Unakoti Rock Carvings
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Unakoti, famously known as Angkor Wat of the North-East, is a sculptural emblem and ancient Shaivite place that hosts rock carvings figures and images of gods and goddesses. It is a place of worship with huge rock reliefs celebrating Shiva. Unakoti literally means "one less one crore" or "koti" in Hindi and Bengali.
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Unakoti, famously known as Angkor Wat of the North-East, is a sculptural emblem and ancient Shaivite place that hosts rock carvings figures and images of gods and goddesses. It is a place of worship with huge rock reliefs celebrating Shiva. Unakoti literally means "one less one crore" or "koti" in Hindi and Bengali.
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Unakoti is Subrai Khung in Kokborok as claimed by Jamatia Hoda, Unakoti hill literally means one less a koti in Bengali, hosts an ancient Shaivite place of worship with huge rock reliefs celebrating Shiva.It is the prime tourist spot of Unakoti District Tripura in the Kailashahar Subdivision in the North-eastern Indian state of Tripura.It is Shiva pilgrimage and dates back to 7th – 9th centuries if not earlier.Subrai Khung is also known as Unokoti. This is one of the wonderful archaeological sites in Tripura. It is more than the 1500-year-old sculpture creation by Tripuri people. There are one less one-tenth million statues, which is why is Unokoti or Unocrore. There are many mythological stories as stated in different ways about the statues formed in this high land of Tripura. One of the most prevalent among Tripuri people is as follows:- The first king who came to build his kingdom in the present location of Tripura was King Jujaru-Fa or also known as Hamtorfa, meaning best man or Purushottam. He was so called as he had all the qualities of humanity, spiritualist, and religious. He first defeated the Lika king ruling over the Rangamati area (now Udaipur), and drove him away and snatched the land ruled by that dynasty. After that, he established his kingdom and capital at present-day Udaipur. Tripuri people were worshippers of Lord Siva, who lives in the abode of Himalaya. Subrai or Siva is the dynastic god of the creator of this universe. So the king wanted to bring him in his present kingdom of Tripura. The Tripura kingdom was earlier located in the Himalaya region of Kumaun, so the Mount Kailash, abode of Siva was just near to the kingdom and Lord would shower all the blessing unto the people of Tripura, but after it was shifted to the present location of Tripura the king noticed that Siva has become far from Tripura kingdom, the blessing would not reach to its subjects. So king Hamtorfa wanted to bring Siva to his kingdom. Then he went to Himalaya, sat in yoga and prayed to Lord Siva, as he is soft-hearted and easily pleased in time Siva appeared before him, and asked, 'My son, Hamatorfa, what do you want? What are you prying for?' Hamtorfa knelt down, bowed his head unto HIS feet and asked him, 'My lord, I have moved my kingdom to far away place, I want to carry you there in my new kingdom, please do come.' At this, the Lord said, 'Whom so ever you would pray he will go but you have to construct their statues there at your new kingdom.' The king said he would like to take there one crore god and goddess along with Siva. Lord Siva said 'Be it be there, your desire will be fulfilled.' After coming back to his kingdom, the king sat in meditation and prayed for years together. Then gradually one by one god appeared before him, by this time the king ordered his artist to construct statues of those gods and goddess. The gods appeared as prayed, this way he directed to construct statues one by one and gradually its number raised to one less ten million statues. When the king prayed to goddess Ganga, she said to the king, 'My son, king Hamtorfa, how I can come to your kingdom, leaving my abode, otherwise the whole of rivers of India would dry up. So I cannot come, but I will come in another name in disguise.' So the goddess Ganga bestowed him with Gomti in Tripura. That is why king Hamtorfa could not construct ten millionth statue of Ganga, so it became to be known as statues of one less ten million or Unokoti.As the Lord Siva is head of all the gods, so also he was in these statues. Siva's statue is the biggest and most prominent of all and that is why is it known as Subrai Khung or abode of Siva by the Tripuri people. As they could not bring Kailash, the abode of Siva herein presents Tripura so they built an abode of Siva or Subrai Khung here.There are numerous statues of known and unknown gods and goddess in this Subrai Khung. As the legends go there are ten million statues scattered all over the hills in Subrai Khung near Kailasahar town. Many of the statues are dilapidated conditions because of once life.
