Agartala Diaries: Heat, Humidity, and Hidden Corners
okay, so i landed in agartala with no plan and a bag full of camera gear. the weather was already doing its thing-30.66°c, feels like 28.68, and the humidity? let's just say my shirt was glued to my back within minutes. i checked the forecast and it's basically sauna mode there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the pressure was 1011, humidity 16, and honestly, the air felt heavier than my backpack.
i heard from a local vendor that the best way to survive is with endless cups of black tea and slow walks. *neermahal palace was on my list, but someone told me that the boat rides can be a bit sketchy if you go after 4pm-apparently the water gets choppy and the boats are older than my grandpa's jokes. still, the palace itself is worth the trip; i found a decent review on TripAdvisor that said the sunset views are unreal.
if you get bored, guwahati and shillong are just a short drive away, though the roads are winding enough to make you question your life choices. i spent an afternoon wandering the local markets, picking up weird spices and chatting with vendors who kept offering me free samples of their homemade pickles. someone warned me that the street food near the bus stand is "an adventure," which i took as a challenge.
here's a quick list of what i packed (because i always forget something):
- extra camera batteries (died twice)
- a portable fan (best decision ever)
- loose cotton clothes (thank god)
- a reusable water bottle (hydration is survival)
"the real magic is in the back alleys,"
said a street artist i met near the Ujjayanta Palace. he was painting murals of local legends and wouldn't stop talking about how agartala's soul is hidden in its corners. i believed him, mostly because his art was incredible.
i also checked out a few cafes recommended on Yelp, but honestly, the best chai was from a tiny stall run by a guy named Raju* who wouldn't let me pay the first time. "you're my guest," he said, and i felt like i'd won some invisible lottery.
if you're into offbeat travel, agartala's got that raw, unpolished charm. just bring sunscreen, a sense of humor, and maybe a translator app-some folks don't speak much hindi, and my bengali is limited to "hello" and "thank you." but hey, that's half the fun, right?
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