Tripura

Tripura, state in northeastern India, encircled on three sides by Bangladesh, except in the northeast where it is bounded by Assam and Mizoram states. Tripura has an area of 10,486 sq km (4,049 sq mi).

Forested hills and valleys lie in the northern part of Tripura, and the south has dense jungles. The state receives more than 4,000 mm (158 in) of rainfall annually. It had a population of 3,191,168 at the 2001 census; the average density was 304 persons per sq km (787 per sq mi). The capital is Agartala. Nearly 90 percent of the people are Hindus. There are a small number of Muslims and Christians. The official languages are Bengali and Kokbarak. Manipuri is also spoken. Tripura is home to Tripura University (founded in 1987), located in Agartala.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy; shifting cultivation (also known as slash-and-burn agriculture) is gradually being replaced by modern farming methods. Important cash crops are tea (the main industry), jute, cotton, and fruit. Wheat, rice, potatoes, and sugarcane are also grown. Shifting cultivation has destroyed parts of the forest. In addition, more trees have recently been cleared to accommodate refugees from Bangladesh. However, almost half the land area is still covered by forest. Industry is generally small in scale and includes aluminum utensils manufacturing, saw mills, and handloom weaving; rubber plantations are being established. Tripura has major and minor roads, a rail line, and an airport located in Agartala.

Tripura sends three members to the Indian national parliament: one to the Rajya Sabha (upper house) and two to the Lok Sabha (lower house). There are three administrative districts. Presidential rule was imposed in 1993, due to a tribal guerrilla insurgency. Historical evidence of Tripura first appears in the 14th-century Rajmala, the chronicle of the Manikya dynasty. This dynasty ruled continuously until Tripura became part of India in 1947. Tripura became a union territory in 1956 and a state in 1972.