Unakoti, the chiseled ‘Angkor Wat of the Northeast’ region, is vying with both the government and ASI for a UNESCO World Heritage label, and is working to preserve the series of Shaivite rock sculptures in the northern part of the state. Nestled in the Raghunandan hills about 180 km from here, Unakoti is home to gigantic 8-9th century bas-relief sculptures carved out of a huge mound.
“The structures of the rock-cut sculptures are gigantic and have distinct mongoloid features, displaying almost the same mystical charm as the enchanting figures in the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. So call it the Angkor Wat of Northeast,” said Panna Lal Roy, a well-known historical writer of the state, who has studied the sculptures for many years.
Unakoti means one less than a crore (koti in Bengali) and is a rock-cut art that has been neglected for centuries and due to erratic weather conditions, many of the art’s facets are now degraded, he said.
After the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) adopted it as a heritage site, the situation has “somewhat improved, although much work remains to be done, including substantial excavation,” a government official said, adding that the center has approached UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site.
The center recently awarded ₹12 crore to the state for developing the place as a major tourist destination, but as the ASI does not allow any activity in the core area of the archaeological site, the official claimed.
The Tripura government is developing areas near the site to encourage tourists to visit this treasure of the northeast, he said. Two types of images have been found at Unakoti: rock-cut figures and stone images. Among the rock-cut carvings, the central Shiva head and giant Ganesha figures are prominent.
The central Shiva head, known as Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava, is about 9 meters high, including an embroidered headdress which itself is 3 meters high. On each side of the central Shiva’s headdress are two full-sized female figures – one of Durga standing on a lion and another female figure on the other side.
In addition, three huge images of Nandi Bull are found half buried in the ground. There are several other stone and rock-cut images at Unakoti. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva once spent a night here on his way to Kashi. Unakoti or less than a crore gods and goddesses followed him.
According to legend, Lord Shiva had asked his followers to wake up before dawn and go to Kashi. Unfortunately no one woke up in the morning except Lord Shiva himself. “Before leaving alone for Kashi, he cursed the sleeping gods and goddesses to turn to stone and that is how the place got its name,” said Roy.
Thousands of people and tourists throng the site during Ashokastami Mela held in the month of April. Roy said Unakoti became an important Hindu Shaivite pilgrimage site during the reign of the Pala Empire in Bengal, some archaeologists suggest it may have had Buddhist influences as well.
“There is one Shaivite pilgrimage site at Bhuban Pahar in Cachar district of Assam, not far from Unakoti. Chandranath hills of Chittagong also has a Shaivite pilgrimage site,” added Roy.
Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here