Tripura Sundari Temple

Matabari: The Sacred Shakti Peetha of the North East

Significance
One of 51 Shakti Peethas

Location
Udaipur, Tripura

Primary Deity
Maa Tripura Sundari

1
The Prophetic Dream of Maharaja Dhanya Manikya

The temple’s establishment in 1501 AD is rooted in a miraculous story. Maharaja Dhanya Manikya was originally constructing a temple for Lord Vishnu at this location. However, the Goddess appeared in the King’s dream and commanded him to move her idol from Chittagong to this hillock. Despite the King’s initial confusion, the dream persisted, and the temple became one of the most powerful Shakti centers in the world.

The Sacred Peetha: Mythology states that the Right Foot of Sati fell here during the Tandava. The shrine houses two idols: the 5-foot ‘Tripura Sundari’ and the smaller ‘Chhoti Ma’, an idol that the Tripura Kings traditionally carried to the battlefield for protection.

2
Architecture: The Kurma-Prishtha Style

The Matabari temple is a marvel of medieval engineering. It is famously built in the Kurma-Prishtha shape, which means the temple base resembles the back of a tortoise. This design is rare and holds deep esoteric significance in Tantric worship.

•
The Conical Dome: The structure features a single, massive conical dome influenced by the Char-chala style of Bengal, sitting atop a square sanctum.
•
Red Brick Heritage: The temple is constructed using narrow red bricks and lime mortar, typical of the royal Tripura architectural period, designed to withstand intense monsoon rains.

Kalyan Sagar & The Bostami Turtles

Behind the temple lies the serene Kalyan Sagar, a large lake built by the same Maharaja. This lake is home to a rare and sacred species of tortoise known as the Bostami Turtle (Black Softshell Turtle).

These turtles are incredibly friendly and come to the banks when they hear the footsteps of pilgrims. They are considered descendants of the divine, and feeding them puffed rice or peda is considered an act of great merit (Punya). Despite being rare globally, they are protected and revered here.

3
The Iconic “Matabari Peda”

The Peda of Matabari is famous throughout India. These are not your typical white sweets; they are cooked to a deep, dark brown color through a laborious process of thickening milk and sugar. The taste is uniquely caramelized and smoky, and it is the primary offering made to the Goddess.

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Darshan & Rituals

🌅 Opening: 6:00 AM (Summer) / 6:30 AM (Winter)
🌓 Closing: 9:00 PM
🔥 Specialty: Animal sacrifice is still practiced here on specific days as per ancient Shakti traditions.

Travel Guide

By Rail: Udaipur (Tripura) Railway Station (3 km).
By Air: Agartala Airport (55 km).
Pro Tip: Visit during the Diwali Mela to see the temple illuminated with thousands of oil lamps.