The statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka is the tallest monolithic statue in India and a remarkable feat of ancient Indian craftsmanship. Standing at a height of 17 meters (55 feet), the colossal statue is carved from a single block of granite and can be seen from as far as 30 kilometers away. Erected around 983 A.D. by Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga dynasty under King Rajamalla, the statue stands atop Vindhyagiri Hill and is dedicated to Lord Gomateshwara (Bahubali), a revered Jain saint.

This sacred site holds immense significance for followers of Jainism and attracts pilgrims and visitors from across the world. The statue, portrayed in the nude as per Jain traditions, symbolizes renunciation, peace, and self-realization. The region around Shravanabelagola is dotted with Jain basadis (temples) and carvings of Tirthankaras. Every twelve years, the grand Mahamastakabhishekam festival is celebrated here, during which the statue is ritually anointed with milk, curd, ghee, saffron, and even gold coins,making it one of the most important events in the Jain religious calendar.