What to expect
Highlights
- The group of early Jain basadis and the Chavundaraya basadi.
- Hundreds of historic inscriptions in Kannada and other scripts.
- The Bhadrabahu cave associated with Chandragupta Maurya.
Chandragiri Hill
Chandragiri is the smaller of Shravanabelagola’s two hills, facing Vindhyagiri across the town tank. It holds a cluster of early Jain basadis, mandapas and a forest of inscriptions spanning many centuries.
Practical guide
Plan Chandragiri Hill
Who's going?Tailor Chandragiri Hill to your trip
Typeheritage
Nearest baseShravanabelagola
DistrictHassan
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1 to 1.5 hours
EntryFree
Places to visit3→By tradition the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta gave up his throne, became a Jain monk and ended his life here in penance under his teacher, the saint Bhadrabahu, giving the hill its name.
Getting there
How to visit
- Opposite Vindhyagiri in Shravanabelagola; a shorter barefoot climb of rock-cut steps than the Bahubali hill.
- Entry is free; visit alongside the Gommateshwara statue for the full pilgrimage circuit.
Distance by road
- Bengaluru185 km
- Mysuru120 km
- Mangaluru170 km
- Chikkamagaluru55 km
- Madikeri (Coorg)115 km
Road km to Hassan; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; early morning for a cool, quiet climb.
Weather in Chandragiri HillSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Chandragiri Hill
Sunrise6:14 am
Sunset6:04 pm
Golden hour best light5:04 pm–6:04 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:04 pm–6:29 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 48%
Sunset is in about 1 hour.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A barefoot climb on bare rock — go early and mind the heat.
Photos
Chandragiri Hill in pictures
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Top experiences around Shravanabelagola
2 more places around Shravanabelagola. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
heritageGommateshwara Statue
1.2 km · 15 min walk
The 17.5 m monolithic statue of Bahubali (Gommateshwara) atop Vindhyagiri hill at Shravanabelagola, carved about 983 CE — one of the world’s tallest free-standing monolithic statues and a great Digambara Jain pilgrimage site, anointed at the twelve-yearly Mahamastakabhisheka.
templeLakshminarasimha Temple, Nuggehalli
22.5 km · 22 min drive
A three-shrined (trikuta) Hoysala temple of 1246 CE at Nuggehalli in Channarayapatna taluk, built by a Hoysala general, admired for its finely carved Keshava and Narasimha images and star-shaped plan.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Chandragiri Hill — at a glance
Timings~6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Best timeOctober to February; early morning
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Chandragiri Hill
Opposite Vindhyagiri in Shravanabelagola; a shorter barefoot climb
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Chandragiri Hill
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Chandragiri Hill
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Chandragiri Hill
heritageGommateshwara Statue
The 17.5 m monolithic statue of Bahubali (Gommateshwara) atop Vindhyagiri hill at Shravanabelagola, carved about 983 CE — one of the world’s tallest free-standing monolithic statues and a great Digambara Jain pilgrimage site, anointed at the twelve-yearly Mahamastakabhisheka.
1.2 km · 15 min walktempleLakshminarasimha Temple, Nuggehalli
A three-shrined (trikuta) Hoysala temple of 1246 CE at Nuggehalli in Channarayapatna taluk, built by a Hoysala general, admired for its finely carved Keshava and Narasimha images and star-shaped plan.
22.5 km · 22 min drive
templeBucesvara Temple, Koravangala
A twin-shrined (dvikuta) Hoysala Shiva temple of 1173 CE at Koravangala about 10 km from Hassan, with two well-preserved towers and detailed carving — a quiet alternative to the crowded Belur and Halebidu temples.
51.8 km · 51 min drive
templeHasanamba Temple
The temple of the goddess Hasanamba, from whom Hassan takes its name — unusually opened to devotees only once a year around Deepavali (in the month of Ashwayuja), when vast queues form; a lamp is said to keep burning through the year the shrine stays shut.
53.2 km · 50 min drive
churchShettihalli Rosary Church
A Gothic-style church built by French missionaries around 1860 on the Hemavathi river, partly submerged each monsoon when the Gorur reservoir fills and re-emerging in summer — a striking, roofless "floating church" ruin popular with photographers.
69.7 km · 68 min drive
templeLakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli
An early Hoysala temple of 1114 CE near Hassan, unusual for its four-shrine (chatushkuta) plan around a common hall, its stone-lattice screens and a fierce Kali shrine at one corner.
71.0 km · 72 min drive
templeHoysaleswara Temple
The great twin-shrined Shiva temple of Halebidu, the former Hoysala capital Dwarasamudra, begun around 1121; its walls carry an unbroken band of intricate carving and two large monolithic Nandi pavilions face the shrines.
78.8 km · 76 min drive
templeJain Basadis, Halebidu
A cluster of Hoysala-era Jain temples (the Parshvanatha, Adinatha and Shantinatha basadis) at Bastihalli near the Hoysaleswara temple, known for lathe-turned polished pillars and a tall image of Parshvanatha.
79.6 km · 77 min driveWalking and driving times are real routed distances, except the few marked “straight line”, which are direct-line estimates and will read short.Routing: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
On the map
Where Chandragiri Hill is
Good to know
Chandragiri Hill — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Chandragiri Hill?
October to February; early morning for a cool, quiet climb.
What are the entry fee and timings at Chandragiri Hill?
Entry: Free. Timings: ~6:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
How do I reach Chandragiri Hill?
Opposite Vindhyagiri in Shravanabelagola; a shorter barefoot climb of rock-cut steps than the Bahubali hill. Entry is free; visit alongside the Gommateshwara statue for the full pilgrimage circuit.
How much time do I need for Chandragiri Hill?
1 to 1.5 hours.
What else is near Chandragiri Hill?
Nearby you can pair Gommateshwara Statue (1.2 km), Lakshminarasimha Temple, Nuggehalli (22.5 km), Bucesvara Temple, Koravangala (51.8 km), Hasanamba Temple (53.2 km).
Read before you go
Chandragiri Hill guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Chandragiri Hill itself yet. These cover Shravanabelagola and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Around Shravanabelagola
These guides explore Shravanabelagola and the surrounding area. Choose a visit that fits your interests, allowing separately for travel between stops.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: Dineshkannambadi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), Rohit14400 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dineshkannambadi (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.