Dharmanagar
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| ?Dharmanagar Tripura • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 21 m (69 ft) |
| District(s) | North Tripura |
| Population | 30,785 (2001) |
Coordinates: Dharmanagar is a town and a nagar panchayat in North Tripura district in the state of Tripura, India.
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[edit] Geography
Dharmanagar is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 21 metres (68 feet). In the summer, monsoons are common with flash floods occurring and heavy damage resulting.Tornadoes are also common but cause minimal damage.
[edit] History
Dharmanagar subdivision is one of the most prominent sub-division of Tripura. But this place, which has now been relegated to the status of a mere sub-division, was once the capital of Tripura and its size was about 450 square miles.
Most of the history of Dharmanagar is derived from the "Rajmala" which is an ancient royal chronicle of the Kings of Tripura, written in Bengali since the 14th century AD. Initially, but unrecorded it was in circulation in Kokborok language, the language of the Tripura Kings before it was translated to Bengali in the 14th century.
The original of the name 'Dharmanagar' cannot be accurately traced back in time. The 'Rajmala' refers to at least four kings whose names include the word 'Dharma'. So it remains a matter of speculation as to which king had lent his name to our hometown. The various documents however, indicate that the existence of Dharmanagar goes back deep into time. "Rajmala" further indicates that the name 'Faticuli' was used to mean Dharmanagar back in those ancient times. It is not irrelevant to quote Pandit Kaliprasanna Sen and Pandit Likhan Ghosh from the 'Rajmala ancient scripts as they were edited and translated to Bengali by them.
The exact geographical boundaries of Dharmanagar in the ancient times, have not been clearly documented. However, a general idea about the size obtained from various source indicate that's one major position of Sylhet (now in Bangladesh) were include in Dharmanagar. Sources indicate that Dharmanagar in those days was not as small as it is today.
At present Dharmanagar is bound by Maulvi Bazar and Karimganj Subdivision of Sylhet in the north; Karimganj district of Assam in the east; Kailashahar subdivision and Mizoram state in the south and Kailashahar and Maulvi Bazar subdivision of Bangladesh in the west. The size of Dharmanagar has been greatly diminished over the ages and what was once the mighty capital of Tripura has now been reduced to a sub division of the state.
Remains of some old structures found in and around Dharmanagar bear testimony to the ancient glory of Dharmanagar . Certain ruins of old brick and mud structures . Were once seen in various places such as Rajbari, Kalacherra, Lalcherra etc. Today Dharmanagar shows the old glamour and glory. But it is still a very vibrant commercial town, which acts as a gateway to Tripura. Private endeavors in various walks of public life have enriched the place and have made the place a really cool place to be in. At present the town is moving towards modernity at a good pace and hopes to increase mutual interaction with the rest of the world.
[edit] Demographics
The population of Dharmanagar, as estimated in late 2006, is 32,912[2]. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Dharmanagar has an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 87% and, female literacy is 83%. In Dharmanagar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. More than half of people traveling, either bike, walk, or take rickshaw rides. It's a very happy town with life all over. Dharmangar is a predominantly Hindu area with 98% percent of the population Hindu. 1% is Buddhist and less than 1% are Muslim. In the jungles, there a large numbers of Kokborok tribes who live there.
[edit] Transport
The nearest airport to Dharmanagar is in Silchar. There is also a helipad for helicopter rides or for quick journeys to nearby towns such as Kailashahar and Kolkata, however, these are costly and are mainly reserved for the rich. The Assam - Agartala (NH-44) road connects Dharmanagar to Guwahati. This is the only road that connects Tripura to the rest of the country by road. In rainy seasons, the road usually gets blocked due to landslides at places such as Sonapur which can leave Tripura disconnected from the rest of the country. The main method of transport in Dharmanagar is mainly bicycles, rickshaws, tempoos (tuk-tuks), motorbikes and private cars.
[edit] Education
There a 6 high schools in Dharmanagar. Bir Bikram Institution (BBI), Girls Higher Secondary School, DNV, Padmapur and Golden Valley High School, which is also the only one of these institutions to be fully taught in English. BBI is a popular state run school in the heart of Dharmanagar. Year upon year students from this institution shine bright on the board exams.
[edit] Contriveries
Although Dharmanagar is a quiet and peaceful town, during the 90's there were many incidents of of kidnapping and murder. Busses and trucks were hijacked and loot was stolen. The Government increased security around these troubled areas and improvements can be seen now.
During the election season, there are usually many disturbances and violence. This is mainly from rival parties Communist Party of India (CPIM) and Indian National Congress. During the 1994 elections, 17 people were killed and many shops were burned to flames.
There is a Central Reserve Police Force base in East Kameshwar where there is constant supply of Police should riots become a problem.
[edit] Sights and Attractions
The playgrounds, shops and the famous pond or the "Dighi" in and around the town centre are the heart of this small town. The illuminated local shops and Kalibari Temple around the Dighi at night makes a wonderful sight.
People from around India like to visit this small town and like the relaxed atmosphere. One of the best times to visit Dharmanagar is during Durga Puja when the streets come alive and people from the entire town flock to the town to visit the many statues of goddess Durga.
There is one hospital and a Lions Club in Dharmanagar. The scenery in Dharmanagar is beautiful and breathtaking, especially in the hilly tea villages such as East Kameshwar, Ganganagar, Algapur and Halflong.
