AGARTALA, November 20 (TIWN): The historical tourist spot which is popularly known as Unakoti, is rapidly losing its glory due to the apathy and negligence of government towards its maintenance and preservation.

According to sources, few days back a sculpture from a hill of Unakoti broke and fallen down to the pathway. The condition of the stairs of Unakoti is in very poor condition as  a result several times tourists slipped from the stairs. Most of the stairways are so slippery that people had to sit and stepdown carefully to avoid fatal accidents.

An office of Archeological Survey Of India (ASI) is present at Unakoti but they are not even trying to protect it national heritage and instead of that there is busy in other businesses, said sources.

Unakoti is a national heritage and protected monuments.

The Archaeology Department had posted a sign on the wall of Unakoti in English, Bengali and Hindi, which read: "This is a protected monument. Any person who damages or defaces this monument is liable to be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine or with both", the source added.

Due to the apathy and the negligence of the departments concerned, Unakoti has become a skeleton structure.

Several times the people of Unakoti approached to the tourism authority and demanded the proper maintenance to save the world famous heritage.

"It is very important because our future generation will not be able to see the Unakoti as we see now. Because the manner the government is functioning at present to preserve it, is not correct and I don't think the government is moving along a fast track in this direction," said a resident, of Unakoti.

Situated at a distance of about 177 km from Agartala and about five miles from Kailasahar, sub-divisional headquarter of the state, this holy shrine in the hilly part nestles in the lap of picturesque hills with an unending scene of green vegetation around it. In its rocky walls are found numerous rock-cut images scattered on either side of the hill track. "Among the rock-cut figures, the Central Siva head and the gigantic Ganesa figures deserve special mention. The Central Siva head, known as Unakotisvara Kal Bhairava is about 30 feet high, including the embroidered head dress, which is 10 feet in height. Three enormous images of a bull are found half-buried in the ground. On each side of the head-dress of the Central Siva, there were two full-sized female figures. The figure of Durga standing on a lion and another female figure are found carved on the rocky wall above. Two other gigantic heads of Siva and Durga attract notice if one stands on the terminus of the new road leading to Unakoti. Among the images, particular mention of two Chaturmukha and one Trimukha lingas, the former found on the bank of the stream and the latter at some height on the hill, may be made for their fine execution. At the top of hill images of Vishnu, Panchamukha, Ravana, Hara-Gouri, Narasingha, seated Ganesa, Hanumana etc. are found.

Archaeologists maintain that these images may be dated sometime not earlier than the llth-l2th centuries. Many more images are, however, yet to be identified. A big mela (fair)-popularly known as "Ashokastami Mela" is held every year at Unakoti sometime in spring. Thousands of pilgrims gather to offer Puja at this tirtha which is considered one of the most sacred pilgrim centres in Eastern India.