Agartala

Agartala is a capital city in West Tripura District, India, that extends along the Haora River over a densely populated area. The city spreads in all directions, with residential neighborhoods, administrative buildings, and markets connected by main roads and smaller lanes.

The settlement was appointed capital of Hill Tippera state in 1871 and received its municipal status officially during British administration. During this period, the settlement grew from a small administrative center into a larger town with public facilities and markets.

In the residential quarters, two-story houses mix with temples and small shops, where traders speak Bengali and gather in the streets to chat. Kokborok is heard especially in the markets, when vendors from the surrounding villages offer their goods and negotiate with tribal members.

Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is located outside the city center and offers flight connections to several Indian metropolitan areas. National Highway 8 runs through the city and allows arrival by bus or private vehicles from neighboring regions.

The name of the city comes from agar trees that once grew in the surrounding forests and were used by King Raghu to tie his elephants. Today, only street names and old stories recall these trees, which have long disappeared from the region.