Shravanabelagola

SHRAVANABELAGOLA – KARNATAKA TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Shravanabelagola is a historic town in Hassan District in the state of Karnataka. The town is an important Jain pilgrim center.

History

Shravanabelagola got its name from the words ‘Bel’ and ‘Kola.’ In Kannada language, Bel means white, and Kola means pond, hence it is an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. Shravanabelagola reached its architectural and sculptural pinnacle under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad.

Fairs & Festivals

Mahamastakabhisheka: This ceremony of the 17.38m high statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwar) at the Indragiri Hills is celebrated grandly after every 12 years. On this occasion, the statue is smeared with thousands of pots of coconut oil, yoghurt, ghee, bananas, jaggery, dates, almonds, poppy seeds, milk, saffron and sandalwood.

How to Reach :

1.By Road :

Shravanabelagola is well-connected by a network of roads to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. Buses from Hassan are frequent.

2.By Train :

Shravanabelagola is connected by rail to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.

3.By Air :

The nearest airport is at Bangalore.

Best Time to Visit :

For a Tour to Shravanabelagola, the best time to visit is between the months of October and March.

Places to Visit :

Make your Tour to Shravanabelagola memorable by visiting these famous tourist places near Shravanabelagola :

Chandragiri

You can see the Chandragupta Basadi of the Gangas and the Parashwanatha Basadi here, besides several Jain temples. There is also a famous temple built by Chamundaraya.

Indragiri

Indragiri has the Gommata monolith, the statue of Bahubali, said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world. This statue, the exquisitely engraved Tyagada Brahma Pillar, along with Siddhara Basadi, Odegal Basadi, Chennanna Basadi and Chauvvisa Tirthankara Basadi was installed by a Ganga general and scholar Chamundaraya.

Jinanathapura

Located north of Shravanabelagola, this place has the Aregal Basadi and the Shantinatha Basadi of Hoysala times.

Inscriptions

More than about 800 inscriptions related to Shravanabelagola are found here, belonging to the period before 10th century. Some of them are recording death by starving (sallekhana) by Jain ascetics and laymen.

Bhattaraka Math

This Math belongs to the Desiya Gana lineage of Mula Sangha of Digambar monastic tradition.

Places around Shravanabelagola

Explore the land of Shravanabelagola, visiting the places around it, while on a Tour to Shravanabelagola :

Halebid

Halebid is also referred as the Gem of Indian Architecture. Once the capital of the Hoysala Empire after Belur, Halebid is famous for the remnants of the glorious Hoyasala period and has one of the finest Hoysala temples.

Belur:

This eminent temple town is especially renowned for the grand Hoysala Temple Complex. Another attraction of the place is the Hoysala Mahotsava, the magnanimous dance festival held at the Hoysala temples.