Shravanabelagola Gommateshwara

Shravanabelagola is located 51 km south east of Hassan in Karnataka at an Altitude of about 3350 feet above sea level.

Shravanabelagola is an important Jain pilgrimage center situated on top of the Indragiri hills. The hill has 14 basadis or temples and many Jain monasteries. The most famous basadi is the Chavundaraya basadi that was built in 982 AD. The beautifully carved pillar called the Tyagada Brahma Pillar is also found here. The floral designs on this pillar are exceptional.The most important tourist attraction here is the enormous statue of Bahubali or Gommateshwara. He was a King who renounced his kingdom and spent the rest of his life meditating till he attained Nirvana.

The naked statue of Gommateshwara is 58 feet high and 26 feet wide and has 10 feet long feet. The statue was carved out of the black granite of the hill and is a picture of serenity and composure. Thousands of devotees gather here once in 12 years to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka or sacred anointment, which is a grand and extravagant ceremony. Hundreds of pots of curd, milk, honey vermilion, coconut water, turmeric paste and even gold and precious jewels are poured over the statue's head by the priests