Neermahal is the largest water palace in India, located in Tripura state. “Neer” means “water” and “Mahal” means “palace.” The king of Neer Mahal, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, who lived in Agartala. The king used to come to the palace only for holidays. It is also a summer palace for the royal family. The article is about Neermahal Water Palace in Rudrasagar Lake.
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| Neermahal Water Palace Image: wikimedia commons |
Neermahal Water Palace
There are two very popular water palaces in India. One
of them is Neermahal in Tripura. The area of the mahal is about
5.5 square kilometer, the length of the Mahal is 400 meters, and it has 24
rooms. Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur held the position of the final king
of Tripura. Neer Mahal has been built by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur
and designed in such a way that one side was made only for the members of the
Royal family, and the other side was made for soldiers. Whenever someone used
to come to the castle, he used to enter the side of the soldier, then he was
welcomed by coming from the side of the royal family. The construction work of
this palace started in 1930 and completed in 1938, constructed by Martin and
Burns Company (British Company). It is also the best tourist place in Tripura. This
palace was named as “Neermahal” by Rabindranath Tagore. At one time,
Rabindranath Tagore had a good relationship with the royal family. The 2nd
largest one is Jalmahal in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
But in 1947, India got independence, Dictatorship
ended in India and started democracy. But the present descendants of Manikya
dynasty still lives in Agartala. After the death of the Maharaja in 1947, this
palace was lying for about 10 to 15 years. In between, there was no one to take
care of the buildings. Then the public of Tripura entered inside it and started
living. After a long time, the Indian government possessed and renovated the
palace, and now it becomes a popular historical place in Tripura.
Garden in
Neermahal
There were separate gardens for separate purposes. The
first garden was for the Maharaja, and the 2nd separate garden was
for maharani. Another garden was there for the public. Whenever there was a
festival in Neer Mahal, the king made a separate place, where a kitchen, servant
quarters, and an MP theater hall. There was a private boat parking for the maharaja.
Neermahal Festival
The festival is held in Rudrasagar Lake annually and
the program is organized by the Tripura Tourism Department for 3 days in August
or September. The festivals most
attractions are boat racing, swimming competitions, and cultural programs
performances by Tripura’s 19 ethnic communities and also showcase traditional
culture of the state.
How to reach Neermahal
The mahal is situated in the middle of Rudrasagar
lake, Melaghar, in Sepahijala district in Tripura. If you want to visit
Neermahal, you have to reach Agartala first by train, bus, or flight. Agartala
is the capital city of Tripura and is the nearest town to the historical
destinations.
How to visit Neermahal
Agartala to Neermahal by bus
The distance from Agartala to Neermahal is about 53
km. If your journey is by train from the rest of Tripura, you first reach
Nagerjala Bus stand from the railway station by auto rickshaw. You have to come
to Melaghar from Agartala by bus or taxi. Buses are available to reach Melaghar
from Nagerjala bus stand in Agartala. The bus journey will be around 2 hours,
and the bus fare approx. Rs.50 per person. Lots of buses run daily on the Nagerjala
to Sonamura road. Melaghar is a place that is the nearest to Neer Mahal.
Road map: Agartala Railway Station-Nagerjala bus
stand-Melaghar-Neer Mahal.
Neermahal Boat Ticket Price
The Royal Palace is in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake.
So you cannot reach it directly by bus; you must take the help of a boat. The
place from where you have taken the boat is Raj Ghat. Several boats and ferries
are available in Raj Ghat. There are boats like ferries, engine boats, and
special boats, and also the general boats are available. The ferry ticket price
will be Rs.50 per person, and buy a ticket from the ticket counter. You can
reserve a small boat for Rs.350 only. The special boats are available at Rs.2000
to Rs.2500 to reach the famous destinations from Raj Ghat.
Note: Now it’s a tourist destination, so you have to Pay
Rs.30 (buy a ticket) to enter the Palace. Visiting time is 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
in winter, and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer.
Lake Side Resort Neermahal
The resort is located at Melaghar, Main Road, on the
gateway of Neermahal Rajghat. Contact 09986702889. The 3-star hotel is 334
reviews with 4.1 ratings on 01/01/2026. The resort provides spacious rooms with
the majestic view of the water palace. Staff behavior is good, and food is also.
If you want to visit the water palace, you can book the resort, without any
worries.
Conclusion: Neermahal Water Palace, Tripura is best for spend your vacation
with your family or friends.
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