Gommateshwara statue

The Gommateshwara statue is a 17.4 metre (57 foot) monolithic statue of the Jain tirthankara Bahubali located on Vindhyagiri hill at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. It dates to the late 10th century and was commissioned by the Ganga-period minister and general Chavundaraya.

The site comprises the towering standing figure set above the town, a steep climb of several hundred steps to the hilltop, and panoramic views from the summit. Nearby Chandragiri hill contains multiple Jain temples and carved inscriptions, completing the two-hill pilgrimage complex.

Carved in the late 10th century, the statue has served as a focus of Jain devotion and pilgrimage for over a millennium. The monument and surrounding temples have been maintained and visited continuously since their creation, with periodic ritual cleansings and ceremonies.

The statue stands on Vindhyagiri hill above the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, southern India. The site is accessible by foot from the town and is a major Jain pilgrimage destination within Hassan district.

• Statue height: The statue is carved from a single block of granite and stands 17.4 metres tall, making it one of the largest free-standing monolithic statues in the world.
• Pilgrimage festival: The site hosts the Mahamastakabhisheka, a major Jain head-anointing ceremony held roughly every 12 years that draws pilgrims from across India.

What to See #

• Vindhyagiri (statue site): A 17.4 metre (57 foot) monolithic statue of the Jain figure Bahubali standing atop Vindhyagiri hill, approached by a steep ascent from the town below.
• Chandragiri (temple hill): A neighbouring hill that contains numerous Jain temples, shrines and stone inscriptions that form part of the overall pilgrimage complex at Shravanabelagola.