Srivatsan: Minor edits and structural improvements

2026-02-21T16:25:50Z

Minor edits and structural improvements

imported>ಮಲ್ನಾಡಾಚ್ ಕೊಂಕ್ಣೊ: Replaced obsolete center tags and reduced Lint errors

2021-07-10T09:39:46Z

Replaced obsolete center tags and reduced Lint errors

New page

{{more citations needed|date=August 2016|Too many travel sites used as sources}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{coord|display=title|23.5010|91.1657}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Ujjayanta Palace
| native_name = Nuyungma
| native_name_lang = trp
| logo =
| image = Uajjayanta Palace.jpg
| caption = [[Façade]] of the Royal Palace of [[Tripura]]
| map_type =
| former_name =
| established = {{Start date|1901}}
| location = [[Agartala]], [[Tripura]], [[India]]
| type = State Museum
| architect = Sir Alexander Martin (Martin and Burn Co.)
| website =
}}
{{Kingdom of Tripura}}
The '''Ujjayanta Palace''' (''Nuyungma'' in [[Tripuri language]]) is a museum and the former palace of the Kingdom of [[Tripura (princely state)|Tripura]] situated in [[Agartala]], which is now the capital of the Indian state of [[Tripura]]. The palace was constructed between 1899 and 1901 by Maharaja [[Radha Kishore Manikya]] [[Debbarma]] and stands on the banks of two lakes surrounded by gardens inspired by the European style. It was the home of the ruling [[Manikya dynasty]] until Tripura's [[Tripura Merger Agreement|merger]] into India in October 1949. The palace was purchased from the royal family by the [[Government of Tripura]] in 1972–73 for Rs. 2.5 million, and used to house the [[Tripura Legislative Assembly|State Legislative Assembly]] until July 2011. Ujjayanta Palace is now a State Museum and it primarily showcases the lifestyle, arts, culture, tradition and utility crafts of communities residing in [[northeast India]], along with a lot of stone sculptures, coinage of the Manikya dynasty and some other artifacts.

== History ==
Tripura claims to be one of the oldest princely states of ancient India. The royal line of Tripura began during the reign of Maharaja [[Maha Manikya]], who was crowned in 1400 AD, and was the first ruler under the royal title of [[Manikya dynasty|Manikya]]. Ujjayanta Palace was built in 1862, {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away from Agartala, by King Ishan Chandra Manikya (1849–1862). It was devastated by the Assam earthquake of 12 June 1897.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1897_06_12.php |title=Historic Earthquakes |website=Earthquake.usgs.gov |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> The palace was rebuilt in the heart of Agartala city by [[Maharaja]] [[Radha Kishore Manikya]] in 1899–1901, at a then exorbitant cost of 10 [[lakh]] (1 million) [[Indian rupee|rupees]]. It was built by [[Martin Burn|Martin and Burn Co.]],<ref name=NewIndExp>{{cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/travel/Tripuras-royal-mansion-to-house-northeasts-biggest-museum/2013/09/24/article1801321.ece |title=Tripura's royal mansion to house northeast's biggest museum |newspaper=Newindianexpress.com |date=24 September 2013 |author=Sujit Chakraborty |access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> and served as the model of the Maharajah's palace in [[Tintin and the Cigars of the Pharaoh]].{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
[[File:Uajjayanta 2.jpg|thumb|Main promenade leading to the palace]]

===As state assembly building===
Upon the [[Tripura Merger Agreement|merger]] of the Kingdom of Tripura with India in 1949, royal properties were [[Nationalization|nationalised]]. The main building along with the area around the palace was purchased from the royal family by the Tripura government in 1972–73.<ref name=NewIndExp /> It housed the [[Tripura Legislative Assembly]] until July 2011 when the assembly moved to a new location {{cvt|6|km}} north of Agartala.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110723/jsp/northeast/story_14275480.jsp |title=Tripura Assembly building inaugurated |newspaper=Telegraphindia.com |date=23 July 2011 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

