Unakoti

A number of legends and myths are associated with the site and people in the region revere it as a holy place. One of the stories being told about the site is that a renowned sculptor Kalukumar saw Lord Shiva in his dream. He was asked by the Lord to carve out one crore images in a single night to make the site as sacred as Varanasi. The sculptor, along with his associates worked all night and were able to almost complete the creation of one crore sculptures. However, when Kalukumar was just short of one sculpture, the idea dawned on him to carve out his own figure to attain immortality but before he could complete his work, day broke out and the massive task of one crore sculptures and figures remained incomplete. Yet another legend is that one crore gods and goddesses and their followers led by Lord Shiva were on their way to Varanasi. They expressed a wish to rest for the night. In the morning none of the deities were able to rise at the break of dawn except Lord Shiva. Others had turned into stone. Hence, the place got its name Unakoti.