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Sculpture in the gate:

At the entrance I saw a board of Archaeological survey of India which read:

Vindhyagiri, known also as Indragiri, this Doddabetta has the wonderful image of Gommata atop it. The hillock is 3,347 feet above sea level and has a flight of 620 steps to reach it’s top. In front of the Gommata image is the monolithic highly embellished gateways, Akhanda Bagilu of Hoysala times. On is the image of Lakshmi seated in Padmasana pose. Near this another doorway with a beautiful image of Gullekayi Ajji holding a Gindi (longish mug), and is actually of Kushmandini Yakshi. The Thyagada Brahma pillar has fine foliage entwining with an image of Brahma. This was installed by minister Chavundaraya, who installed the Gommata monolith.

The Suttalya (enclosure) in front of Gommata was raised by Gangaraja, a Hoysala minister during the 12th century and the inscriptions in Kannada, Tamil and Marathi, at the foot of the Gommata image, were also got written by him. A mantapa here was raised by minister Baladeva and the 24th Tirthankaras were installed by one Basavi Setty.

In addition to the image of Gommata, there is a small shrine of Sidda here. To the west of the Brahmadeva pillar is Chennanna basadi raised in 1573 AD with a tall Manastambha at its front. This basadi houses the image of Chandranatha Tirthankara. On an elevated place to be reached by a flight of steps is the Odegal basadi, a triple shrine housing the images of Adinatha, Neminatha and Chandranatha. Nearby is Chavvisa (24) Tirthankara basadi raised by Charukeerthi Pandithadeva and others.

The largest monument here is the Bhandari basadi, 266 feet in length and 78 feet in breadth, and it has 24 Tirthankaras, installed in a row. This beautiful structure is called so as it was raised by Bhandari (treasurer) Hulla under the Hoysala rulers. The Akkana basadi was built by Achiyakka, a female devotee. The Nagara Jinalaya has the Adinatha image and is built by Pattanaswamy Nagadeva in 1195 AD. The Mangayi basadi is also an important structure here.

After that we started climbing the hill. After a few steps we saw the Sri Sheetalnathji Tirthankara’s Yaksha Brahmayaksha temple:

Some photos:

• Steps:



• Steps:



• View of the pond and the city from the top:



• View of the pond and the Chandragiri:



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