Mata Tripura Sundari Temple
Matabari, near Udaipur, Gomati district · Goddess Tripura Sundari (Tripureswari), with the smaller Chhoto-Ma (a form of Chandi)
The 1501 Shakti Peetha the state is named after, above the turtle lake of Kalyan Sagar.
Founded by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 1501, Tripura Sundari (Matabari) stands on a small hillock shaped like a tortoise's back, which is why it is called Kurma Pitha. It is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, where Sati's right foot is believed to have fallen. The shrine was redeveloped under the central PRASHAD scheme and reopened by the Prime Minister on 22 September 2025, and its Diwali mela is the largest festival in Tripura.
Timings
- Temple open (summer): approx. 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Incredible India)
- Temple open (winter): approx. 5:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Incredible India)
- Note: News reports say the doors usually open at about 4:00 AM; check locally
- Sandhya Arati: 7:00 PM (1 Baisakh – 31 Aswin, roughly mid-Apr to mid-Oct); 6:00 PM (1 Kartik – 31 Chaitra)
- Anna Bhog distribution: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- Online darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Anna Bhog (cooked bhog prasad) – ₹40 per bhog (temple website) (Daily; collect 2:30 – 4:00 PM)
- Special Puja days – Varies – check at the temple office (Diwali, Ashtami Puja, Mahalaya and every Amavasya (new moon))
- Vehicle puja – Bike/scooter ₹30 (new) / ₹20 (old); auto ₹30/₹20; car/jeep ₹50/₹30; bus/truck ₹100/₹50 (temple website rate list) (Any day, temple hours)
- Bali (animal sacrifice) registration – He-goat ₹10, pigeon ₹10, duck ₹10, buffalo ₹30 (temple fee only, per website) (Temple hours; prominent at Diwali (patha bali))
How to book darshan
Darshan is free. Anna Bhog can be booked online or at the temple office; donations online.
Dress code
No formal dress code published; modest clothing is expected. Footwear is removed before the temple area.
Best time to visit
October to March is cooler and drier. Diwali (Oct/Nov) is the great festival, but expect crowds of a million or more over three days.
How to reach
- air: Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (IXA), Agartala – about 70 km (temple website).
- rail: Udaipur (Tripura) station on the Agartala–Sabroom line; the temple website says the nearest station is about 2 km away.
- road: About 55–60 km south of Agartala via NH-8 (about 1.5–2 hours). Buses and shared taxis run Agartala–Udaipur; autos from Udaipur town (about 3 km).
Festivals
- Diwali Mela (Deep Utsav) – Oct/Nov, three days around Diwali
- Navaratri / Durga Puja – Sep/Oct
- Lalita Jayanti / Lalita Panchami – Magha Purnima / Ashvin
- Amavasya – Every new moon