Shravanabelagola Travel Guide

Uncovering the Jain Heritage of Shravanabelagola: A Travel Guide

Shravanabelagola is a small town located in the state of Karnataka, India. It is known for its rich Jain heritage and is an important pilgrimage destination for Jains. The town is situated at the base of the Vindhyagiri Hill and is home to the monolithic statue of Gommateshwara, the largest monolithic statue in the world.

One of the main highlights of Shravanabelagola is the Gommateshwara statue, an 18 meter tall statue of the Jain sage Bahubali, carved out of a single granite rock. The statue is considered one of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites and is visited by thousands of devotees every year. Visitors can take a trek to the top of the hill to see the statue up close.

Another popular destination in Shravanabelagola is the Chandragiri Hill, which is home to several Jain temples and shrines. Visitors can also take a trek to the top of the hill to see the temples and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding area.

For those interested in history and culture, Shravanabelagola offers a number of ancient Jain temples and basadis (Jain monasteries) such as the Chavundaraya Basadi, a 10th century temple dedicated to Lord Bahubali and the Parshwanatha Basadi, an 11th century temple dedicated to Lord Parshwanatha.

Overall, visiting Shravanabelagola offers an opportunity to discover the rich Jain heritage and the spiritual ambiance of the town. Visitors can also explore the ancient temples, shrines and also take a trek to the top of the hill to see the Gommateshwara statue and enjoy the panoramic views.

Speak to someone
who's been there

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Shravanabelagola specialists

+91-9873003099

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Best Places To Visit In Shravanabelagola

From historical cities to natural wonders, come see the best of Shravanabelagola.

Vindhyagiri Temple

Shravanabelagola is a tourist-crowded town nestled between the Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri hills. The city is of utmost importance due to the presence of many temples which makes it a place of pilgrimage for many people. The Shravanabelagola temples are situated at the base of two hills and are Jain centric. These temples are locally called 'Basadi' and their architectural style is inspired by different dynasties. The history of Shravanabelagola temples includes many inscriptions and incidents related to the great saints and disciples of Jainism.

Kambadahalli

Kambadahalli is a pilgrimage center located near Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. It is one of the important Jain pilgrimage centers in Karnataka, Kambadahalli is famous for Panchakuta Basadi. Panchkuta is a beautiful monument built in the 10th century by the Western Ganga dynasty in the Dravidian style. The place gets its name from the Brahmadev pillar which is present in the famous Panchkoot Basadi. The unique feature of the Mahavira statue found here is that hitting a coin at different points of the idol makes different sounds. The intricate door designs, carvings of flowers and animals are impressive.

Gommateshwara Statue

Jainism is one of the ancient religions and came into existence during the 7th century BCE in Eastern India. Jains worship 24 historical figures or Tirthankaras, "'Ford-Finders", who maintain the path of crossing the river of sorrow and misery which is the mortal world. Situated on the top of Vindhyagiri hill at an altitude of 1020.16 m in the Temple Town of Shravanabelagola, there is a huge monolithic idol dedicated to the Jain deity Lord Gommateshwara, also known as Bahubali. The 17.37 m high granite statue weighs around 80 tonnes and can be reached through a flight of more than 500 steps. The site offers a panoramic view of the plains as well as the surrounding hills.

Dariya Daulat Bagh

Darya Daulat Bagh, also known as Tipu's Summer Palace, is located in Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali started its construction in 1778 and his son Tipu Sultan completed it in 1784 AD. The palace is surrounded by a large garden on the southern bank of the river. The palace was built in the Indo-Saracenic style of teak wood. Pillars, walls, chhatris, arches and corridors are adorned with many murals. They depict battle scenes by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Nizam of Hyderabad, British and French soldiers. The eastern wall has paintings representing scenes from the courts of various contemporaries of Tipu Sultan including the Hindu queen of Chittor, the king of Tanjore, the king of Benares, the Peshwa, etc.

Chandragiri Hill Temple

Bhadrabahu Cave

Bhadrabahu is one of the most revered saints for the Jains. This was the place where he spent the last days of his life and coincidentally the same place where Chandragupta had come to meditate after taking initiation into the Jain family. With rich history and serene atmosphere in Basadis, it is an ideal place for Jain Darshan. The holy place has stood the test of time and still has the footprints of Chandragupta when he was undergoing his stay at this place.

Akkana Basadi Temple

The Akkana Basadi in the town, the Shantesvara Temple at Jinanathapura built in the 12th-13th centuries are fine specimens of Hoysala sculpture and architecture. These are made of soap stone. They have similar nature. The sanctum sanctorum, suknasi and sabha mandap. The intricately carved Yakshas Dharanendra and Yakshi Padmavati are seen in the Akkana Basadi. The main deity of Akkana Basadi is Parshvanatha (5 feet). The Shantinath Temple of Jianathapura resembles the temples of Belur and Halebid. The Akkana Basadi was built by Achiakka in 1121 AD.