Rising from the dense forests of Tripura in Northeast India, Unakoti stands as one of the most astonishing archaeological landscapes of early medieval South Asia, with its most iconic figure being the vast 8th–9th century CE rock-cut head of a deity carved directly into the mountainside.

The discovery of Unakoti by the academic world began in the late 19th century when British surveyors, while mapping the forested frontier, stumbled upon unusual carvings embedded in the cliff.

Crafted from natural sandstone, the monument was shaped using iron chisels, pointed hammers, and broad-faced striking tools—techniques consistent with early medieval Indian stonework.

As for interpretation, the central figure is widely accepted as a representation of Shiva in his fierce form, Kal Bhairava, a guardian deity ᴀssociated with thresholds, wilderness, and cosmic destruction.

Today, conservation teams from ASI and INTACH face growing challenges in preserving this monumental sculpture from erosion, moss growth, and unregulated tourism, yet the expressive power of the carving remains intact.