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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox Hindu temple<br />
|image = Unakoti 3.jpg<br />
|caption = The rock wall<br />
|alt = <br />
|map_type = India Tripura#India<br />
|map_caption = Location in Tripura<br />
|coordinates = {{coord|24|19|N|92|4|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}<br />
|country = [[India]]<br />
|state = [[Tripura]]<br />
|district = [[Unakoti district|Unakoti]]<br />
|location = [[Kailasahar]]<br />
|year_completed = 600–700 CE<br />
}}<br />
<br />
Unakoti is a hill from which the name of [[Unakoti district|Unakoti District]] is derived. The Kokborok name of '''Unakoti''' is '''Subrai Khung''' as claimed by [[Jamatia Hoda]]; '''Unakoti''' hill literally means ''one less a [[crore|koti]]'' in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], hosts an ancient [[Shaiva|Shaivite]] place of worship with huge [[rock relief]]s celebrating [[Shiva]]. It is the prime tourist spot of [[Unakoti district|Unakoti District, Tripura]] in the [[Kailashahar]] Subdivision in the [[North East India|North-eastern]] [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Tripura]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2001/fjul2001/f180720012.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010821005450/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2001/fjul2001/f180720012.html|archive-date = 21 August 2001|title = Untitled Page}}</ref> It is Shiva pilgrimage and dates back to unknown era<br />
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[[File:UNAKOTI- AN OPEN AIR ART GALLERY IN TRIPURA!.jpg|thumb]]<br />
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==Iconography==<br />
[[File:Unakoti image.jpg|thumb|366x366px|Ganesha Sculpture]]<br />
<gallery widths="180" heights="180" class="center"><br />
Unakoti 1.jpg|Shiva with the waters of Ganga flowing from his locks.<br />
Unakoti 5.jpg|Close up of the sculpture of Shiva.<br />
Unakoti (Scorpian ad).JPG|Image of [[Durga]].<br />
Ganesha, Unakoti ( ঊনকোটি).JPG| Image of Gigantic [[Ganesha]]<br />
Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava,Unakoti ( ঊনকোটি).JPG| Image of KalBhairava<br />
Unakoti 6.jpg|A wall of stone with reliefs.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
The images found at Unakoti are of two types: namely rock-carved figures and stone images. Among the rock-cut carvings, the central Shiva head and gigantic [[Ganesha]] figures deserve special mention. The central Shiva head known as '''Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava''' is about 30 feet high including an embroidered head-dress which itself is 10 feet high. On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva, there are two full-size female figures - one of [[Durga]] standing on a lion and another female figure on the other side. In addition, three enormous images of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi Bull]] are found half-buried in the ground. There are various other stone as well as rock-cut images at Unakoti.<br />
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== Legend ==<br />
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva once spent a night here en route to Kashi. 99,99,999 gods and goddesses followed him. He had asked his followers to wake up before sunrise and make their way towards Kashi. Unfortunately, none awoke, except Lord Shiva himself. Before he set out for Kashi alone, he put a curse on the others, turning them to stone and that is how the site got its name.<ref>https://edtimes.in/mystery-tripura-unakoti-rock-carvings/</ref> However, there are not that many sculptures found now. The place is peaceful & surrounded by lush greenery.<br />
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==Festival==<br />
Every year a big fair popularly known as '''Ashokastami Mela''' is held in the month of April. The festival is visited by thousands of pilgrims. Another smaller festival takes place in January.<br />
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==Location==<br />
Unakoti lies 178&nbsp;km to the northeast from [[Agartala]] which has the closest airport, 8&nbsp;km to the east from [[Kailashahar]], district headquarters of [[Unakoti district]], 148&nbsp;km to the south-east from [[Silchar]]. The nearest railway station is 19.6&nbsp; km away at [[Dharmanagar railway station]] on the [[Lumding–Sabroom section]]. From Dharmanagar railway station it takes about 30–40 minutes by car. Travelling from capital town Agartala has become much easier nowadays. The morning train from Agartala reaches Dharmanagar before 10 am. The afternoon train from Dharmanagar reaches Agartala by 8 PM.<br />
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==Preservation==<br />
The site has suffered centuries of neglect causing degradation and loss of considerable scale to the rock art. Since its adoption by the [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] (Archaeological Survey of India) as a heritage site, the situation has slightly improved, though a lot of work including substantial excavation remains to be undertaken. The government of India has approached to UNESCO to declare it as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripurainfoway.com/column-details/21/unakoti-will-unesco-take-it-up-as-a-heritage-site.html|title=TRIPURAINFOWAY: Tripura's Latest News, Views & IT Portal|website=www.tripurainfoway.com}}</ref> The Centre has recently granted Rs 12 [[crore]] to the state for developing the area, 178&nbsp; km from here, as a major tourist destination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/a-magic-number/|title=A Magic Number: Into the lost hill of Unakoti, Tripura|date=27 March 2016}}</ref><br />
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==See also ==<br />
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* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites]]<br />
* [[National Geological Monuments of India]]<br />
* [[List of Hindu temples]]<br />
* [[Tourism in India]]<br />
* [[Yatra]]<br />
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==References==<br />
[http://www.gkdutta.com/unakoti-a-historical-place-in-tripura/ UNAKOTI: A HISTORICAL PLACE IN TRIPURA!]<br />
[http://www.gkdutta.com/unakoti-tripura/ THE MYSTERIOUS UNAKOTI: AN OPEN AIR ART GALLERY IN TRIPURA!]<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Worship in Hinduism}}<br />
{{Hindudharma}}<br />
{{Tripura}}<br />
{{Tourism in India}}<br />
{{Geography of India}}<br />
{{Geography of India by state or territory}}<br />
{{Monuments in India}}<br />
{{World Heritage Sites in India}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Unakoti district]]<br />
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Tripura]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tripura]]<br />
[[Category:Tourism in Northeast India]]<br />
[[Category:Rock art in India]]<br />
[[Category:Rock reliefs in India]]<br />
[[Category:Shiva in art]]</div>->WikiCleanerBot