Unakoti
It is situated at a distance of about 178 Km. from Agartala
and about 8 Km. From Kailashahar, District Head quarter of
North Tripura District. There are numerous excellent rock cut
carvings on steep rocky walls. Unakoti means one less than a
crore and it is said that these many rock cut carvings are
available here. As per Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva was
going to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses he made a night halt at this
location. He asked all the gods and goddesses to wake up before sun rise and proceed for
Kashi. It is said that in the morning, except Shiva himself, no one else could get up so set
out for Kashi himself cursing the others to become stone images as a result we have one
less than a crore stone images and carvings at Unakoti.
These carvings are located at a beautifully landscaped forest area with green vegetation all around which add to the beauty of the carvings.
According to the archaeological report Unakoti is a Shiva pilgrimage and dates back to 8th to 9th century. 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 are found half buried in the ground. There are various other stone as well as rock cut images at Unakoti.
Every year a big fair popularly known as ‘Ashokastami Mela’ is held in the month of April which is visited by thousands of pilgrims.
Debtamura
Debtamura is situated on the bank of river Gomati between Udaipur and Amarpur. It is about 75 Km. away from Agartala and is also known as peak of gods. There are numerous rock cut images on vertical walls on the bank of river Gomati. This is also called Chabimura. There are huge images carved of Shiva, Vishnu, Kartika, Mahisasur Mardini Durga and other gods and goddesses. These images date back to 15th-16th centuries.
Pilak
Pilak is about 100 Km. From Agartala in South Tripura District. A large number of stone images, terracotta plaques dating back to 8th - 9th centuries have been found here during excavation. Beautiful images scattered in an area of about 10 Sq.Km. have been found. The images, terracotta plaques and sealing found here reflect survival of heterodox creeds and sects representing both Hinduism and Buddhism. Colossal stone images of ‘Avalokiteswara’ and ‘Narashima’ have been found here. There are still many images buried under the ground for which excavation is yet to be done.
