Ujjayanta Palace was the erstwhile residence of the Royal family of the princely state of Tripura. It now houses the Tripura State Museum.

Tripura state museum, Ujjayanta Palace

This magnificent palace on the banks of a lake was constructed by Maharaj Radha Kishore Manikya, between 1899 and 1901. Their palace existing palace was devastated by a massive earthquake in 1897. The name for the palace was suggested by the first Asian Nobel Prize winner, Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore had a close relationship with the monarch.

This palace compound is spread over 250 acres or approximately 1 square kilometer. It’s a two-storied building, with three large domes. The largest dome is 26 meters in height. The palace is a fusion of British, Mughal, and Roman architecture!

A beautiful Mughal garden with fountains surrounds the palace. The palace, other buildings, and the Mughal garden are spread over 800 acres of land!

The princely state of Tripura was one of the oldest princely states in India. This dynasty was established during the reign of Maharaja Maha Manikya, the first Manikya Monarch. He was crowned in 1400 AD!

The accession of the Princely state of Tripura with India was completed in October 1949, after India gained independence from the British in 1947. The Tripura government purchased the palace from the legal heirs of the royals in 1972. The state assembly was functioning in this palace till July 2011. The assembly was shifted to a new building, around six kilometers away, in 2011.

Ujjayanta Palace is one of the most historical places in the northeastern states. It served as the royal residence and state assembly.

Ujjayanta Palace Tripura State Museum

Tripura State Museum was established in 1970. It is the largest museum in the northeastern states of India. The government of Tripura shifted the  Museum to Ujjayanta Palace in 2013. The state museum in Tripura is called Ujjayanta Palace. There were protests from the locals and the titular Maharaja of Tripura when the state government tried vainly to rename the State Museum of Tripura as ‘Tripura State Museum‘.

22 galleries display the art, culture, ethnic diversity, heritage, history, and tradition of India’s north-eastern region.  Ancient Coins, copper and stone inscriptions, bronze sculptures, paintings, drawings, tribal ornaments, musical instruments, etc, find a place among the articles on display at this magnificent museum.

There is a  statue of Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, the king who constructed this palace. There is a musical fountain, which is a new addition, near the main entrance.

How Do I Go to Ujjayanta Palace Museum?

Ujjayanta Palace Museum is situated at the heart of Agartala city, the capital of Tripura state. Roads to other parts of the country connect Agartala.

Agartala railway station is the railway station in the city. Its station code is AGTL.

There is also an airport at Agartala. It was constructed by the Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in 1942. He reigned from  1908 – 1947. His son Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya (with Kanchan Prava Devi as Regent) was the last king of the princely state of Tripura, who reigned from 1947 -1949. The United States Army Air Force used this historic airport during World War II.

Tripura State Museum & Palace Timings

Timings of the Tripura State Museum inside the Ujjayanta Palace are as follows.

It opens at 11 am and closes at 6 pm, except on Mondays. Mondays are holidays for the Tripura State Museum Ujjayanta Palace.