Tripura Yatra ~ North-East India
Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra - ISKCON Agartala, Tripura
Tripura is a hilly state in North-East India bordered on three sides by Bangladesh, and home to a diverse mix of tribal cultures and religious groups. Demographically Tripura is remotely located from rest of India. Agartala is the capital of Tripura. There are a few Vaishnava Temples in and around Agartala: ISKCON Agartala, Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) and Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple (formerly Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra Temple). In the village of Ambassa, which is 130km from Agartala there are a number of Tribes practicing Krishna Bhakti very sincerely. In the village called Ananda Bazaar in deep forests of Tripura there is an incredible community of tribal Vaishnavas. Located 30km from nearest gas station and struggling with electricity & running water, they are still building a nice Temple and preaching Krishna consciousness. The Manikya Dynasty established almost all the important temples across Tripura.
Bangladesh border is 8km from Agartala. Tripura is famous for Wildlife sanctuaries, natural beauty and Tribal population. Agartala is easily accessible by air as there are a number of daily flights from Kolkata and other parts of India.
Temples in and around Agartala:
1. ISKCON Agartala
2. Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math)
3. Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple
4. Ambassa
5. Ananda Bazaar village
6. Tripura Sundari Temple
7. Kamala Sagar Temple
1. ISKCON Agartala
The International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has a Temple in Agartala. The presiding deities are Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra. There is a book shop and a Prasadam stall in front of the temple. Behind the temple is Govindas restaurant.
ISKCON Agartala Temple
ISKCON Agartala Temple
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at ISKCON Agartala Temple
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness
ISKCON Agartala Temple
ISKCON Agartala Temple
Devotees performing Sankirtan
Devotees performing Sankirtan
Books shop at ISKCON Agartala Temple
Prasadam stall at ISKCON Agartala Temple
Hare Krishna Utsav in Agartala
Devotees doing Harinam Sankirtana
Hare Krishna Utsav in Agartala
Hare Krishna Utsav in Agartala
Hare Krishna Utsav in Agartala
2. Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math)
Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) is one the main temple of Agartala. Built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya of the Manikya Dynasty during the 19th century, this temple, also known as “Jagannatha Bari Mandir”, stands to be a pride of Tripura because of its architectural magnanimity. This temple with an octagonal base has four stories. Temple is located near the palace compound of Ujjayanta Palace in Krishna Nagar, Agartala.
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra are the presiding deities. Next to the main altar there is a separate area dedicated to the great Vaishnava acarya, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the Founder of 64 Gaudiya Math’s across India. Around the temple is a beautiful parikrama path with several exquisite dioramas depicting the pastimes of Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Ramacandra. Inside the temple premises there is a kunda and a temple in the middle of the kunda. The temple is engaged in several devotional activities throughout the day and on the festivals namely early morning Mangala Arati, Darshan Arati, Bhajans, Kirtan and devotional discourses on Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Temple has a nice accommodation facility for the pilgrims. Prasadam (sanctified food) is also available by pre-booking it from the main office of the temple.
Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) at Agartala
Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) at Agartala
Sri Jagannatha Temple at Agartala
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) Agartala
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) Agartala
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) Agartala
Devotee distributing charan amrita
Next to the main altar there is a separate area dedicated to the great Vaishnava acarya, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the Founder of 64 Gaudiya Math’s across India.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Beautiful tank at Sri Jagannatha Temple (Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math) Agartala
Temple in the middle of the water tank
Deities in temple
Flourishing Tulasi garden
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Kaliya lila
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Sri Pancha-Tattva
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - killing of dacoits by Bhadra kali to protect great devotee Jada Bharata
Diorama of pastimes of Lord
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Rama lila
Diorama of pastimes of Lord
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Govardhana lila
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Lord Caitanya carrying the transcendental body of His eternal associate Srila Haridasa Thakura
Diorama of pastimes of Lord - Lord Ramacandra killing Ravana
Devotees performing sankirtana
Devotees performing sankirtana
3. Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple
(formerly Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra Temple)
This temple of Lord Krishna is located in the Ujjayanta Palace ground in the heart of Agartala. The temple was constructed by the King of Tripura, Birendra Kishore Manikya from 1909-1923. This temple was formerly Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra Temple.
Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple (formerly Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra Temple) at Agartala
Entrance of Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple
Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai at Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple
Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana Candra
View of Ujjayanta Palace, now converted to Tripura State Museum from Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple
4. Ambassa
Ambassa is 130km from Agartala. There are a number of Tribes practicing Krishna Bhakti very sincerely here at Ambassa.
Ambassa
A bridge at Ambassa
Local tribal community members reading Bhagavad-Gita at Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Transcendentalists distributing Bhagavad-Gita in Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Local tribal community members with copies of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
Harinam Sankirtana in Ambassa
Local tribal community members practicing Krishna Consciousness in Ambassa
5. Ananda Bazaar
In the village called Ananda Bazaar in deep forests of Tripura there is an incredible community of tribal Vaishnavas. Located 30km from nearest gas station and struggling with electricity & running water, they are still building a nice Temple and preaching Krishna consciousness.
Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra, the presiding deities of a tribal community at Ananda Bazaar in deep forests of Tripura
Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra, the presiding deities of a tribal community at Ananda Bazaar in deep forests of Tripura
Tribal community performing Harinam Sankirtana at Ananda Bazaar in deep forests of Tripura
Tribal community performing Harinam Sankirtana at Ananda Bazaar
Tribal community performing Harinam Sankirtana at Ananda Bazaar
Temple construction by the Tribal community at Ananda Bazaar
Temple construction by the Tribal community at Ananda Bazaar
Devotees at Ananda Bazaar
6. Tripura Sundari Temple
Tripura Sundari Temple is situated in the ancient Udaipur, which is the district headquarter of the South Tripura district, 55 km from Agartala. Mother Parvati, the eternal consort of Lord Siva is worshipped here as Tripurasundari. This is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The toe of the right foot of Sati’s fell here. The temple is related to Sati, Daksha & Lord Siva pastime as mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 4. In the eastern side of the temple there is the famous Kalyan Sagar tank where fishes and tortoises of huge size are found. This temple was first constructed by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 1501 A.D.
Tripura Sundari Temple
Tripura Sundari Temple
Sri Tripura Sundari
7. Kamala Sagar Temple
A vast lake on the edge of the border with Bangladesh was excavated by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 15th century. On the river bank of Kamala Sagar, there is a famous temple of Kamala Sagar dating back to 16th century.
Kamala Sagar Temple on the edge of the border with Bangladesh
Ujjayanta Palace: Ujjayanta Palace or now known as Tripura State Museum is in the heart of Agartala. It is worth visiting as the museum details some rare information about the history of Vaishnavism in North-East India, information on Vaishnava temples and also a beautiful picture of Sri Sri Radha Krishnacandra from ISKCON Imphal, Mani Mandir.
Ujjayanta Palace or now known as Tripura State Museum, Agartala
Tripura State Museum, Agartala
Tripura State Museum, Agartala
Bangladesh border: Bangladesh border is 6 km from Agartala. Every evening at 5pm there is a Flag ceremony at the border.
India-Bangladesh border
India-Bangladesh border
India-Bangladesh border
India-Bangladesh border
Unakoti: Unakoti is 178 km to the northeast from Agartala and 8 km to the east from Kailashahar. As per the legend, Lord Siva and his entourage were headed towards Kailash, when they decided to spend the night at Kailashahar, 10km downhill from Unakoti. He warned his fellow travellers that they would have to leave before dawn, but after a night of revelry, Siva was the only one who woke up on time. Siva cursed others to turn into stones.
Directions to reach Agartala:
Agartala is easily accessible by air as there are a number of daily flights from Kolkata and other parts of India.
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura
Tripura
Tripura
Location of Tripura in the map of India
North-East India Map
Useful resources:
Mayapur TV: http://Mayapur.tv / Vrindavana TV: http://Vrindavana.tv
Holy Pilgrimages: www.Holy-Pilgrimages.com / Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolyPilgrimages
Holy Dham: www.HolyDham.com
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