Shravanabelagola - Shravanabelagola, a
prominent Jain pilgrim center in Hassan District, is the abode of Lord
Gomateswara. It boasts of Asia's largest monolith towering 58 feet atop
the picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill. Lord Bahubali, as he is also known,
has been bringing solace and peace to millions of pilgrims for several
hundred years.
Once every 12 years, Jain pilgrims gather at Shravanabelagola to
participate in the colourful Mahamastakabhisheka, an elaborate
head-anointing ceremony. During Mahamastakabhisheka, hundreds of pots
containing curd, milk, vermillion coconut water, turmeric paste, and
gold and precious jewels are poured over the statue's head by priests
from an especially erected scaffolding. Endowed with a rich cultural and
historical Jain legacy, Karnataka has a cluster of Jain pilgrim centers.
Gokarna - Locals believe that Gokarna derives its name from the
legend wherein Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow. This village is
formed by the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers. Om Beach, one of
Gokarna's five famed beaches, takes the shape of the spiritual symbol,
Om.
The other beaches, wedged between gigantic cliffs that jut out into the
sea, are Gokarna, Kudle, Half-moon, and Paradise. The drive along the
winding path that leads to Gokarna is a scenic delight.
Srirangapattanam - This island fortress of the legendary
warrior-king Tipu Sultan is just 16 kilometres from Mysore City. Inside
the fortress is a mosque with twin minarets, the revered Ranganathaswamy
Temple, Tipu's summer palace, the Wellesley Bridge, and the dungeons
where British officers were once imprisoned. Equally impressive is the
Gumbaz, an imposing structure lacquered with Tipu's tiger-striped
emblem, and doors of ebony inlaid with ivory.
