Agartala: In a significant push to promote religious tourism and preserve spiritual heritage, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 97.70 crore project to establish a 51-Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar, located around 68 km south of the state capital.
Joined by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, and other dignitaries, the chief minister also participated in the traditional Bhumi Pujan ceremony at the project site.
Tourism Minister Chowdhury revealed that the park will house replicas of all 51 Shakti Peethas, revered Hindu shrines scattered across India and neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The park will also feature what is expected to be the world’s tallest statue of Lord Nataraja, enhancing its spiritual and visual appeal.
“The park is not just a tribute to the divine feminine energy, but also a step toward establishing Tripura as a hub for spiritual and heritage tourism,” said Chowdhury.
Strategically located just 4 km from the revered Tripura Sundari Temple—one of the original 51 Shakti Peethas—the park is expected to draw pilgrims and tourists alike.
The temple, located in Udaipur town in Gomati district, has stood as a prominent religious site for over five centuries.
According to officials from the state Tourism Department, the project has received funding under the PRASHAD scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) of the Union Tourism Ministry, with additional support from the Asian Development Bank.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to boost tourism infrastructure in Tripura, with eco-tourism and cultural projects worth Rs 350 crore currently underway.
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Saha also highlighted additional plans to enhance tourism connectivity, including a proposal for a seaplane service at Narikelkunja in Dumboor Lake, a scenic water body formed at the confluence of the Raima and Sarma rivers, around 115 km from Agartala.
The lake, already a popular destination for its boating facilities and tranquil landscapes, is home to the picturesque Narikelkunja Island, which has been developed as one of Tripura’s top tourist attractions.
Saha said the proposal for the seaplane service has been submitted to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and was discussed during a high-level task force meeting on tourism development chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
