Thursday, June 7, 2012

660 steps to Lord Bahubali

It is a gradual slope with steps carved to climb up Indragiri, which houses the statue of Lord Bahubali or Gommuteshwara in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India. We did climb the steps without much effort at first, but it get tiresome when we reached around the 600th step as the grade of the step also had become very high.  This might not be the best place to be during summer months, when the rock would get really hot (we are not allowed to wear slippers out of respect). But was really a wonderful time to trek in December.

The 58m statue is not visible until all the 660 steps are climbed. You can't get a peek from below and skip the trek. (I am a mom of two boys, i need to think of back up strategies :)

The boys did very well, climbing with much fun and listening to the stories about the construction of the statue and the Tirtankaras. 

But i was ahead in the race, able to click pictures before they reached this view...

The view of the Belagola or the white pond between the Chandragiri which houses the statue of Bahubali and Indragiri.

Curly hairs adorning Bahubali with creepers growing so high as his arms. 


The largest monolith statue in the world - Bahubali or Gommuteshwara is measured at 58ft. 

The intense and focused meditation of Bahubali is portrayed  by creepers growing on him and snakes and ant hills living around him.

The sculptor is said to have made the index finger of the left arm a bit off so that nobody would want to copy it.

Thursday Challenge
Skywatch Friday

20 comments:

  1. Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

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  2. beautiful captures with easy going narration, lovely post!

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  3. My freind,
    Thanks for sharing this article and pictures. I never saw these pictures before. Wow, I am impress by this. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. And then you have to go down all 660 steps? I am not sure I could make it...
    But your photos show that it was worth the trip!!

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  5. What a hike you had! I'm amazed at the detail of the statue. Stunning images and view.

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  6. A terrific place for one day trip from Bangalore. You got good shots.

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  7. Such a beautiful statue and so huge.

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  8. What a gorgeous place, awesome views, beautiful skies and superb captures! What a wonderful trip! Thank you for sharing it with us!! Have a great weekend!

    Sylvia

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  9. Really interesting tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  10. Thank you for the interesting and beautiful tour. The views are spectacular!

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  11. That is amazing. The photos are fabulous, and such an interesting story to go with them

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  12. Came via Rake and Spade.

    These are beautiful pictures of a place so famous.I just could not climb those steps, Tried , and sat down half way.. till the first Mandap. Watched he scene below, till others came back!

    Thanks.

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