CHANDRAGIRI HILL

The hill is a high place of Jainism and there are traces dating back to the 3rd century BC. The Maurya emperor Chandragupta is said to have gone to this hill in the company of his Jain master Bhadrabahu, in order to attain inner peace. Numerous basadi (Jain temple) have been erected on the top of the hill to form a vast religious complex. The hill also has 92 memorial steles of monks, nuns and laymen dating from the 7th and 8th centuries. Granite boulders litter the route to the complex.

Chandragupta Basadi. Originally, this temple consisted of three small cells connected by a narrow passage. The ornate door and windows are later additions. Each of the cells houses a statue of a tirthankar (Jain holy man): on the left, Kushmandini; in the center, Parvanath; on the right, Padmavathi. The temple overlooks the Kattale basadi, a shrine dedicated to Kshetrapala, the god of agriculture.

Bhadrabahu Cave. Legend has it that Bhadrabahu attained nirvana in this cave. His footprints are engraved on a stone block. It is also said that Chandragupta Maurya, who followed Bhadrabahu's direct teaching, attained nirvana in this same cave after 12 years of penance.

Manastambha of Marasimha. This 18 m high monolithic pillar stands in front of the Parswanatha basadi. Manastambha literally means "column of honor". These pillars are often placed in front of Jain temples.