Tripura

Tripura, completely off the beaten track, is mainly a hilly territory with altitudes varying from 50 to 3080 ft above sea level. Most of the population, however, lives in the plains. Encompassing a sensitive border zone where India meets Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, the region is remote - only the narrow Siliguri corridor connects it to the rest of India. The second smallest state of India, it is one of the most ancient of the princely states.

Characterised by moderate temperatures and a highly humid atmosphere, Tripura is a storehouse of tribal crafts and culture as well as music and dancing. Tripura has mainly a Bengali community, in spite of the 19 Scheduled Tribes that form a major chunk of the population. Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity are the main religions followed in Tripura. The tribals, with a rich and varied culture, belong mainly to the Reang, Chakma, Halam and Usai communities. The majority of tribals live in elevated houses of bamboo called 'Tong'.