Kailashahar, Mar 25, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Kailashahar, Mar 25: Tourism centres have been developed in many places, both government and private, to attract tourists. Although the government and private sectors have paid attention to some tourism centres throughout the state, no one has yet looked towards Khaorabil in Kailasahar, a historic city located about 140 kilometres from the state capital.
From the 7th century onwards, the rulers of Tripura governed the State from Kailashahar of erstwhile North Tripura (now Unakoti district) and the capital of the state was in Rangauti, and adjacent to the capital, there was a big lake.
During the royal era, a temporary palace was built in the area – at a short distance away from this lake, where Maharaja Indra Manikya used to reside. Some of the ruins of the palace can still be seen in that area. Though the palace was ruined, the huge royal pond still remains there. Maharaja Indra Manikya ruled from the Khaorabil area for quite some time.
Later, an Officer of the Tripura Civil Services (TCS) Shamalini Banerjee took the initiative to expand the lake and accordingly land was excavated. Finally, over a 200-kani area, a fish farming centre was set up and Banerjee formed a Samiti of 70 families in 2000 to use the fish farming centre to become self-reliant. The Samiti was registered in 2002.
The Khaorabil area came into the limelight after Deputy Chief Minister Baidyanath Majumdar during the Nripen Chakraborty-led Left Front government, announced conducting a water festival at Khaorabil - similar to water Utsav at Neermahal.
However, for some unknown reason, this water festival was not conducted since 2018 – after the new BJP Government came into power.
The Samiti demanded unsuccessfully the previous left government several times to transform Khaorabil into a tourist destination. Even after the establishment of the BJP government in the state in 2018, the State government is yet to lend an ear to the demand of the Samiti members to date.
On Saturday, several members of the press club in Kailashahar went to Khaorabil on Saturday. The scenic beauty of the area fascinated the media persons. There is an island in the lake. Even as boats are available to reach there, there is no provision of any basic amenities preventing it from becoming a picnic spot and tourist spot.
The press club of Kailashahar decided to highlight Khaorabill and met Unakoti District magistrate Dr. Visal Kumar demanding his intervention in improving the site. Dr. Visal Kumar appreciated the initiative of the press club and said that within a few days, some modern small houses would be built within the island's government initiative to attract tourists.