Neermahal—the floating wonder of Agartala

Neermahal, meaning water palace, is located around 53 km from Agartala. It was built by Maharaja of Tripura, Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarma Manikya (1908-1947), as his summer palace. It was the king’s idea to build the palace in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake, which boasts beautiful architectural designs. Also, the palace structure displays Maharaja’s great taste and intelligence of blending both Muslim and Hindu cultures, and tradition in the architectural designs.
Neermahal is the largest and one-of-its-kind water palace in India, and the one and only one in Eastern India. What makes this palace stand out is how sandstone and marble had been used in building it, and how pavilions, balconies, towers, and bridges make it an architectural wonder. Further, the dome-shaped minars that can be seen from a far off gives it a fort-like appearance.

Exploring Neermahal

Agartala is a popular tourist spot, and is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern India that deserves a visit. There are numerous things to do when you are in Agartala, but Neermahal is one such place that deserves some bit of your time and attention. Its extraordinary architecture and beautiful layouts will mesmerise you.
It took around nine years to build this palace that has 24 rooms inside. The eastern side of the palace has an open air theatre, which hosts cultural and public events, whereas the western side is for the royal family to reside. There are proper provisions for servants too.

The water palace has beautiful gardens, fountains, and courtyard too, thereby creating the perfect ambience for some peaceful time. The exquisite architectural designs and the watery ambience of this area is such a marvellous combination that infuses curiosity among the visitors.
Visiting this palace will let you peep into the culture and history of Tripura. If possible, try to plan your trip to this place during festivals, as during that time the building is gorgeously decorated that adds to the grandeur of the palace.

The palace turns into a beautiful sight during night when its reflection can be seen on the water. You just have to spare some time to wander around and take in the beauty.

How to reach Neermahal?
It won’t be a tiring task to plan a trip to this place as the palace is in Melaghar town, located at a distance of 53 KM from Agartala. If you opt for train, the nearest railway stations will be Kumarghat (160 km,) and Dharama Nagar (200 km). If you go by air, Agartala Airport will the nearest to the palace.

Best time to visit Neermahal

The best time to visit this place should be from October to March when you are not disturbed by incessant rains.

Next time when you are planning a trip, you can think about Neermahal as this region barely gets any visitor. Though it is popular for its resemblance to Lake palace of Udaipur, it is an irony that it is in need of attention and tourists need to visit this spectacular palace to discover its wonder.