Gommatagiri (Karnataka)

Gommatagiri is a Jain pilgrimage center located close to Mysore (24km). The main attraction of Gommatagiri is the 20 feet or so tall Gomateshwara ( hence the name Gommatagiri ). This ancient monolithic statue stands over a massive hillock.

Though a lot shorter in size compared to the massive and much popular Bahubali statues at Shravanabelagola , the resemblances of the two are pleasantly surprising. Similar to Shravanabelagola, you need to climb a series of steps carved on this massive granite boulder to reach the shrine atop. The status stands inside the compound wall over the hilltop.

The festival season draws large number of Jain devotes to this place. The annual “Maha Mastakabhisheka” in September is the main attraction among the pilgrims. Baring the busyness of the festivals , this place is unusually calm and the ambient is surreal , like the location of any major Jain Basadis.

It is so empty that your’s would be the only other family present at the shrine. You can ask locally about the opening time, if the gate to the compound closed. The priest lives nearby, you can check it out.

As you climb up , you can see a footprint image on top of another smaller boulder near the one where the statue of the Gomateshwara is standing. This footprint carved on the rock is attributed to Neminatha, the 24th Jain Tirthankara (spiritual guru) .