Agartala's history is inextricably tied to the Twipra Kingdom, ruled by the Manikya dynasty for centuries. The capital of the kingdom was moved several times before settling in Old Agartala. In 1849, King Krishna Kishore Manikya shifted the capital from Old Agartala to the present-day location (New Agartala) to escape the frequent flooding of the Haora River and to facilitate better administration and trade.
The true architect of modern Agartala was Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman, who ruled from 1923 to 1947. He initiated comprehensive city planning, established schools, colleges, and the airport, and reorganized the road networks. Under his vision, the city transformed from a quiet royal settlement into a structured urban center.
Following India's independence, Tripura integrated into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949. Agartala experienced a massive demographic shift during the Partition of India and again during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, as thousands of refugees crossed the nearby border to seek safety. The city played a pivotal, albeit quiet, role in the 1971 war, serving as a critical base for operations and humanitarian aid. Over the subsequent decades, Agartala has evolved from a remote border town into a thriving, modern state capital.