Tripura

Hill state of northeast India since 1972, formerly a princely state, between Bangladesh and Assam; area 10,477 sq km/4,045 sq mi; population (2001 est) 3,191,200. The capital is Agartala. The economy is largely dependent on agriculture: rice is the most widely grown crop, while cash crops include jute, cotton, tea, and sugarcane. Industries are mostly concerned with processing agricultural products, but there are also factories producing bricks, steel, pharmaceuticals and plywood.

The region contains four main valleys, separating hills that rise to about 1,000 m/3,300 ft; the south is forested. The Deo, Khowai, and Dhalai rivers drain northwards, while the River Gumti flows to the south. Agriculture carried out on a rotational system of shifting cultivation in the rainforest is being superseded by modern methods.

The main languages are Bengali, Kokbarak, and Manipuri. The principal religion is Hinduism.