Destination Features

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. In Kannada language, "Bel" means white and "kola", the pond, an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. It reached a high point in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad.

There are two hills Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) and Vindyagiri. The last shruta-kevali Bhadrabah and his pupil Chandragupta (formerly the Maurya king) had meditated there.

The Vindhyagiri hill is home to a thousand year-old gigantic 17.38 meter high monolithic stone statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali, considered to be the world's largest, built by Chamundaraya, a general of king Gangaraya. The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada, Tamil and the oldest evidence of written Marathi from 981 AD . The Marathi inscription on the base of this thousand-year old statue is a tribute to King Gangaraya from his general Chamundaraya who had funded the construction of the statue.The inscription concerns the king Gangaraya who funded the effort, and his general Chamundaraya, who erected the statue for the king. Every 12 years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony where the thousand-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018 A.D.

It is said in Jain literature that Bahubali had a brother who wanted to take all the kingdom.Bahubali was a simple man.His brother provoked him to have comptetion with him.They both had all types of fight and all types of competetion.In all the games,Bahubali won.After this,Bahubali realised that there is nothing in the World.Even his brother can fight with him for kingdom.Thinking this he left everything and went into jungles for Meditation.

After some time he attained Nirvana and became God.He got free from Janam-Maran cycle.

After every 12 years,Mahamastakahishek ir organized.Lakhs of people from all the world come to attend it.A huge staffolding is built,so that people can reach the top of this large statue.Karnataka Govt exepends a lot on this occasion and the govt gets a lot of revenue also from this event.Last,it was held in Feb 2006