Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Karnataka India

Shravanabelagola, 52 km from Hassan town is a popular Jain piligrimage center. It is wedged between two rocky hills, Indragiri and Chandragiri. The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint standing atop the Indragiri hill is 17 meters tall and is said to be one of the tallest monolithic statues in the world. About 1100 years old, the statue was commissioned by Chavundaraya, army commander of the Ganga Dynasty that ruled southern Karnataka from about 350 AD–999 AD. Mahamastakabhisheka is a ceremony held here once every 12 years when devotees offer prayers to the great Jain saint.