Shravanabelagola

Date: 14-June-15

This was my second visit to Shravanabelagola in four years and Thilak’s first. According to AccuWeather, the town would remain cloudy throughout the day, a forecast that made all three of us very happy.

Thilak, Rajath, and I were ready for the trip by 6:30 AM on a beautiful Sunday morning, eager to spend the day exploring one of Karnataka’s most important Jain pilgrimage centers.

Taking the road less travelled

As always, Thilak preferred taking an unconventional route rather than the regular Hassan Highway. Although it added a few extra kilometres to the journey, he chose the route through Magadi, Kunigal, and Nagamangala.

Over the years, some of our best travel memories have come from taking less-travelled roads, and this trip was no exception. The road up to Magadi was in good condition, but by the time we reached there, all of us were hungry and desperately looking for breakfast. Surprisingly, we could not find a suitable restaurant in town. A quick search on Google Maps showed a Ka’mat restaurant about 15 km away, though it was slightly off our planned route.

Since the restaurant was close to the Hassan Highway, Thilak was concerned that we might end up paying toll fees for a very short stretch. Nevertheless, we decided to give it a try. The last 5 km to the restaurant turned out to be the most adventurous drive our Nano had experienced until then. Recent rains had transformed the road into a muddy track filled with waterlogged potholes. Thilak drove carefully through the challenging stretch, ensuring that the car did not skid. After nearly twenty minutes, we finally reached the restaurant, only to discover that it was not the Ka’mat restaurant we had expected, but Café Ka’mat instead.

Although slightly disappointed, we had little choice after navigating such a difficult road. We quickly finished our breakfast and resumed our journey towards Shravanabelagola. We travelled around 25 km on the Hassan Highway and, fortunately, did not encounter any toll booths along the way.

Through green villages and coconut groves

Using Google Maps, we located the turn towards Nagamangala that leads to Shravanabelagola. Although parts of the road were narrow and not particularly well maintained, the drive was incredibly scenic. The recent rains had transformed the countryside into a lush green landscape. Coconut plantations stretched endlessly on either side of the road, and the villages we passed through appeared clean, peaceful, and well maintained.

At around 11:00 AM, we finally reached Shravanabelagola. The moment we entered the town, we spotted the towering Gomateshwara statue standing majestically atop Vindhyagiri Hill. Seeing the world’s largest monolithic statue from a distance instantly filled us with excitement. Adding to the experience was the beautiful cloudy weather that had stayed with us throughout the journey.

Climbing towards Gomateshwara

Since the parking area was full, we parked our car a little away from the entrance. However, a parking attendant quickly approached us and requested parking fees. Even after explaining that we had not parked inside the designated parking area, we were asked to pay ₹30 towards parking and entry charges.

As soon as we entered the complex, the long flight of steps leading to the top came into view. The climb looked intimidating at first. Fortunately, the pleasant weather made it far less daunting. Visitors must climb the hill barefoot, so we deposited our shoes with the shoe keeper for ₹3 per pair. Several vendors were selling socks for the climb, but given the cool weather, we did not feel the need to buy them.

There are approximately 600 steps to reach the summit. By taking regular breaks, we found the climb quite manageable. As we ascended, the panoramic views of the town became increasingly beautiful. The Kalyani near the entrance added charm to the landscape, while Chandragiri Hill, standing opposite Vindhyagiri, looked particularly striking under the cloudy skies.

Standing before a thousand-year-old marvel

After climbing around 600 steps, we reached a small Jain shrine called Vadegal Basadi. Nearby stood the historic Thyagada Kamba and several ancient inscriptions carved into the rocks. Had these inscriptions not been protected by toughened glass panels, we might have easily overlooked them.

The views from this point were breathtaking. After climbing another 25–30 steps, we finally reached the main temple complex. The sight of Gomateshwara as we entered was truly mesmerizing.

