tripura

Jampui Hills

Where: About 200 km from Agartala.

What: The highest point in Tripura, at an altitude of 3,000 ft, Jampui Hills command an amazing view of the nearby towns, and of Mizoram across the border.

HOW: You have to drive to Jampui from Agartala. The roads are not the best, so you could do with a break at Kailashahar, 90 km before the final destination.

Why: It’s beautiful all year round, so much so that it’s known as ‘the abode of eternal spring’ among the locals. In spring, the hills are carpeted with flowers and orange blossom. Clouds float across the hills in the monsoon, rising slowly up from the valleys below. Autumn dresses the region in shades or russet and brown. You can visit only to watch the play of colours, if nothing else.

Good to know

DAY TRIP: Visit the tranquil Khowra Lake in the region, famous for its Shivasthal and its sprawling banyan tree. There are 11 picturesque villages to visit, scattered over the hills. The villages offer Tripura’s exquisite handicrafts; be prepared to bargain.

MUST TRY: Sample the rice wine brewed in varying strengths by the Lushai people of this region. And when we sample, we mean strictly so. The wine is highly potent, so take baby sips.

STAY: Eden Tourist Lodge at Vanghmun is a good option if you’d like to catch the drama of sunrise and sunset over the hills. Starting 2200 for 2; tel: (03824) 238 252

pilak

Where: About 100 km from Agartala.

What: This otherwise nondescript town has an Indiana Jones feel to it and is quite the perfect place for those who like going off the beaten track. Its claim to tourism fame is the wealth of ancient Hindu and Buddhist sculptures found by the Archaeological Survey of India.

HOW: Hire a car at Agartala, and drive the fairly short distance to pilak (should take no more than two hours).

Why: It’s like walking into an open-air museum…. A place strewn with statues of the Buddha, Shiva, Surya and other Hindu deities, pilak also has ruins of some ancient temples. Experts claim that all the finds date to the 7th century. The excavation is still in progress at some of the sites, so you may be the first one to catch a glimpse of a relic just dug up. It’s not the best kept place, sadly, so prepare for some bad infrastructure but don’t let that stop you from visiting this incredible site.

Good to know

SEASON: From october to March.

MUST-SEE: The statue of Surya with a lotus in hand, a rare depiction of the Sun God. TrY: Locally made rice wine and pork varta, commonly available at the dhabas.

STAY: pilak Tourist Lodge: Starting 2450 for 2;

tel: (03823) 263 863