Unakoti Festival Ground
A Designated Hub for Pilgrimage: The Unakoti Festival Ground is the large, open, usually grassy area adjacent to the famous Unakoti Heritage Site. It is the dedicated site for hosting the massive fairs (Melas) and cultural programs associated with the ancient pilgrimage spot, most notably the Ashoka stami Mela. Outside of festival times, it serves as an open space for local recreation and a staging ground for site maintenance. During the main festival, it transforms into a temporary city, bustling with vendors, cultural stages, and thousands of pilgrims. It is the logistical heart of the religious events tied to the magnificent rock-cut sculptures.:
General information
-
Ideal Duration:
1 Hour (Outside Festival), 4-6 Hours (During Festival)Place Type:
Cultural, Event Venue, Festival Site:Entry Fees:
General Entry: Free to the festival ground during normal times.
Ashokastami Mela Entry: Free, though specific events or VIP viewing areas may be ticketed.
Parking Fees: Nominal parking fees are usually charg...General Entry: Free to the festival ground during normal times.
Ashokastami Mela Entry: Free, though specific events or VIP viewing areas may be ticketed.
Parking Fees: Nominal parking fees are usually charged during the major festival period due to the high volume of traffic.
Vendor/Stall Fees: Fees apply to vendors setting up stalls, but public entry is generally free. :Timing:
Regular Timings: Open area, usually accessible 24 hours.
Ideal Visit Time: During the Ashokastami Mela in March/April for the full experience. Outside of the Mela, visit during daylight hours. Early Morning is best for photography before t...Regular Timings: Open area, usually accessible 24 hours.
Ideal Visit Time: During the Ashokastami Mela in March/April for the full experience. Outside of the Mela, visit during daylight hours. Early Morning is best for photography before the heat sets in. October to March is the best seasonal period for comfortable travel. :Special Events:
The Ashokastami Mela: The biggest annual event, held in March or April (Chaitra/Baishakh month), when the ground is fully utilized for cultural programs, markets, and the accommodation of thousands of pilgrims.
Maghi Sankranti Celebration: A...The Ashokastami Mela: The biggest annual event, held in March or April (Chaitra/Baishakh month), when the ground is fully utilized for cultural programs, markets, and the accommodation of thousands of pilgrims.
Maghi Sankranti Celebration: A smaller, but significant, event held in December or January at the nearby Sitakunda or Ashtamikunda, with the festival ground often serving as a staging area. :Best Photo Spots:
The Mela Crowd and Energy: Wide-angle and street-style photography to capture the dynamic, colorful energy, and sheer density of the crowd during the main festival.
The Cultural Stage: Capture the vibrant traditional costumes and performance...The Mela Crowd and Energy: Wide-angle and street-style photography to capture the dynamic, colorful energy, and sheer density of the crowd during the main festival.
The Cultural Stage: Capture the vibrant traditional costumes and performances on the temporary stage set up for the cultural programs.
The Gateway Arch: A picture of the decorated entrance arch of the festival ground, often erected only for the Mela, framing the crowd entering the site.
Temporary Art/Decor: Capture the colorful temporary banners, flexes, and scroll art used for illumination and decoration. :Photo Gallery
Things To Do
-
Attend the Ashokastami Mela: The primary activity is experiencing the sights, sounds, and crowds of the annual fair.
Cultural Viewing: Watch the performances of local and regional cultural troupes on the temporary stage during the Mela.
Explore Stalls: Visit the exhibition stalls set up by various government departments and NGOs for information on local crafts and tourism.
Picnicking: During the non-festival period, enjoy a quiet picnic on the grassy ground.
Photography: Capture the vibrant atmosphere, the diverse crowd, and the colorful stalls during the Mela.
Preparation for Pilgrimage: Use the ground as a place to prepare for the short trek up to the main rock-cut carvings at the Unakoti Herit...
Information
-
Why Famous:
Host of Ashokastami Mela: It is overwhelmingly famous as the venue for the great annual Ashokastami Mela, which is a significant regional pilgrimage and cultural event that attracts huge crowds.
Cultural Showcase: It serves as the main stage...Host of Ashokastami Mela: It is overwhelmingly famous as the venue for the great annual Ashokastami Mela, which is a significant regional pilgrimage and cultural event that attracts huge crowds.
Cultural Showcase: It serves as the main stage where cultural troupes from various communities, including the 22 ethnic groups of Tripura, perform, showcasing the state's vibrant diversity.
Gateway to Unakoti: The ground acts as the primary parking and entry point for pilgrims visiting the nearby heritage site, making it the unavoidable first stop for visitors during the main festival.
Economic Hub: During the fair, it becomes a temporary economic hub with countless stalls and exhibitions. : -
Architecture:
Temporary Event Architecture: The "architecture" of the festival ground is its open, flexible, and planned layout for temporary structures.
Staging and Seating: During major festivals like Ashokastami, temporary cultural stages, vendor stall...Temporary Event Architecture: The "architecture" of the festival ground is its open, flexible, and planned layout for temporary structures.
Staging and Seating: During major festivals like Ashokastami, temporary cultural stages, vendor stalls, exhibition booths, and crowd-control barriers are erected. These are typically simple, semi-permanent constructions made of wood, bamboo, and canvas.
Utility Planning: The ground is equipped to handle large crowds, with temporary arrangements for water, sanitation, and electricity.
Festival Layout: The overall layout follows a traditional fair structure, with pathways leading to the main shrine, areas designated for religious bathing (Kunda), and separate zones for commercial activities and cultural performances. : -
How To Reach:
Health & Safety: Be highly vigilant of personal belongings during the crowded Ashokastami Mela. Carry water and stay hydrated. Locate first-aid stations during the festival.
Packing: If visiting for the Mela, expect crowds and be prepared ... -
Near Tourist Places:
Unakoti Heritage Site (adjacent/nearby), Unokotiswara Kal Bhairava (part of Unakoti), Sitakunda or Ashtamikunda (part of Unakoti), Kailashahar City Center (approx. 8 KM), Lakhi Narayan Bari Temple (approx. 13 KM), Chouddo Devotar Temple (approx. 25 KM), Kailashahar Palace Ruins (approx. 12 KM), Hirachara Tea Estate (approx. 20 KM), Kumarghat Railway Station (approx. 20 KM), Manu River Bank (approx. 10 KM)
Tourism Tips
-
...
Reviews
Information about New and Updated Locations(150+) of Tripura Has Been Added :-
Card subtitle
TripuraAgartalaAmarpurAmbassaBeloniaBishalgarhChabimuraChailengtaChampaknagarDevtamuraDharmanagarGandacharraGomatiJiraniaJolaibariKailashaharPilakRudrasagarMore PlacesNote:-
Information provided here in good Faith and for reference only.
All information and pictures will be updated soon, please keep visiting.
Near Places
Boulapassa Wall Art
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Chouddo Devotar Temple
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Deb Place
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Ham Ham Waterfall
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Juri River Bank
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Kailashahar Airport
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Kailashahar Palace
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Khowrabil Lake
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Lakhi Narayan Bari Temple
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Manu River Bank
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewherein Other Cities