Tripura

Tripura is a landlocked state in northeastern India. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers 10,491 km² (4,051 square miles); and the seventh-least populous state with a population of around four million people. It is bordered by Assam and Mizoram to the east and by Bangladesh to the north, south and west. Agartala is the capital and the largest city. Bengali, English and Kokborok are the state’s official languages. It is geographically isolated from much of India, as only one major highway, National Highway 8, connects it with the rest of the country. Agartala is located on a plain to the west.

The state has a tropical savanna climate, and receives seasonal heavy rains from the south west monsoon. The seven contiguous states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura – are collectively known as the Seven Sister States. Due to its geographical isolation, economic progress in the state is hindered. Poverty and unemployment continue to plague Tripura, which has a limited infrastructure. Most residents are involved in agriculture and allied activities, although the service sector is the largest contributor to the state’s gross domestic product.

Deep Dumboor Lake – ©Yapri Debbarma CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The physiography is characterised by hill ranges, valleys and plains. The state has five anticlinal ranges of hills running north to south, from Baramura in the west, through Atharamura, Longtharai and Shakhan, to the Jampui Hills in the east. The intervening synclines are the Agartala–Udaipur, Khowai–Teliamura, Kamalpur–Ambasa, Kailasahar–Manu and Dharmanagar–Kanchanpur valleys. At an altitude of 3,081 feet, Betling Shib in the Jampui range is the state’s highest point. The small isolated hillocks interspersed throughout the state are known as tillas, and the narrow fertile alluvial valleys, mostly present in the west, are called Doóng or lungas. A number of rivers originate in the hills of and flow into Bangladesh. The Khowai, Dhalai, Manu, Juri and Longai flow towards the north; Sumli to the north west; the Bijoy; Gumti to the west; and the Muhuri and Feni to the south west. The flood plains and narrow valleys are overlain by alluvial soil, and those in the west and south constitute most of the agricultural land.

Gomati River – ©Nishith Joshi CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Tripura has a tropical savanna climate. The undulating topography leads to local variations, particularly in the hill ranges. The four main seasons are winter, from December to February; pre-monsoon or summer, from March to April; monsoon, from May to September; and post-monsoon, from October to November. During the monsoon season, the south west monsoon brings heavy rains, which cause frequent floods. The average annual rainfall is between 78 and 108 inches. During winter, temperatures range from 13 to 27 °C, while in the summer they fall between 24 and 36 °C.

Birding Tripura

Forests cover more than half of the state, in which bamboo and cane tracts are common. Tripura has the highest number of primate species found in any Indian state. Like most of the Indian subcontinent, Tripura lies within the Indo-Malayan realm. According to the Biogeographic classification of India, the state is in the ‘North-East’ biogeographic zone with three different types of ecosystems: mountain, forest and freshwater. The evergreen forests on the hill slopes and the sandy river banks are dominated by species such as Dipterocarpus, Artocarpus, Amoora, Elaeocarpus, Syzygium and Eugenia. Two types of moist deciduous forests comprise the majority of the vegetation: moist deciduous mixed forest and Sal Shorea robusta forest dominate. The interspersion of bamboo and cane forests with deciduous and evergreen flora is a peculiarity of Tripura’s vegetation. Grasslands and swamps are also present, particularly in the plains. Herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees such as Albizia, Barringtonia, Lagerstroemia and Macaranga flourish in the swamps of Tripura. Shrubs and grasses Phragmites (reeds) and Saccharum (sugarcane).

Grey Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Tripura hosts 90 land mammal species from 65 genera and 10 orders, including such species as Indian Elephant Elephas maximus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Bearcats (binturong) Arctictis binturong, Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, Porcupine Artherurus assamensis, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Gaur Bos gaurus, Leopard Panthera pardus and Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa as well as many species of small cats and primates. Out of 15 free-ranging primates of India, seven are found in Tripura; this is the highest number of primate species found in any Indian state. 570 species of birds have been recorded in the state.

Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

There are four Wildlife sanctuaries – Sipahijola, Gumti, Rowa and Trishna and two National Parks – Clouded Leopard National Park and Rajbari National Park. These protected areas cover a total of 567 km² (219 square miles). Gumti is designated as an Important Bird Area. In winter, thousands of migratory waterfowl throng to Gumti and Rudrasagar lakes. The varied landscapes, from wetlands to forests, create a variety of habitats that support a wide range of birdlife with a number particularly attractive to migrants. Cultivated areas are excellent for raptors as well as larks, pipits, and wagtails. Scrubland is favoured by Wren-warblers, cuckoos, Crow-Pheasants, and, particularly, Indian Robins. Tripura’s wetlands are wintering grounds for numerous waterfowl species. Forested areas are best for Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea, the state bird of Tripura.