UDAIPUR, Jan 12 (TIWN): Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik on Tuesday inaugurated the two-day long Chabimura Festival at Radurkhamar barely 7km away from Amarpur.

Chabimura, barely a 7 km drive from Amarpur town has enormous murals on the bank of river Gomati, the longest river in the state.

The festival will continue for two days. It has been organized with the joint initiatives of the Tripura Tourism Department, Information and Cultural Affair of Tripura and Administration of Amarpur Sub-Division.

Chabimura which is also known as Devatamura is famous for its rock carvings panels done on a steep mountain wall facing River Gomati. Gomati River, which is Tripura’s main river that flows to neighbouring Bangladesh and merges with Meghna.

There are huge carved images of Shiva, Vishnu, Kartika, MahisasurMardiniDurga and other gods and goddesses here. These images date back to 14th and 15th centuries.

The site includes colossal carvings of the images of Shiva and Parvati. The purpose of the curving in the rocks and the person who has curved it is yet unknown.

The statues are carved on the steep sloping rock exposures of the Kalajhari Hills which drains into the Gomati River. There are in all 37 rocks cut images which also include images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, Mahishasuramardini, Durga and many others.

Keeping in mind of its unique beauty, the forest department unfolded an ambitious plan to make it an ideal eco tourism destination.

However, during the programme, Sabadhipati of Gomati District Suniti Saha, District Magistrate of Gomati Sonal Goyel, Chairman of Amarpur Panchayat Samiti Rajiv Das and others were also present.