Unakoti, Tripura , India|Timing |History |Architecture Ticket Cost |Location | Near By Food | full details

 

Unakoti Hills of Tripura or kalu Kumhar ki Unakoti , houses the largest bas relief sculptures in India . Unakoti is basically a pilgrimage site . This holy place dates back to 7th to 9th century . Unakoti is famous for its marvellous rock carving , murals and beautiful waterfalls . 

MAP TO UNAKOTI

Location: Dharmanagar - Kailashahar Rd, Uttar Unakuti R.F., Tripura 
Entry Fee: Free
Timing: everyday from 8am to 6pm
Near by Food : Unakoti food hills 
Near by Market: Xerox Center Bibhash Debnath

Unakoti means one less than a crore . And this pilgrimage site has unakoti , rock sculptures of Indian Gods . It is believed that all of these structures were created in 1 night . It is immediately apparent that these sculptures were created by an extremely skilled artisan . One can have mesmerising views while looking at these sculptures . All of the rock carving have remarkable details.  Along with rock sculptures , Unakoti hills have ancient temples of Hindu gods and goddesses .

Unakoti is commonly referred as kalu Kumhar ki Unakoti . Although their are no historical records about the construction of these structures . But According to Hindu Mythology , the place is believed to be built by a Kumhar (potter) kalu . According to this interesting legend , kalu Kumhar was a devotee of Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati . When Shiva and Parvati were making their way to Mount Meru , kalu urged to travel with them to Kailash . 

Although Shiva promised to tag him with them but on a condition . Shiva said that kalu can only go with them if he could Sculpt one crore images of the holy dieties before daybreak .  Kalu worked with undaunted spirit , but he missed the target with one single image . That is he was successful in building one less than a crore images of the Hindu dieties. According to the condition , kalu was left at the site and Shiv and Parvati went to Mount Meru . Another version of this legend says that kalu created the last sculpture of himself . And thus was left behind. 

There is one more account of Unakoti's creation from Hindu Mythology . According to which , one fine day lord Shiva along with other Hindu Gods and Goddesses was going to Kashi . They made a night halt at this place (present day Unakoti ) and Shiva asked everyone to wake up early and continue their way to Kashi . Although , only Shiva and Parvati woke up before the sunrise and went to Kashi . And other god and goddesses turned into stone sculptures . 

Sculptures present in Unakoti are of mainly two types - rock carved structure and stone images . Among the rock carved structure , the most famous figure are of head of Shiva and gigantic structure of Lord Ganesha . Head of Shiva is a 30 feet structure and is known as "Unakotiswara kal Bhairava" . The figure consists an embroidered head dress . The figure is accompanied by two full female figure . One is of Goddess Durga standing on her lion . And other is of Mata Ganga . Other famous structures are of Nandi Bull , Hanuman and Ravana . 

Best time to visit this place is during Ashokastami Mela . This fair is held in the month of Apri