Marvels of ancient artistry

As you wander through the meandering paths leading to Unakoti's rock-cut treasures, prepare to be filled with awe and wonder at every step. The site is adorned with towering stone figures, each intricately carved with symbolic representations and details, standing as silent guardians of this ancient place. 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’, stands at an impressive 30 feet high, including an intricately embroidered head-dress that itself reaches a height of 10 feet.

Flanking the central Shiva head-dress are two full-size female figures – one of Durga standing on a lion and another elegant female figure on the other side. According to legend, when Lord Shiva was travelling to Kashi with one crore of gods and goddesses, he made a night halt at this location. He asked all the gods and goddesses to wake up before sunrise and proceed to Kashi. However, in the morning, except for Shiva himself, no one else could get up, so Lord Shiva set out for Kashi himself, cursing the others to become stone images. As a result, there are said to be one less than a crore stone images and carvings at Unakoti.