Context

Three sites have just been added to the provisional list of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites: Gujarat's Vadnagar town and the famed Sun Temple at Modhera, as well as the Rock-cut Sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura.

What are the Most Important Facts About the Three Locations?

Vadnagar:-

• It is a city having significant historical origins in Gujarat's Mehsana district.
• Vadnagar, also known as Chamatkarpur, Anandpur, Snehpur, and Vimalpur, was referenced in the Puranas.
• Vadnagar is famed for its torans, a pair of 40-foot-tall Solanki-era columns erected in red and yellow sandstone to commemorate a battle victory in the 12th century.
• Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese Buddhist explorer, visited the city around 640 AD and is supposed to have described it in his travelogue.
• In Vadnagar, remnants of a Buddhist monastery were discovered during excavations in 2008-09.
• Tanariri Performing Arts College is located in Vadnagar and was named after the bravery of two sisters, Tana and Riri, who risked their lives when Akbar requested them to perform in his court, which was against their custom.

The Modhera Sun Temple:

• The Modhera Sun Temple is situated on the left bank of the river Pushpavati, a tributary of the Rupan, in the Becharaji taluka of Mehsana district.
• This temple faces east and is made of brilliant yellow sandstone.
• According to the temple description, it is built in the Maru-Gujarat architectural style. It includes the main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outlying hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa), and a sacred pool (Surya Kunda), which is today known as Ramakunda.
• Ramakunda is India's most magnificent temple tank, a sizeable rectangular stepping tank.
• Every year, the sun beams directly into the temple's central shrine at the equinoxes.

Unakoti Rock-cut Sculptures:

• It is a Shaivite pilgrimage that dates back to the seventh or ninth centuries, if not earlier.
• Unakoti means "one less than a crore," and it is stated that several rock-cut sculptures may be seen here.
• According to Hindu mythology, while Lord Shiva was travelling to Kashi with one crore of gods and goddesses, he stopped for the night at this spot.
• He summoned all the gods and goddesses to rise before the sun and travel to Kashi.
• It is stated that no one else could wake up in the morning to save Shiva. Therefore Lord Shiva set off for Kashi solo, condemning the others to become stone figures.
• As a result, Unakoti now has less than crore stone pictures and engravings.
• Unakoti's pictures are divided into rock-carved figures and stone images.
• The centre Shiva head and massive Ganesha sculptures stand out among the rock-cut embellishments.
• Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava is the name given to the centre Shiva head.
• On each side of the centre of Shiva's headdress are two full-size female figurines, one of Durga standing on a lion and another on the opposite side.
• In addition, three massive representations of Nandi Bull have been discovered partially buried in the earth.
• Every year in April, a large fair known as the 'Ashokastami Mela' is conducted, which attracts thousands of pilgrims.