West Tripura is an administrative district in the state of Tripura in north-eastern India. It contains the state capital, Agartala, and serves as the political, administrative and commercial hub of Tripura. The district headquarters is located at Agartala.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Tripura |
| Headquarters | Agartala |
| Region | North-East India |
| Type | Administrative district |
Tripura, which became a full-fledged state of the Indian Union in 1972, was originally divided into a small number of large districts. West Tripura was one of the four original districts of the state, alongside North Tripura, South Tripura and Dhalai. For several decades it covered a substantial area in the western part of the state, encompassing both the capital region and adjoining rural sub-divisions.
On 21 January 2012, the Government of Tripura reorganised the districts of the state, increasing their number from four to eight. As part of this exercise, the erstwhile West Tripura district was bifurcated, and a new district named Khowai was carved out of it. Sepahijala district was also formed from areas earlier under West Tripura. Following the reorganisation, the present West Tripura district is significantly smaller than its pre-2012 form and is centred on Agartala and the surrounding areas.
The district lies in the western part of Tripura and shares an international border with Bangladesh to the west. It is bordered by Khowai district to the north-east, Sepahijala district to the south, and Gomati district further to the south-east. The terrain is a mix of low hills and alluvial plains drained by the Haora river and its tributaries, with Agartala situated on the banks of the Haora.
West Tripura district is administered by a District Magistrate and Collector. For administrative convenience the district is divided into sub-divisions, which in turn are organised into revenue and development blocks. The district contains the Agartala Municipal Corporation, the principal urban local body of the state.
As the district hosting the state capital, West Tripura is the centre of government employment, trade and services in Tripura. Agartala is connected to the rest of India by Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport and by the Lumding–Sabroom railway line. The Akhaura integrated check post on the India–Bangladesh border, near Agartala, is an important point for cross-border trade and passenger movement.
The district has a mixed population of Bengalis and indigenous Tripuri communities, including the Tripuri, Reang, Jamatia and other groups. Bengali and Kokborok are widely spoken. Major festivals observed in the district include Durga Puja, Kharchi Puja, Garia Puja and Bihu/Christmas celebrations among different communities.