Were these giant rock sculptures in India built overnight?

We all love a good mystery every now and then. But you know it’s a good one when it is travel-related. Meaning, it’s possible to travel to that place to see what the mystery is all about. Here we have Unakoti, an ancient archaeological site and pilgrimage destination located in the state of Tripura. As per local belief, this gigantic archaeological site was built overnight! Let’s look deeper.

The name Unakoti translates to One Less than a Crore in the local language. It refers to the multitude of rock-cut sculptures found at the site. The sculptures are estimated to date back to the 7th-9th centuries CE and are carved into the sandstone rock face of a hill.

Unakoti is known for its vast collection of sculptures, which are believed to number in the thousands. As per the name, there should be exactly 99,99,999 sculptures. But who’s counting! The sculptures depict various Hindu deities, mythological figures, and celestial beings. The central figure is a massive 30-foot-high sculpture of Lord Shiva known as the Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava.

Chiselling such gigantic sculptures on the face of a hill must have been quite a task. Unakoti is some exquisite rock-cut artistry and craftsmanship. The sculptures, despite the effects of weathering and erosion over the centuries, retain their intricate details and distinctiveness, making Unakoti a fascinating destination for art enthusiasts and history buffs.

There’s a local belief that says these statues were built overnight. Interestingly, there are stories to support the theory. One such story revolves around an artisan named Kallu Kumhar. When he saw Shiva and his entourage on their way to Mount Kailash, he asked to be included. To that, Parvati told him that in order to appease Shiva and to join the entourage, he would have to build 1 crore statues of Shiva and his entourage in one night. Kallu Kumhar was able to build 99,99,999 statues.

Unakoti is a revered pilgrimage site for devotees of Shiva. It holds great religious and spiritual importance, with devotees believing that a visit to Unakoti can bring blessings and wash away sins. A lot of these stories also talk about Shiva on his way to Mount Kailash (some stories mention Kashi).

On one of his trips, he was accompanied by an entourage of 99,99,999 gods and goddesses. This was the site where they chose to halt for the night. They were supposed to awaken before dawn to continue their journey but dawn came and none of them woke up on time. Shiva included. In his fit of rage, Shiva turned all 99,99,999 into stone.