Deep in the lush green hills of Tripura, where fog hugs the treetops and ancient whispers ride the breeze, lies one of India’s best-kept secrets, Unakoti. A place not merely carved in stone but chiselled into legend.
If you’ve never heard of Unakoti, you’re not alone. Hidden in the northeastern corner of India, away from the grandeur of mainstream tourist circuits, Unakoti is a site that defies belief a majestic hillside forest where giant rock carvings of deities rise out of the wilderness like the guardians of a forgotten civilisation. But the most stunning part? No one knows who made them.
The Myth and the Mystery
“Unakoti” literally means “one less than a crore” (i.e., 99,99,999). According to local legend, this place was once visited by none other than Lord Shiva and a retinue of gods and goddesses on their way to Kashi (Varanasi). As the story goes, Shiva instructed them to wake before dawn. But when morning broke, he was the only one who had risen. Enraged, he turned the rest into stone and left them here, frozen in time.
Whether it’s a parable or a historical memory passed down in myth, the sheer scale of the rock art here will leave you breathless. Towering over the jungle floor, the 30-foot-high carving of Lord Shiva’s face, known as Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava, is both magnificent and haunting. His third eye watches you in silence, a sentinel from another age.
Adventure into the Unknown
Getting to Unakoti isn’t easy, and that’s part of the thrill. Tucked away near Kailashahar in the North Tripura district, the journey takes you through twisting mountain roads, sleepy tribal villages, and thickets of bamboo and jackfruit trees. It’s not just a trip, it’s a time warp.
And then, like a hidden door in a fantasy novel, the forest opens… and you see it.
Massive bas-reliefs, intricate rock-cut sculptures, and free-standing monoliths etched with unimaginable detail rise from the earth, partially swallowed by roots and moss. Elephants, Nandi bulls, Durga on her lion, and mysterious floral motifs, each sculpture tells a story that no one alive can fully interpret. Are they the work of ancient tantric mystics? Shaivite sages? Or a forgotten tribal kingdom?
No one knows. And no written record survives.
Archaeology Meets Adventure
What adds a powerful layer of suspense to Unakoti is the sheer lack of historical clarity. Unlike the famed temples of Khajuraho or Ellora, Unakoti isn’t mentioned in any ancient text. It doesn’t appear on any old trade route. Its origins, sculptors, and purpose remain a blank slate.
Archaeologists believe the site dates back to between the 7th and 9th centuries CE, possibly even older. But why such grand and divine iconography was created in the middle of nowhere, without any city or known settlement around it, is a mystery that continues to baffle researchers.
Even today, new carvings are being discovered under layers of vegetation, as though the mountain still has secrets to whisper to those who seek.
A Living Shrine
Despite its obscurity, Unakoti is far from forgotten by the locals. Every year, during Ashokashtami Mela, thousands of pilgrims gather here to offer prayers and celebrate Shiva in a vibrant display of devotion, music, and tribal culture. It’s a festival that transforms the mountain into a sacred theatre of faith and festivity.
Why You Should Go
If you’re someone who loves Indiana Jones-style travel, where history is raw, the journey is rugged, and mystery hangs in the air like mist, Unakoti is your kind of place.
This isn’t just a sightseeing spot. It’s a spiritual jungle, a mystical riddle, and an archaeological enigma rolled into one. Stand beneath those towering sculptures and feel your heartbeat slow as if even time holds its breath here.
So pack your curiosity, lace up your boots, and set your compass to Tripura. Because in Unakoti, the past is not dead, it’s merely carved in stone, waiting for you to find it.