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Kotishwara Kala Bhairava It was when we reached there, I saw numerous individuals, numerous using the sacred saffron, carrying water from their rivers to do Abishek at Unakoti. It was the Monday of Shravana month. All of a sudden, the meaning of the location changed. It was not a dead archaeological location but a living breathing Tirtha. What is referred to as Kanwar Yatra in North India is followed practically in every part of the country. Young men and even females bring water from far-off places, numerous bring them in pots tied to a rod and pour it on Shiva in the spiritual month of Shravan. Unakoti literally suggests one less a Koti or a Crore, or 10 million. It is among the most beautiful historical sites that is lying huge open in the hills of North Tripura. It is a living Tirtha that comes alive for Ashoka Ashtami throughout Chaitra Navaratri when a fair happens here. This made me believe if it was when a Shakta website as Ashtami, that too during Navaratri, is one of the most advantageous days for Devi worship. And, as I saw during Sharavan Somvars or Monday people visit it in numbers.
Legends of Unakoti
The popular legend goes that as soon as Shiva was on his method to Kashi in addition to Koti or One crore other devatas and his ganas. They made a night halt at this place with a promise to leave early morning. However, in the morning only Shiva got up and everyone else kept sleeping. So, Shiva turned all of them into rocks and he carried on to his favorite city on the banks of Ganga. This is how the sculptures became and they continue to be in the rocky region of Tripura. Since Shiva left and the rest 99,99,999 stayed here, the place happened known as Unakoti. Irony is that there are popular Shiva sculptures and lots of Shivalingas spread across the website, so did Shiva actually leave?
Anuradha Goyal at Unakoti Another legend states when there was a carver who worshipped Parvati and wished to accompany her and Shiva to Kailash and live with them. When Shiva-Parvati was passing by Unakoti hills, he expressed his desire however Shiva was not in a state of mind to take him along. So, he put a condition that if he can create a Koti sculpture in a night, he will permit him to come to Kailash with him. However, in the morning his sculptures fell short by one and the location got its name as Unakoti. 
< img src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20427%20640'%3E%3C/svg%3E" alt="Unakoti Tirtha "width =" 427" height="640"/ >< img src= "https://inditales.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/unakoti-tirtha.jpg"alt ="Unakoti Tirtha"width ="427 "height=" 640"/ > Unakoti Tirtha You can choose the story that appeals more to you. Nobody has counted the sculptures, but it is true that all over you look there are sculptures. Big rocks are sculpted in-situ– as in where they are. Apart from them, there are sculptures in the form of Murtis and lingas. Much of these are still worshipped. On top of the hill, there is a shed like museum where some of the big life-size sculptures are kept. I found Vishnu, Hanuman, Sri Ram and Uma Mahesh here in the forms that tells me that Ramayana was probably shaped together with other puranic stories of Vishnu and Shiva. Visiting Unakoti As soon as you go into the website through a security gate, and stroll towards the primary site, you see a beautiful lavish green valley in front of you. Neat and high staircases assure to take you down and then bring you up. As quickly as you start decreasing, the giant sculptures of Shiva and Parvati glace at you, like the prelude of a musical. You doubt the giant Shiva bas relief, with flowing Jatas as if Ganga is eager to fall totally free, huge earrings and necklace. As soon as you take your eyes off Shiva, you satisfy his consort Uma, similar in size and style. 
Huge Shiva Face at Unakoti From here when you look down you see a waterfall that gathers into a pond at regular intervals. The very first one is at the crossway of stairs originating from either side of hill. This is where there is another big bas relief of Shiva, who is also referred as Kotishwara Kala Bhairava in some cases. Surrounding him are a number of Nandi Murtis in various states of decay. In front of the rock sculpting are various lingas in stone that are still worshipped. Given that it was the Shravan Somvar, great deals of people were worshipping, doing abhishek and telling their dreams in the ears of Nandi. A pandit ji was assisting individuals with formal puja. Boy were swimming in the pond while females in their red and white saris lit incense sticks while stating their prayers. 
Ganesha Sculpture at Unakoti The water flows downstream and about 100 meters down; it goes through an enormous Ganesha sculpture that is surrounded by elephants. The circulation is practically like the genes that
pass from parents to the child. Subrai Khung is another name of Unakoti in regional Kokbrok language, that you check out composed just before the first Shiva sculpture you meet. When you stand next to this board, you see the sharp rocks standing high and you wonder how someone would have shaped at such heights. Some sculptures are visible only when you go around it, which basically means you need to go around the entire website. There are some damaged pieces lying around and one questions if it is a crown or a neckpiece.
Living Temples of Unakoti
Throughout the valley, you need to climb up another hill to reach the top. En route I discovered numerous Shivalingas underneath the trees, a lovely Chaturmukhlinga in a little mandapa. Near it on the rocks I saw Lajja Gauri and another female figure that I might not understand. On top, there is shed with numerous large sculptures.
Lajja Gauri at Unakoti Here I found a platform, with temple like steps resulting in it, where the Murtis and lingas was being worshipped. A narrow anxiety on the rock, that was filled with milk, is believed to be the footprint of Vishnu. On the other side was a small Goria Baba temple where a priest informed me that this is the initial Kailasg where Shiva lived. Certainly, the town close by is called Kailashahar. I would later learn that Goria baba is the Kuldevata of some people in Tripura. 
< img src ="https://inditales.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/chaturmukhlinga-unakoti-tirtha.jpg"alt="Chaturmukhlinga"width="427"height=" 640 "/ > Chaturmukhlinga As you fluctuate the hills, wherever you look there are sculptures. Some you determine, others keep teasing you. You wonder if this was when the biggest outdoor temple. Was this actually something linked to Kashi or the migrants out of India, probably towards South East Asia, planted and brought stories from Indian Itihasa-Purana. 
Vishnu Foot that is still worshipped Historians date these sculptures to a minimum of 7-9th CE but that is just a guess based upon style. It might be much older. An engraving only points out a see in 11-12th CE showing it existed before that. To me, these sculptures inform us the deep historical roots of our Puranik stories. Travel Tips
Puranik Tales Sculpted in Stone at Unakoti is excellent 5-6 hours drive from Agartala. You can remain either at Dharamnagar or Kumarghat and go to Unakoti from there. It has to do with 45 minutes from either location. Budget excellent 3-4 hours for the site. Wear comfy shoes and bring your water.
Food is offered outside the gate.
Regrettably, no guides either as a book or in person are available to offer a guided trip.
You can delight in the well-known Queen Pineapple of Tripura in this region.
Huge Shiva Face at Unakoti From here when you look down you see a waterfall that gathers into a pond at regular intervals. The very first one is at the crossway of stairs originating from either side of hill. This is where there is another big bas relief of Shiva, who is also referred as Kotishwara Kala Bhairava in some cases. Surrounding him are a number of Nandi Murtis in various states of decay. In front of the rock sculpting are various lingas in stone that are still worshipped. Given that it was the Shravan Somvar, great deals of people were worshipping, doing abhishek and telling their dreams in the ears of Nandi. A pandit ji was assisting individuals with formal puja. Boy were swimming in the pond while females in their red and white saris lit incense sticks while stating their prayers. Ganesha Sculpture at Unakoti The water flows downstream and about 100 meters down; it goes through an enormous Ganesha sculpture that is surrounded by elephants. The circulation is practically like the genes that 
Byadmin
Sep 11, 2025