Ultimate TravellersUltimate Travellers
10
Tucked away in the forests of Tripura, Unakoti is basically a pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is believed to be 11-13 centuries old. While, in Tripura, infrastructural developments might be hardly trickling in, it is distinguished for a paradise-like region on the Jampui Hills of North Tripura. Situated around 178 kilometres from Agartala, the heritage site ‘Lost Hill Faces’ of Unakoti, is home to giant bas-relief sculptures carved out of a huge hill. The huge sculptures carry a tribal look and exude almost the same mystical charm as the spell-binding figures in the Angkor Wat Temple of Cambodia. Unakoti, which means “less than a crore in number”, has several discovered and yet-to-be-discovered sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses. Of all, the 30-ft-long carving of Lord Shiva’s head called Unakotishwara Kal Bhairav is the most revered of all. Just as there is always a cause behind every effect in the Universe, there are several interesting legends associated with the presence of the sculptures of Unakoti. Legend has it that once Kalu Kumhar, a devotee of Lord Shiva and his divine spouse Parvati, found the couple making their way to the Mount Meru and expressed his desire to travel with them to their renowned abode. Shiva, however, promised to tag Kalu along only if he could sculpt a crore images of all the holy deities before daybreak. Kalu worked with undaunted spirit but, as fate would have it, he failed to sculpt just a single image. As a result, Shiva and Parvati proceeded onward to their home leaving Kalu behind. There is another version of this story, which makes more sense, given its moral theme. It says that Kalu was assigned the job of carving images of the gods in a dream. But, he ended up making the last sculpture of his own self, thus, falling short of one image owing to his subtle desire for fame. The moral of Kalu’s story is to avoid falling prey to pride or ego. One can reach Kumarghat Railway Station which is approximately 20 kilometres from Unakoti. From the railhead, it takes 30 to 40 minutes to reach the site by car. Tourists can take helicopter services from Agartala and Kailashahar to reach Unakoti with ease. Buses from nearby cities can be boarded to reach Unakoti.
Gautam BanerjeeGautam Banerjee
40
April 2022 Unakoti - One less than a crore; The Lost Hill Faces Closest towns with railhead are Kumarghat and Dharmanagar. There are daily express and passenger trains from Silchar and Agartala. The train travels through valley's and a number of long tunnels. The weather is cold during rains and in winters and really hot during summers. Unakoti, Kumarghat, Dharmanagar and surrounding areas are hilly with lots of pond and lakes and it had rained the previous evening. One of the reason why the place was extremely humid and hot. Unakoti Rock Carvings - The Lost Hill Faces, is equidistant from both Kumarghat and Dharmanagar yet cab charges more, when you reserve one from Dharmanagar. From Kumarghat the charges are INR 1500.00, the up and down journey takes 2 hours. Roads are being developed and the present one is mud road at most of the streches, expect a dusty drive/ride. Being a sacred place for the tribes of Tripura, there's no timing to visit Unakoti, however locals recommend to visit this place during the first half of the day. I started at 7:30 am and was back in the hotel by 11 am. There's a small parking ground near the entrance with a shop selling snacks, bottled water and other aerated drinks. Tourist will have to register at the entry gate of forest department. Wear comfortable clothes and shoe when visiting this place and do carry plenty of water. There are more than 1000+ steps to climb to see the stone carvings and don't expect to see 'one less than a crore ' stone sculptures and carvings. Most of them are scattered on the hill with thick forest with no access. It will take 1-2 hours to explore the place. According to the folklore, shiva and other goods, total 1 crore in numbers were travelling to Kashi. Night fell and they decided to rest at this place. Shiva asked other gods to wake up and start early however no one awake when he was ready to go to Kashi, all were sound asleep, this Shiva angry and he cursed that all of them to turn into rocks. Thus the name, Unakoti - One less for a crore.
