Kailashahar, situated 180 kms from Agartala is a small town in the Unakoti district of Tripura, located along the barbed wire fenced border between Indian and Bangladesh. The district derives its name from a hill. In Bengali, Unakoti means one less than a crore and as per lore, in the hills of this part of Tripura are present stone reliefs which are the petrified forms of the Gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Legend informs that once Lord Shiva was traveling back to his hometown Kashi with all the other Gods. They decided to rest for the night at the place now called Unakoti. Shiva wanted to get home at the earliest and decreed that at first light everyone should be ready to continue the journey. However, at dawn, none of the Gods had even woken up. Miffed at the Gods impertinence, Shiva cursed them all to forever rest as they were - but in stone. With his entourage petrified, literally, Mahadev left for Kashi.

Another legend explains that at that place Shiva and his consort Parvati came across a sculptor who was an ardent devotee of Parvati. Some believe his name was Kallu and Kallu put forward his request to accompany Parvati to serve her. One rendition of the tale suggests that Shiva’s ego was hurt that the sculptor was more devoted to his wife than himself and when Parvati petitioned for him, he set a condition that if Kallu would carve out a crore portraits of Shiva within one night, he would be allowed to come. Unfortunately, Kallu missed the task by one and the deities left without him. 

Admirers of Kallu maintain that he was almost successful and fearing that Kallu might actually meet the terms of the agreement and would come along as Parvati’s attendant, Shiva coerced the Sun God to rise a little early, ensuring that Kallu would fail in his task.

Historians reckon that the place was perhaps built by the Pala rulers in the 8-9th century and may also have been a Buddhist pilgrimage centre. While concrete evidence as the science of History demands are yet to surface to provide an answer to those restricted solely by logic, Unakoti remains an important pilgrimage centre for those in the know. 

Besides the central area accessible by stairs all around, locals say that there are figures and reliefs spread across hills and in the ravines for those adventurous enough to dare and walk around.