Gigantic rock sculptures, a mysterious night and their sacred bond with Shiva

Located in Tripura, this place is a bliss for mystery explorers, history buffs and those interested in archaeology. Let’s dig deeper into it.

We all love to travel to scenic places that give us mental peace and rejuvenate us for months. But have you considered visiting a place that has a mystery behind it? Unakoti, an ancient archaeological site and pilgrimage site, is one such place that will give you a whole new experience that you won’t forget for the rest of your life. Located in Tripura, this place is a bliss for mystery explorers, history buffs and those interested in archaeology. Let’s dig deeper into it.

Unakoti

Unakoti, which translates to “One Less than a Crore” in the local language, is known for its abundance of rock-cut sculptures. Believed to be from the 7th-9th century CE, these sculptures are intricately carved into the sandstone cliff of a hill.

The rock sculptures

The place is known for its vast collections of sculptures, estimated in the thousands. While the name suggests there should be exactly 99,99,999 sculptures, the exact number remains unknown. These sculptures depict a range of Hindu gods, mythological figures and celestial beings. At the heart of all the sculptures is a colossal 9 meter high statue of Lord Shiva – known as the Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava.

The artistry

Chiseling massive sculptures on a hill was not an easy task for the artists. Despite being tormented by weather and erosion for centuries, the sculptures retain their intricate detail and distinctiveness, making Unakoti a fascinating destination for art lovers and history buffs.

A belief that statues were built at night

The locals believe that these giant statues were built overnight and there are stories that support this theory. An example of such a story is of an artisan named Kallu Kumhar. Once he saw Lord Shiva and his group on their way to Mount Kailash. Kallu expressed his desire to join them, and Goddess Parvati told him that in order to be part of the entourage, he had to build 10 million statues of Shiva and his group in just one night. The artist managed to build 9,999,999 statues, just one short of the required number.

Unakoti’s Kailash and Kashi connection

Unakoti is a holy place where people who worship Shiva go on pilgrimage. It is highly respected and has deep spiritual significance. Devotees believe that visiting Unakoti can bring them blessings and cleanse them from their sins. Many stories associated with Unakoti mention Shiva’s journey to Mount Kailash or sometimes to Kashi (another sacred place).

The Shiva connection

During one of Lord Shiva’s journeys, he was accompanied by a large group of 99,99,999 gods and goddesses. They decided to rest the night in Unakoti, planning to resume their journey at dawn. However, when dawn broke, none of them woke up in time, not even Shiva himself. This enraged Shiva and in his anger he turned all 99,99,999 creatures into stone.