Real Bahubali

I planned a quick visit to Coorg during Diwali. While checking the route from Bengaluru to Madikeri, Google showed Shravanbelagola on the way. This was the best chance to visit the Bahubali temple which would otherwise never happen.

We started from Bengaluru around 10 am and joined the Bengaluru – Mangalore road after an hour or so. The road is simply superb and reminds the highways in USA and Canada. Absolutely perfect road, no potholes, lush green farms on both the sides and very thin traffic. It was amazing to see such a wonderful highway in India. Generally our highways are infested with restaurants lined up on both the sides causing traffic hindrances and an eye sore. 

After driving for about two hours, around noon the driver turned left and started on an internal road leading to Shravanbelagola. This road was also very scenic and after sometime the Gomateshwara temple showed up at a distance to the right on the Vindhyagiri hill.

There was no problem in reaching the temple as probably it was off season or it may be always like that, I am not sure.

After depositing the shoes at the stand the next task was to climb the hill barefoot. We were extremely lucky as the weather was perfectly pleasant. 2019  experienced an extended monsoon and the lingering rain was perhaps responsible for making our climb in the afternoon comfortable. I  started the ascent with my wife Seema and kids on the nicely carved steps on a massive rock. Cool breeze of air made the climb easy.

After climbing about 500 steps there is a first  Jain temple called Vadegal Basadi. Inside there are statues of Adinatha , Neminatha, Chandranatha carved in black granite. It is a very calm, quiet and peaceful place.

One can take a walk around the temple on the elevated platform. The temple provides an excellent picturesque view of the town. 
Chandragiri hill in front, a square lake Kalyani in the town below, lush green farms around and brown rocks beautifying the scene. One can keep watching this for hours. There are several nicely preserved lithographs on the way.

After the temple there is an elegantly carved pillar, about 8 feet tall, called as Tyagada Kambha. It is believed that the King Chavanduraya distributed donations near the pillar. The pillar is housed in a nicely sculptured canopy.

Another 1oo steps and you reach the main temple. The path is curved and there are old styled big steps inside the temple. Once you reach the terrace on top, the head of Bahubali is visible on the right. The statue is surrounded by large walls. 

Only after entering the main temple through a small door the entire statue of Gomateshwara Bahubali becomes visible.

It is magnificent. 58 feet tall, grey colored, carved in a single granite , sculptured to perfection, standing with a smile for more than 1100 years. It has weathered the tough climatic conditions. It stands under the open sky but is still completely intact. Man of an average height can barely reach his ankles.

This was a real Bahubali and his statue depicts his attributes perfectly well. To the pleasure of Maharashtrians, a Marathi lithograph can be seen near his feet.

This place has something special. The kind of peace of mind it provides is unique. A calm and quiet place with the massive statue emitting positivity is a perfect place for meditation. I am not a devout person. I hardly visit temples for devotional purposes and always keep myself miles away from the crowded temples. Still in my life if I ever feel a need to calm down and walk away from the world and meditate then I can firmly say, I know the place t go. It will be the Gomateshwara Temple in the odd season.