Private Shravanabelagola tour as a day trip from Bangalore

Climbing up the 600 plus steps to view the amazing statue of Bahubali carved out of a single stone was a memorable experience for me and my family. The efficient driving by Thippesh to get us there and the informative guide services of Guru made this a great trip. The views from the top are breathtaking especially the lush green of the surrounding countryside.

Knowledgeable, English-speaking guide, safe and clean car with working air conditioning and safe driver. The venue itself is quite impressive. Avoid going in the summer if possible as the heat can be quite uncomfortable and the climb has to be made without shoes.

From the top of the granite hill you will look out over rolling plains covered with cocoanut groves. The temple complex at the main site, on the higher hill, has a memorable collection of smaller statues of Jain luminaries, arranged in small rooms under the portico that runs around the courtyard. The main statue of Bahubali exceeds all expectations, not just in size, but in workmanship and impact. The early departure from Bangalore was very important, as we arrived by ten thirty and climbed the hill while there was still a morning breeze. Satish capably explained the site and its massive festival, held every twelve years, but he also gave us very helpful and candid introductions to much that we saw from the car as we drove out an back. We asked for an additional walk up onto the second, lower hill, Chandragiri, and it turned out to be among the best experiences we had in India. Satish said that we were the first visitors to ask to visit Chandragiri, about which he was also knowledgeable and enthusiastic. By the time we left the the sun had heated the granite, a challenge to our bare feet, but more than worth it. Between the hills Satish bought us some delicious chai masala from a small local shop facing the sacred tank. The chai maker grated fresh ginger into the brew. Wonderful. Also wonderful was the road between the main highway and the temple town, as we passed through a series of villages where people (women, mostly) were doing their washing on the rocky shore of ponds, threshing and winnowing grain, and sitting on their verandahs in the midday sun. We stopped for a good lunch at a modern roadside restaurant on the big highway back to Bangalore. The food and conversation were both good, and the day was entirely pleasant and memorable.