Gommateshwara statue Monument

Address: Shravanabelagola, Hassan District, Karnataka, India

Website: https://hassan.nic.in/en/places-of-interest/

Hours: Daily sunrise-sunset

Admission: Free (site access); Mahamastakabhisheka festival held every 12 years involves special arrangements

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.

Shravanabelagola is approximately 145 km from Bangalore and about 50 km from Hassan. Regular buses and private taxis run from Hassan and Bangalore. The climb to the statue involves hundreds of steps up Vindhyagiri Hill; wear good footwear and allow time for rest stops.

• Climb the 600-700 steps early in the morning to avoid the heat and to see the statue in softer light; allow at least 90 minutes round trip.
• Visit during the Mahamastakabhisheka (next scheduled cycles vary) if possible - the statue is bathed, anointed, and painted in a ritual that draws tens of thousands.
• Respect Jain customs: the statue is a major pilgrimage site; dress modestly and observe silence in sacred areas.