Neermahal palace is a historical monument, which served as a leisure stay for the Kings of Tripura. It is located in Sipahijala district of Tripura, which is 53 km away from Tripura’s capital, Agartala. It was built by the ruler Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya bahadur in 1930 and renovated by Tripura Government to save the heritage and promote the state tourism.
In this article, I’ll focus more on how you should it, about my travel experience, dos and don’ts, along with history and architecture.
How to Reach Neermahal Palace?
To reach Neermahal palace, you first need to reach Agartala. Agartala is well connected with airways, roadways, and railways.
Agartala has direct flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Guwahati and you can get flights with layover from all major cities of India. Similarly, there are trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and other parts of North-East India.When it comes to bus connectivity, you can take bus from Shillong, Silchar, Aizawl, Guwahati, etc.
I took an overnight bus from Shillong and reached Agartala in the morning around 10 am. After checking in at my hotel, I left for Neermahal Palace. The best way to reach Neermahal is by renting a two-wheeler at it only costs Rs 400 for one day. However, if you want to skip driving, you can get direct bus from Tripura’s bus station to Melaghar, which is a small town where Neermahal Palace is located. It’s walking distance from the dropping point and will hardly 15 minutes of walking.
As I mentioned already, Neermahal palace is 53 km from Agartala. But, if you want to visit something offbeat, you can first take the road to Boxanagar and visit the 8th Buddhist Stupa. It was discovered nearly two decades ago but haven’t experienced the visitor flow it deserves.
It is 32 km away from Agartala. From Agartala, you have to go reach Bishalgarh, take a right turn, and drive 17 km to Boxanagar. Then, you’ll have to come back to Bishalgarh and enroute to Melaghar to reach Neermahal Palace.
Check my YouTube vlog on the trip to Neermahal Palace:
What’s the Best Time to Visit Neermahal Palace?
Tripura is a hot and humid state. Therefore, the winter months (October to February) are the most preferable ones. However, if you are fine with a bit harsh weather but want to ditch the crowd, April is the best one.
Even in April, it can be crowded on weekends. However, if you visit the place in weekday mornings, there will be least tourists and locals.
Other than that, it’s also worth attending Neermahal Traditional Festival, which usually takes place in August and December.
Know Everything About Neermahal Festival
Neermahal Palace festival is a three-day cultural event in which all the 19 ethnic groups of Tripura participate and showcase their respective cultures and traditions.
The festival usually takes place in the month of August and December, but dates may change as per the state’s convenience. So, it’s better to check the dates before you plan.
During this event, the entire Neermahal is decorated with flowers and flags and a stage is set on the shore of Rudrasagar lake. Several performances from Tripura’s ethnic groups, tribes from North-East states, and communities from Orrisa and West Bengal take place here.
The primary attraction is the boat race and swimming competition across the Rudrasagar lake.
Neermahal Palace Entry Point
Neermahal’s entry point is located on the shore of Rudgrasagar lake. Here, I parked my two-wheeler and head straight to the ticket counter.
We have to take a boat ticket which will cross Rudgrasagar and take us to the center of the lake where Neermahal is located.
The share boat ticket cost me Rs 50. However, if you want, there’s an option for private boat as well, which is priced Rs 450.
Speaking of Neermahal’s ticket, there’s a separate ticket that you have take at the Palace’s entrance gate.
There are some snack vendors at the entry point. So, you can grab something to eat or else there’s a restaurant at Neermahal, where you get the basic dishes.
Boat Ride to Neermahal Palace
After getting my ticket checked, I walked through the dock and took a place in the shared boat. There are almost 50 people in one boat.
It’s better to wait a bit and get on the empty boat first to take a seat in the front.
The boat ride took almost 20 minutes to reach Neermahal. Both the sides of the boat, you can find thick lotus beds as far as you can see.
The ride is peaceful, calming, with wonderful views of water waves hitting the lotus beds gently.
After reaching Neermahal, I had to walk to the entrance and get a ticket.
Things to do at Neermahal Palace
Neermahal Palace has two sides, the left side is the primary palace with rooms and gardens, whereas the right side has an open theatre.
It’s better to first explore the left side, as it has much more to explore.
Explore the Mughal-Rajput Architecture
As soon as you enter Neermahal, you’ll find the Rajasthani “Jhali Work” and Balconies on the right side, giving the extravagant appearance to the place.
As you walk forward, you’ll also see the dome like structures and under which there are “Jharokhas,” which is the perfect blend of Rajput-Mughal architecture.
This architecture might have its influence from Kanchan Prava Devi, who was the queen of Tripura that time. She belonged to a Rajput family in Madhya Pradesh.
Enjoy Amazing Views of Rudrasagar Lake
While walking in the balconies of Neermahal, you can have amazing views of Rudrasagar lake. You can checkout the lotus beds, the boats coming and going to the shore, the birds preying and chirping all around, and the calming water.
When I moved to the backside of the palace, I found views similar to the lake side of Udaipur, the Lake City in Rajasthan.
Checkout Gardens all Around the Palace
The backside of the palace is connected with the main area with a cute bridge, that leads to a large garden, housing a variety of flora. You can sit here, relax, and have some snacks.
There are boards on the tree barks and flowerpots to you to see and learn about them.
Don’t Miss Going Around Neermahal’s Terrace
If you want to have 360-degree view of the palace, hit to the terrace, where you can definitely have great clicks with the palace in the background.
Take a Walk Across the Open Theatre
When you are done exploring the left side of the palace, you can come out from the entrance gate and walk towards the right side.
There are multiple dome-spade structures connected with walking bridges that leads to an open theatre in the end. You can stay there, watch the views, and stay there as long as the last boat in leaving.
Where to Go Next from Neermahal?
Neermahal is just 20 km away from Udaipur, Tripura. As you have come so far, don’t miss visiting the Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur. There are some other attractions as well such as Chobimaru and Dumdoor Lake. However, they are a bit far from Udaipur and at call for a daytrip.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neermahal, Tripura
What is Neermahal Famous For?
Neermahal is famous as a 100 years old water palace, having Rajput-mughal architecture.
What is the cost of boating in Neermahal?
The sharing boat costs Rs 50 per person and you can book a private speed boat for Rs 450.
Which King built Neermahal in Tripura?
Neermahal was built by Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya bahadur in 1930.
Which is the nearest railway station to Neermahal?
Agartala railways station is the nearest railway station to Neermahal, which is 50 km away.
What is the name of lake where Neermahal is located?
The name of lake where Neermahal is located is Rudgrasagar lake.
Which is the largest water palace in India?
Neermahal, Tripura is the largest water palace in India.
Why is Rudrasagar lake famous?
Rudgrasagar is famous for housing largest water palace in India, Neermahal.