Bangalore --> Nelamangala --> Kunigal --> Hirisave --> Shravanabelagola --> Halibedu --> Beluru

 

Shravanabelagola is at a distance of 51 km south-east of Hassan, the district centre in Karnataka. It is situated at a distance of 12 km to the south from the Bangalore-Mangalore road (NH-48), 157km from Bangalore - the capital of Karnataka, 83 km from Mysore, 233 km from Mangalore.

 

 

Shravanabelagola is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism. The 57-feet tall free standing monolithic statue of Gommateshwara Bhagavan Bahubali crowns the 438 feet Indragiri or Vindyagiri Hill hewn out of single granite is the largest of its kind in the world. It was consecrated by Chavundaraya the prime minister and commander-in-chief in talakad ganga kingdom.The statue was executed for about 12 years by Mahashilpi Arishtanemi. The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Kannada, Tamil, as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi, dating back to 981 AD. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, devotees and tourists from all over the world congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins once in every twelve years. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in the year 2018. On August 5, 2007, the statue was voted as the first of Seven Wonders of India by Indians. Shravanabelagola also has largest digamber jain basadis and largest number of inscriptions in India. Chandragupta Basadi is located on Chandragiri hill, dedicated to emperor Chandragupta Maurya, was built by emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.

 

Bahubali was the son of the Adinatha the first of the 24 jain theerthankaras has embarked to the spiritual quest, bequeathed the capital Ayodhya to his eldest son Bharatha and Paudanapura to Bahubali. Bharatha ventured into annexation. Bahubali refused to accept his elder brothers suzerainty. Instead of a battle between kingdoms, Bharatha and Bahubali were engaged in a dual battle. Since the disharmament was proclaimed to avoid bloodshed, the brothers battle involving Dristi Yuddha-staring at each other without closing eyelids; Jala Yuddha- splashing water on each other till one turns his face away and Malla Yuddha-a wrestling bout. Eventually Bahubali won the battle. Bharatha ordered his super power chakra (divine wheel) to kill bahubali, but the chakra circled around bahubali three times and stood suspended. At the moment of victory, Bahubali was struck by frailty and hollowness over the mere worldly possessions. He abandoned everything and stood in meditation in kayotsarga (standing) pose for one year in meditation without food and water. Anthills grew at his feet, tendril twirled around his legs and arms. Thus he attained the transcendent realization. The joy and bliss he attained is quite evident in benign smile on his face. This gave rise to Gommata in kannada means huge, thus gave birth to Gommateshwara or Sri Bahubali swamy.

 

Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire, one of the major tourist destinations in Karnataka, India. According to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri. The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakesava temple complex which contains the Lord Chennakesava (dedicated to Chennakeshava, meaning handsome Vishnu) as the centre piece.

 

Halebidu (which was previously called Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra) was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples. Halebidu literally means old city. This name is also given because this city was ruined two times by Bahmani Sultanate.

 

Both Belur and Halebidu are well connected by road and rail to Shravanabelagola, Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. For more details, please visit: http://shravanabelagola.net/