, and the Indian states of Assam andMizoram to the east. In 2011 the state had 3,671,032 residents,constituting 0.3% of the country's population. Indigenouscommunities, known in India as scheduled tribes, form about 30 percent of Tripura's population. The Kokborok speaking Tripuri peopleare the major group among 19 tribes and many subtribes. The Bengalipeople form the ethno-linguistic majority in Tripura.

The area of modern Tripura was ruled for several centuries bythe Tripuri dynasty. It was the independent princely state of theTripuri Kingdom under the protectorate of the British Empire whichwas known as Hill Tippera [8] while the area annexed and ruleddirectly by British India was known as Tippera District (presentComilla District).[9] The independent Tripuri Kingdom (or HillTippera) joined the newly independent India in 1949. Ethnic strifebetween the Tripuri people and Bengali population led to tensionand scattered violence since its integration into the country ofIndia, but the establishment of an autonomous tribal administrativeagency and other strategies have led to peace.

Tripura lies in a geographically disadvantageous location inIndia, as only one major highway, the National Highway 44, connectsit with the rest of the country. Five mountain ranges—Boromura,Atharamura, Longtharai, Shakhan and Jampui Hills—run north tosouth, with intervening valleys; Agartala, the capital, is locatedon a plain to the west. The state has a tropical savanna climate,and receives seasonal heavy rains from the south west monsoon.Forests cover more than half of the area, in which bamboo and canetracts are common. Tripura has the highest number of primatespecies found in any Indian state. Due to its geographicalisolation, economic progress in the state is hindered. Poverty andunemployment continue to plague Tripura, which has a limitedinfrastructure. Most residents are involved in agriculture andallied activities, although the service sector is the largestcontributor to the state's gross domestic product.

Mainstream Indian cultural elements, especially from Bengaliculture, coexist with traditional practices of the ethnic groups,such as various dances to celebrate religious occasions, weddingsand festivities; the use of locally crafted musical instruments andclothes; and the worship of regional deities. The sculptures at thearchaeological sites Unakoti, Pilak and Devtamura providehistorical evidence of artistic fusion between organised and tribalreligions. The Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala was the former royalabode of the Tripuri kings.