Shravanabelagola
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A major Jain pilgrimage town with the monolithic statue of Gommateshwara (Bahubali) standing on Vindhyagiri hill.
Pilgrimage siteHassan districtBest time to visit: October to March
Highlights
- Monolithic statue of Gommateshwara on Vindhyagiri
- Chandragiri hill with old basadis and inscriptions
- Mahamastakabhisheka, the head-anointing ceremony held about once in twelve years
Significance
The statue was commissioned in the late 10th century by Chavundaraya, a minister of the Western Ganga dynasty. It is one of the largest free-standing monolithic statues in the world and a symbol of renunciation in Jainism.