AGARTALA, Aug 27: Unakoti, known for its centuries old
‘Shaivite rock’ sculptures in the northern part of Tripura, will
soon have a cafeteria, toilets, drinking water and other facilities
for travellers, a senior tourism department official said here.
Unakoti, also called the ‘Angkor Wat of the North-East’ region,
has been shortlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“During a recent meeting, tourism minister Sushanta
Chowdhury requested the ASI to set up a cafetoria at Unakoti
to cater to the needs of the tourists and pilgrims,” director of
Tourism Tapan Kumar Das told PTI.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is the custodian of the
Unakoti rock carvings created in the 8th-9th century on
Raghunandan hills, about 180 km from the state capital
Agartala.
“The ASI also assured us that steps will be taken to open the
cafeteria by September 15. Besides, they will ensure that other
amenities – safe drinking water and toilets – come up there,” he
said.
Presently, only rudimentary facilities exist at the site.
Das said the Tourism department has been working on
infrastructure development centring Unakoti archaeological
site.
The Union Ministry of Culture has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for
the development of the Unakoti site, he said adding that the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also expected to sanction a
loan of Rs 70 crore for setting up tourism-related infrastructure
there.
The Tourism department has initiated a move to build a
modern accommodation facility at Sonamukhi Tea Estate, 7-8
km away from Unakoti archaeological site.
“At least 32 families can be accommodated there. It will have a
swimming pool, a meditation centre and arrangements for
adventure sports,” the tourism director said.
The tourism department is also working on setting up a parking
lot for tourists at the Unakoti site.
The structures of the rock-cut sculptures are gigantic and have
distinct mongoloid features and display almost the same
mystical charm as the spellbinding figures in the Angkor Wat
temple of Cambodia. That is why it is called ‘the Angkor Wat of
North-East’.
In December last year, Unakoti featured in the tentative list of
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. (PTI)