Anoop KumarAnoop Kumar
50
Unakoti, nestled in the serene hills of Tripura, India, is a captivating archaeological site that transports you back to ancient times. This mysterious place, often referred to as the "One Less Than a Crore," is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region. As you ascend the hill, you're greeted by a mesmerizing panorama of colossal rock carvings, intricate sculptures, and serene natural beauty. The most striking feature is the gigantic head of Lord Shiva, measuring over 30 feet in height. This awe-inspiring sight, along with countless other carvings depicting various Hindu deities, creates a truly magical atmosphere. The intricate details and the sheer scale of the carvings are simply breathtaking. The craftsmanship of the ancient artists is evident in every stroke, every curve, and every expression. The serene ambiance, coupled with the lush greenery and the gentle murmur of the nearby river, adds to the spiritual significance of the place. While the exact origin of Unakoti remains shrouded in mystery, legends and folklore abound. Some believe that the site was once home to millions of gods and goddesses, who, upon leaving for a pilgrimage, left behind one less than a crore (ten million). Others attribute the carvings to the Pala dynasty, who ruled the region centuries ago. Whether you're a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply a seeker of tranquility, Unakoti offers a unique and unforgettable experience. The journey to this hidden gem is as rewarding as the destination itself. As you explore the ancient ruins, you'll be transported to a bygone era, where art, spirituality, and nature converge in perfect harmony. One of the options is to catch a morning train from Agartala to Kumarghat, then take a bus from the station to Kailashahar and then tuk-tuk to the spot.
Konrad M.Konrad M.
00
Historical place in Tripura nice an awesome view..... The former princely state of Tripura was ruled by Maharajas of Manikya dynasty. It was an independent administrative unit under the Maharaja even during the British rule in India, though this independence was qualified, being subject to the recognition of the British, as the paramount power of each successive ruler. As per Rajmala, the royal chronology of Tripura, a total of 184 kings ruled over the state before it merged with the Indian Union on October 15 1949. Since then the history of Tripura has been interspersed with various political, economical and social developments. On January 26, 1950 Tripura was accorded the status of a ‘C’ category state and on November 1, 1956, it was recognized as a Union Territory. It gained full statehood on January 21, 1972, as per the North-East Reorganisation Act, 1971. Initially a one district state, was trifurcated into three Districts w.e.f. 01.09.1970. The North Tripura District started functioning in the office of the Sub-divisional officer at Kailashahar and partly at Kumarghat, later the whole office was shifted to Kailashahar. The Collectorate was shifted to the newly constructed complex at Gournagar on 13.11.1987. Subsequently, North Tripura District has been bifurcated and a new District namely “Dhalai District” has been inaugurated on 14.04.1995 with district head quarter at Ambassa. On 21.01.2012 the decision to further bifurcate North Tripura District was accepted and the district “UNAKOTI DISTRICT” was created with its headquarter at Kailashahar.
Partha PaulPartha Paul
20
If you visit tripura, I think unakoti rock carvings are a must visit. How to reach? Take a train from Agartala Station and reach dharmanagar ( 4.5 hrs by local and 2.5 by express). Take a cab or any rented car from dharmanagar and unakoti is nearly an hour travel by car. Best things : If you visit in winter, you gonna enjoy it and take marvellous pictures. ( no camera allowed.. Only mobile photography though). Enjoy hiking experience. Put on hiking boots or sneakers... About unakoti.. Well... Firstly if you like eco parks then it's definitely for you.. Its gives off an ambient view of rock carvings that actually has its name listed in world's heritage places. There is a dense forest growth that will give it a wild feeling too. There are many steps that you need to climb as its essentially mountain carvings. There's not much variety but for a decent tour, it's not bad ( if for anything, you will walk a lot and can skip gym for the day😛😜)... These carvings depicts the ancient art of tripura and are essentially Hindu and tribal deities in abstract forms. Points to remember : 1. Dont visit it if u have a bucket list for the day as the travelling time is way more than hours spend there. 2.If you don't like hiking or have breathing problems, don't go. 3. DO NOT VISIT IN SUMMERS ( well go by all means if you wanna be barbecued) Overall: Ambience : 4/5 Reachability : 2.5/5 Entertainment : 3/5 Refreshing : 5/5 (again - only in winters) Go.... Enjoy... Have fun....
Sohini NaskarSohini Naskar
10
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