Tripura Sundari Temple is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Tripura. The temple is more than 500 years old and is popular for being one of the 51 peethas of Hindus. The locals called it the Matabari. Maharaja Dhanya Manikya built the temple in 1501 AD, at Udaipur, the former capital of Tripura kingdom. The site is believed to be the place where Sati’s right foot fell.

According to the legend Maharaja Dhanya Manikya was instructed in his dream to install goddess Tripura Sundari in the temple that stood at the edge of Udaipur town. A temple already stood at the small hilltop, but it was dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The king was amused by it. But he had the same dream again the next night. The king did as he was instructed and the temple came into being.

This ‘pithasthan’ (centre of pilgrimage) is also known as Kurma Pith because the shape of the temple premises resembles that of “Kurma” or tortoise. The idol of ‘Maa Kali’, presiding deity of the temple, stands in the sanctum sanctorum and it is made of reddish black stone, popularly known in Bengali as ‘Kashtipathar’.

The Goddess ‘Kali’ is worshipped in her incarnation as ‘Shoroshi’ (sixteen year old girl) in the temple by professional priests. An idol of smaller size of Maa Kali called ‘Chotto Maa’who stands beside the presiding deity used to be reportedly carried along by the kings during hunting expeditions and also during war for impromptu worship in tents. The temple consists of square type sanctum of the typical Bengali hut structure with a conical dome.

The Kalyansagar Lake behind the temple makes the place a lot more scenic. The lake is home to many fishes and tortoise, well fed by hundreds of visiting devotees each year.

The temple receives the largest number of visitors during Diwali festivals.

Source:

http://www.mapsofindia.com/india-tour/tripura/tripura-sundari-temple-2/

http://tripurainfo.com/ATripura/tourism/places.html