Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava
Rock carving · 2 hoursThe central face, around 30 feet high. Steps down through the forest.
Rock-cut site · Tripura
Unakoti means "one less than a crore" — a hillside of colossal rock-cut Shiva images and stone figures carved into a forested slope, thought to date from around the seventh to ninth centuries, and nobody is certain who made them or why. The central Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava face stands roughly thirty feet high with an enormous headdress. What makes the site remarkable is the setting: waterfalls run past the carvings, the forest has grown around them, and on an ordinary day you may have the whole hillside to yourself. It is a long drive from Agartala and it is worth it. The Ashokashtami mela in April draws large crowds; outside that it is almost silent.
What to see
The central face, around 30 feet high. Steps down through the forest.
Several distinct Ganesha figures cut into the rock face.
Runs beside the carvings. Strongest just after the monsoon.
Durations
Unakoti works well as a 1–2 night stay. Tell us your dates and party and we'll price a tailored itinerary.
Good to know
Nobody knows with certainty. The carvings are usually dated to roughly the seventh to ninth centuries, and both the makers and their purpose remain unresolved — which is a large part of the site's atmosphere.
It is around four and a half hours each way, so it makes for a very long day. A night at Kailashahar nearby is the more comfortable option.
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View guide →Plan it properly
We price the real configuration rather than an average — exact adults, children and rooms — and come back within one working day.