Bengaluru to Shravanabelagola, one day, one cab
Shravanabelagola, about 145 km from Bengaluru on the Hassan road, is home to the 57-ft monolithic statue of Gommateshwara, carved from a single rock over a thousand years ago and reached by a barefoot climb of around 650 steps. Start early, climb before the stone heats up, and let the cab handle the highway both ways.
Shravanabelagola at a glance
- Bangalore to Shravanabelagola distance
- ~145 km
- Drive time each way
- 2.5–3 hrs
- Opening hours
- Open through the day, every day. The hill is a living pilgrimage site rather than a ticketed monument with fixed gate hours
- Entry
- No entry charge is published for the climb
- Best time to go
- October to February; early morning climbs beat the heat on the rock steps
Worth knowing. The climb is barefoot on bare rock. Counts of the steps vary between roughly 620 and 700 depending on where you start, and the stone gets genuinely hot from late morning, which is the whole argument for going early.
Hours and ticket details checked September 2026. Temples and parks change these without notice, confirm before you travel if your plan depends on it.
Why Shravanabelagola?
- 57-ft monolithic Gommateshwara (Bahubali) statue
- The ~650-step barefoot climb up Vindhyagiri hill
- Chandragiri hill and its ancient Jain basadis
- One of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites in India
A typical QuicReach day
Pickup from Bengaluru
Arrive Shravanabelagola, breakfast
Climb Vindhyagiri to the Gommateshwara statue
Lunch, then Chandragiri hill basadis
Village walk and the temple pond viewpoint
Drop back home in Bengaluru
Sample plan, timings are flexible and your exact fare is shown upfront in the app.
Shravanabelagola trip questions
How many steps are there at Shravanabelagola?
Around 620 up Vindhyagiri, though published counts run as high as about 700 depending on where the count starts. They are cut into the rock and climbed barefoot, as at any Jain temple, so the surface matters as much as the number.
What are the Shravanabelagola timings?
The hill is open through the day, every day, and no entry ticket is published. It is an active pilgrimage site rather than a monument with gate hours. Going early is not about opening time, it is about the rock temperature.
How tall is the Bahubali statue?
57 feet, carved from a single block of granite and completed around 981 CE. It is one of the largest free-standing monolithic statues in the world, which is difficult to appreciate from photographs and obvious the moment you reach the top.
How long does the climb take?
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the climb, the statue and the descent without hurrying. It is a steady rather than technical ascent, but it is a long flight of steps in the open with no shade on the way up.
Is there an option for someone who cannot manage the steps?
Palanquin bearers are usually available at the base and arranged directly with them rather than through any office. We cannot quote a rate and would rather not guess at one, so agree the price before you start.
How many steps is the Shravanabelagola climb?
Around 650 rock-cut steps up Vindhyagiri hill, climbed barefoot as it is a sacred site. Most visitors take 30–45 minutes up with breaks; carry socks for the hot stone if you visit late morning, or simply start early, another reason a pre-dawn cab pickup works well.
How far is Shravanabelagola from Bangalore by cab?
About 145 km via NH75 towards Hassan, typically 2.5 to 3 hours each way by cab. It pairs the best with an early start so the climb is done before noon heat.
What is special about the Gommateshwara statue?
It is one of the largest free-standing monolithic statues in the world, 57 feet of Bahubali carved from a single granite rock around 981 CE. The Mahamastakabhisheka, a head-anointing ceremony held once every 12 years, draws pilgrims from across the world.