Tripura is a state in North East India. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers 10,491 km (4,051 sq mi) and is bordered by Bangladesh to the north, south, and west; the Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to its east. Five mountain ranges run north to south, with intervening valleys, while to the west Agartala, the capital, is located on a plain. The state has a tropical savanna climate, with seasonal heavy rains from the south west monsoon. Forests cover more than half of the area, in which Bamboo and cane forests are common. Tripura has the highest number of primate species found in any Indian state.
The area of modern Tripura was part of an independent Tripuri kingdom that ruled for several centuries. It was a princely state during British rule, and joined the newly-independent India in 1949. Ethnic strife between the indigenous people and Bengali population has led to tension and scattered violence since its integration into the country, but the establishment of an autonomous tribal administrative agency and other strategies have soothed such conflicts. The state is peaceful as of 2012.
Tripura lies in a geographically disadvantageous location in India, as only one major highway connects it with the rest of the country. This hinders the economic prospects of the state. Poverty and unemployment continue to plague Tripura, which has a limited infrastructure. Most residents are involved in agriculture and allied activities, although the service sector is the largest contributor to the state's gross domestic product.
Indigenous communities, known in India as Scheduled tribes, constitute about 30 per cent of the population. The Kokborok-speaking Tripuri people form the major group among 19 tribes and many other subtribes; Bengali people form the ethno-linguistic majority. Mainstream Indian cultural elements, especially from Bengali culture, coexist with traditional practices of the
