Shravanabelagola, a world-renowned pilgrimage center in Hassan district — the cradle of Karnataka’s sculptural arts — is adorned with sacred Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling trees). This holy site is sanctified by the presence of the final Shrutakevali (omniscient teacher) of Jainism, Acharya Shri Bhadrabahu Swami, and the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta, who attained samadhi here after renouncing worldly life. The hill of Chandragiri, thus sanctified by thousands of such sacrifices, was known until the early 10th century as Katavupura Giri or Kalavappu, and served as a spiritual center for monks and ascetics.During the reign of the Ganga dynasty, the great general and chief minister Chavundaraya, fulfilling the wish of his mother Kalaladevi, under the blessings and guidance of the spiritual leader Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti, commissioned the grand statue of Gommateshwara (Bahubali).The Vindhyagiri hill, which houses this towering and sacred statue of Lord Bahubali, shines as the crown jewel among Jain pilgrimage sites. This site, home to 40 Jain temples, holds the highest number of stone inscriptions (573) in Karnataka, including the earliest Marathi inscription, various Nishidhi mandapas (memorials), and sacred Kalyanis (tanks). Shravanabelagola, beautifully adorned and historically rich for over 2300 years, was known in ancient times by several names such as Kalavappa, Katavapra, Jain Bhadripura, Pargalvappu, Dhavalateertha, and Belgola. For nearly 2500 years, this place has remained a prominent and uninterrupted center of Digambara Jainism.