Udaipur, Gomati (Tripura): Perched on a low hillock and revered as Matabari, the Tripura Sundari Temple is among northeastern India’s most-visited Shakti shrines. Built in 1501 CE by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, the sanctum follows the Bengali ek-ratna idiom— a square shrine crowned by a single tower and finial. The site lies about 55–57 km south of Agartala, at Udaipur (Gomati district), and is accessible by road and rail.
A Shakti Peeth with a ‘Kurma’ profile
Temple manuscripts and classic listings (Pithamala Grantha) identify Matabari as a Shakti Peeth, where the right foot (dakshin charan) of Sati is believed to have fallen. The hillock resembles a tortoise’s back—Kurmapṛṣṭhākṛti—so the shrine is also venerated as a Kurma Pitha. Devī is worshipped here as Tripurasundarī/Tripureśwarī, with the accompanying Bhairava as Tripureśa.
Architecture and icons
The ek-ratna composition square garbhagriha with a three-tiered roof capped by a kalash dates to Dhanya Manikya’s reign. Inside the sanctum are two black stone images: the principal Tripurasundarī (about 5 ft) and the smaller “Chhoto-Ma” (Chandi), a cherished local tradition.
Kalyan Sagar: sacred waters and rare turtles
On the eastern flank spreads Kalyan Sagar, a large sacred lake that hosts populations of the black softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) locally called Bostami turtles—an IUCN-listed endangered species long believed extinct in the wild. Devotees historically fed the turtles puffed rice, but recent conservation messaging urges restraint and habitat care. In May 2025, the Tripura government approved a year-long study led by Turtle Survival Alliance with the forest department to assess and protect the lake’s turtle habitat.
Festivals and footfall
The temple draws its largest crowds during Diwali/Kali Puja, when a grand fair is held; Navaratri and allied Shakti observances also see heavy footfall. These gatherings underscore Matabari’s role as a shared cultural space for diverse communities across Tripura.
Visitor information (practical)
- Distance/Access: ~55–57 km from Agartala; a few kilometres from Udaipur town; well-connected by road/rail.
- Etiquette & conservation: Avoid feeding turtles processed foods; follow local guidelines around Kalyan Sagar to support the ongoing conservation programme.
Why it matters
Tripura Sundari (Matabari) brings together living Shakti worship, late-medieval Manikya-era architecture, and sacred-ecology stewardship around Kalyan Sagar—an integrated heritage that is spiritual, historical, and environmental at once.
