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Voykit pocket guide · India
Shravanabelagola
ಶ್ರವಣಬೆಳಗೋಲ
Spend one full day exploring the two hills and main temples; add a half‑day if you want a doli ride or market visit.
Shravanabelagola is a compact Jain pilgrimage town in Karnataka. The two hills – Vindhyagiri with the 57 m monolithic Gommateshwara statue and Chandragiri with historic caves – can be walked in a single day, but a relaxed pace or extra activities (doli ride, Tuesday market) merit a second half‑day.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- ಶ್ರವಣಬೆಳಗೋಲ
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- Mar–May (hot)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · High ₹2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 108 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Auto‑rickshaw (1 km (0.6 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (0.6 mi (1 km)) | ₹15–₹30 |
| Tea/coffee | ₹20–₹40 |
| Meal at Jain Mutt (veg) | ₹50–₹80 |
| Meal at local eatery | ₹80–₹150 |
| Doli ride (one‑way) | ₹150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BLR · Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore
- 157 km (98 mi), regular flights nationwide98 mi (157 km), regular flights nationwide
Typical fares
- Bangalore → Shravanabelagola (train to Hassan + bus)
- ≈₹400–₹600 total, 2½ h (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 1 km
- ₹15–₹30
- Doli round‑trip Vindhyagiri
- ₹150 one‑way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable. Autorickshaws for short hops; doli (palanquin) rides on Vindhyagiri for ₹150 one‑way (check). Buses from Channarayapatna every 30 min from 5:30 am.Town is walkable. Autorickshaws for short hops; doli (palanquin) rides on Vindhyagiri for ₹150 one‑way (check). Buses from Channarayapatna every 30 min from 5:30 AM am.
See and do
Known for
- Gommateshwara (Bahubali) monolith
- Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills
- Jain temples and basadis
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Belur | KSRTC bus 1–1.5 h | ≈2 h round |
| Halebidu | KSRTC bus 2 h | ≈4 h round |
Sleep
- Jain Mutt guesthouse
- Basic dormitory, walk to temples
- Budget hotels near the pond
- 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) from hill bases, cheap rooms1.2–1.9 mi (2–3 km) from hill bases, cheap rooms
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿkshamisi |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavaadagalu |
| How much? | ಎಷ್ಟು?eṣṭu? |
| Where is the bus stop? | ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿ?bas nildāna elli? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Climb the 660 steps barefoot; bring water and socks in summer.
- Doli seats limited; book early at the Tourist Reception office.
- Check train schedules to Hassan; last trains may be early evening.
Shravanabelagola is low‑risk; watch steps, stay hydrated, and keep valuables secure on crowded buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shravanabelagola yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gommateshwara (Bahubali) monolith
- Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills
- Jain temples and basadis
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata entry: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Shravanabelagola, revision 5065637 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5065637
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/shravanabelagola). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.