Unakoti's rock-cut sculptures stand on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites
Background
The Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, in Tripura's Unakoti district, were submitted to UNESCO's Tentative List on 13 December 2022 under the cultural category.
The site spreads over about 150 acres of forested hills whose vertical rock surface carries the carvings about 8 km from Kailasahar and 185 km from the state capital Agartala.
Its best known carving is the colossal rock-cut Shiva image, about 30 feet high, known as Unakotiswara Kala Bhairav; a seated Ganesha stands 7 m (22 feet) high.
The bas-reliefs are attributed to the 8th-9th centuries CE and also depict Parvati, Ganga, Uma-Maheshwar, Durga and Vishnu.
Three sacred pools fed by a streamlet serve the annual Ashokastami fair.
India has nominated the site under criteria (i) and (iv), citing Saiva worship fused with local tribal artistic traditions.
In plain words
Tentative List UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List — An inventory of sites a country intends to nominate for the World Heritage List in future years.
Bas-relief Low relief sculpture — Carving in which figures project only slightly from a flat background.