Geo- Environmental Setting and Urban Morphology of Capital Cities in Northeast India: A Focus on Agartala, Tripura

Abstract

The capitals of Northeast India exhibit diverse configurations due to their distinct histories, geographical locations, and socio-political contexts. Agartala is a lowland capital city situated on the boundary of India and Bangladesh. The capital city of Tripura state differs from most hilltop capitals such as Shillong, Kohima, and Aizawl, sharing commonalities with Dispur-Guwahati and Imphal in terms of landforms and accompanying geo-environmental issues. However, Agartala exposes its uniqueness in relation to its geopolitical circumstances and historical princely heritage. The paper examines the evolution of Agartala's urban morphology by analyzing its historical origins, governmental transformations, and ward-level development across census years since its inception, specifically highlighting significant changes from 1961 to 2011 and extending to the present in 2025. The study indicates that Agartala's palace-centric origin, its proximity to the international boundary, and subsequent peri-urban development influence its form. Furthermore, it elucidates the various ways in which the capital cities of Northeast India have evolved throughout time regarding area and size, and it investigates how these capitals have developed from main settlement units, market centers, administrative hubs, and historical legacies.