Standing 57 feet tall, the statue is considered the world’s largest monolithic stone statue. Also known as Bahubali, it was commissioned by Chavundaraya around 983 AD and remains one of the most important monuments in Jain history. Many Jain devotees were offering prayers during our visit. Despite the steady stream of visitors, the atmosphere remained remarkably peaceful and serene. Inside the temple complex, we also saw statues representing the twenty-four Tirthankaras of Jainism.

Views, history, and descent

We spent some time exploring the temple complex and admiring the surroundings. Just outside the main temple stands the Gullekayi Ajji Mantapa, another important landmark associated with the hill. The sweeping views of the town from the summit were an absolute treat.

After taking photographs and spending time enjoying the scenery, we began our descent at around 1:00 PM. On the way down, we stopped to visit Vadegal Basadi in more detail.

By the time we reached the foothill, it was around 1:30 PM, and we were hungry. Near the entrance, a local resident suggested that we have lunch at his home. Without much hesitation, we accepted the offer. Along the way, we noticed several houses providing home-cooked meals for visitors. The food was simple, delicious, and reasonably priced at just ₹60.

A second climb to Chandragiri hill

After lunch, we explored the town for a short while. We visited a temple located in the centre of the town, but unfortunately, it was closing when we arrived, so we could not explore it properly. We then took a leisurely walk through the area before reaching the entrance of Chandragiri Hill.

Without taking much rest, we decided to begin our second climb of the day. Also known as Chikka Betta (Small Hill), Chandragiri requires visitors to climb barefoot, so once again we deposited our shoes before beginning the ascent. There are approximately 300 well-maintained steps leading to the top.

As we climbed, the views of Vindhyagiri Hill and the towering Gomateshwara statue became increasingly impressive. The cool breeze and pleasant weather made the climb surprisingly comfortable. Ancient inscriptions can be found throughout the hill, many of them protected behind large glass coverings.

Exploring the ancient Basadis

It took us around twenty minutes to reach the summit, including a few short breaks. At the top, we discovered a large walled complex scattered among granite boulders and filled with historic Jain Basadis. The entire complex was fascinating.

The view of Gomateshwara from Chandragiri Hill was stunning, and we spent considerable time exploring the various monuments within the complex. We visited several Basadis, including Shantinatha Basadi, Parshwanatha Basadi, Kattale Basadi, and Shasana Basadi. Among them, Chavundaraya Basadi stood out as the largest and most impressive. Using the narrow staircase inside the structure, we climbed to the upper level. The panoramic view from there was simply breathtaking.

The most relaxing moment of the day

After exploring the Basadis, we stepped outside the complex and sat in a small park-like area nearby. It turned out to be the most relaxing part of the day. The cool breeze, cloudy skies, and peaceful surroundings made us feel incredibly comfortable. In fact, the weather was so pleasant that all of us felt like taking a nap right there. With considerable effort, we resisted the temptation and simply enjoyed the moment.

After resting for nearly half an hour, we left the hill at around 3:30 PM. Before starting our return journey, we bought a few small Gomateshwara souvenirs from a nearby shop and enjoyed some refreshing tender coconut water.

A cloudy drive back home

We began our return journey at around 4:00 PM, this time choosing the Hassan Highway route. On the way, we stopped at Grand Adigas for evening snacks. Throughout the journey, dark clouds dominated the sky, and in several places we experienced light rain. The pleasant weather continued to accompany us all the way back to Bangalore.

We finally reached home at around 8:00 PM, ending a memorable day filled with history, architecture, scenic drives, and rewarding climbs.

Travel snapshot

From scenic countryside roads to ancient Basadis and stunning panoramic views, every moment of this trip felt special. The serenity of Shravanabelagola and its timeless heritage left us with memories that will stay with us forever.

• Onward: BTM Layout > Basavanagudi > Magadi > Kunigal > Nagamangala > Shravanabelagola
  Return: Shravanabelagola > Yediyur (Hassan Highway) > Nelamangala > Brigade Road > Dairy Circle > BTM Layout
• Total distance (To & Fro): 345 km
• Mileage (Car): 22 km/l
• Fuel expense: 1145 Rs
• Total expense: 2212 Rs 

Route Map