Tripura was an independent Hindu kingdom for more than 1,300 years before it  acceded to India on 15th October 1949 and was designated a union territory in 1956. It acquired full status as a state on 21st January 1972.

Tripura is divided into four Districts viz. West Tripura, South Tripura, North Tripura and Dhalai. In the central and northern Tripura hills of the state, four major river valleys--Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, and Khowai are separated from each other by low mountain ranges. The extensive Tripura Agartala Plains in the south-west are adjacent to the Ganges-Brahmaputra lowlands of Bangladesh. A number of rivers, of which the Gumti is the largest, drain the region. Climate is hot in the valleys and cooler in the mountains. Average rainfall of 248 cm are there during the southwest monsoon from June to September.

A large number of the population speaks Bengali. The second most important language is Kokborak (language of man). There is a significant number of Hindi, Manipuri, and Oriya speakers. The majority of the people are Hindus whereas Muslims, Buddhists and Christians make up the minorities. Tripura's population is mainly rural. Towns are concentrated on the Tripura Plains and near the International borders.

Tripura is primarily an agricultural area with rice as the major crop. Other cash crops are jute, cotton, tea, and various fruits including pineapples ,jackfruits and oranges. Livestock includes cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, and poultry. Forest produce are timber, bamboo, firewood, and charcoal and rubber of a high quality. Sericulture is widespread. Cottage industries such as weaving, carpentry, basketry, and pottery are prevalent . Small private entrepreneurs produce tea, sugar, sawn timber, bricks, glass, utensils, and furniture.

Tripura's topography has made surface communication difficult, and Indian Airlines service between Agartala and Kolkata is the quickest link between Tripura and the remaining part of the country. There is an important road link (National Highway 44) from Agartala to Assam, and a rail line joins the town of Kumarghat in North Tripura District to Kalkali Ghat, Assam. Most of the rivers carry boat traffic, specially during the monsoon.

The members of the scheduled tribes who live mostly in the interior areas are divided into nineteen groups speaking a variety of languages and dialects. Area of Tripura is 10,491 square km and its population is 31,91,168 (2001 census).