===As state museum===
The museum was given [[seismic retrofitting]] to prevent possible earthquake damage,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/24607806 |title=Retrofitting of heritage building "Ujjayanta Palace" in Agartala – a case study |newspaper=Academia.edu |author=Supratim Bhowmik|display-authors=etal |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> and the museum was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]] on 25 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/northeast-indias-biggest-museum-to-open-on-sep-25-1064171.html |title=Northeast India's biggest museum to open on Sep 25|newspaper=Firstpost.com |date=27 August 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

Early in the museum's history, controversy erupted over the state government's proposed move to change the name of Ujjayanta Palace to Tripura State Museum. The [[Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra]] (INPT) has written to Vice-President, [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari|Hamid Ansari]], protesting that the name of the museum should reflect the history and heritage of the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130920/jsp/northeast/story_17369890.jsp |title=History finds royal quarters |newspaper=Telegraphindia.com |date=20 September 2013 |author=Sekhar Datta |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tribals-protest-renaming-of-tripura-palace-113091700752_1.html|title=Tribals protest renaming of Tripura palace|author=Press Trust of India|date=17 September 2013|website=business-standard.com |access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> Pradyut Bikram Kishore Debbarma, the titular king of Tripura said, "The palace is a historical spot. It doesn’t belong to the members of the erstwhile royal family alone, neither does it solely belongs to the government. It belongs to Tripura and somebody in the government can’t suddenly impose a decision to change its name".<ref name="rediff2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/tripura-govt-relents-to-mass-protests-against-renaming-of-palace-/20130923.htm |title=Tripura govt relents to mass protests against renaming of palace |newspaper=Rediff.com |date=23 September 2013 |author= K Anurag |access-date= 2 August 2016}}</ref> The government decided to keep the original name of Ujjayanta Palace and to build a statue of Maharaj Radha Kishore Manikya on the museum premises.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Tripura-museum-to-retain-name-of-Ujjayanta-Palace/articleshow/22964765.cms |title=Tripura museum to retain name of Ujjayanta Palace |newspaper=The Times of India |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Ujjayanta palace panorama 2007.jpg|thumb|800px|center|{{center|A panoramic view of the palace.}}]]

== Design ==
The Ujjayanta Palace compound covers an area of approximately {{Convert|1|km2|acres|abbr=on}} and includes public rooms such as the throne room, [[Durbar (court)|durbar]] hall, library and reception hall.<ref name=gobibo>{{cite web |url=https://www.goibibo.com/travel-guide/india/destination-agartala/places-to-visit/ujjayanta-palace/ |title=Ujjayanta Palace, Agartala |website=gobibo.com |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> The buildings and grounds cover {{convert|800|acre|km2}} in the heart of Agartala. The [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] palace was designed by Sir Alexander Martin of the Martin and Burn Company. The two-storied palace has three large domes, the largest of which is {{convert|86|ft|m|abbr=on|0}} high, and which rests atop a four-storied central tower. The architecture shows a mix of influences: Mughal, Roman and British<ref name=NewIndExp /> There are two large artificial ponds on either side of the garden which is decorated with pools and fountains.

Several Hindu temples occupy plots adjacent to Ujjayanta Palace, dedicated to [[Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Agartala|Lakshmi Narayan]], Uma-Maheshwari, [[Durga]] and [[Jagannath]].<ref name=gobibo />

==Gallery==
{{Commons category|Ujjayanta Palace}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="100px">
File:Tripura State Museum Agartala Tripura India.jpg|Ujjayanta Palace at night.
File:A view from a different angle of the Palace.jpg|A view from a different angle of the Ujjayanta Palace.
File:A part of the northern area of the palace.jpg|A part of the northern area of the Ujjayanta Palace.
File:The back lawn under construction.jpg|The back lawn under construction at Ujjayanta Palace.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faex4GLPY_Q Video of Ujjayanta Palace]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Agartala]]
[[Category:Palaces in Tripura]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1901]]
[[Category:Neoclassical palaces]]
[[Category:Tripura Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Legislative buildings in India]]
[[Category:Museums in Tripura]]

Ujjayanta Palace - Revision history

Srivatsan: Minor edits and structural improvements

imported>ಮಲ್ನಾಡಾಚ್ ಕೊಂಕ್ಣೊ: Replaced obsolete center tags and reduced Lint errors