Pilgrimage in Karnataka

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.