Karkala Bahubali Statue

The Karkala Bahubali Statue, also known as the Gomateshwara Statue, is a 42-foot monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali located atop Bahubali Betta in Karkala, Udupi District, Karnataka. Built in 1432 CE, it is the second tallest Bahubali statue in Karnataka after Shravanabelagola. Carved from a single block of granite, it is a major Jain pilgrimage center and a notable example of medieval Jain art and architecture.

Visitors can expect a climb of approximately 300 stone steps to a hilltop plateau offering panoramic views of Karkala town and surrounding hills. At the summit stands the towering 42-foot monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali in kayotsarga posture, enclosed within a walled courtyard with Jain shrines and pillars. The setting is quiet and religious, with stone pathways, small temples, and open rocky terrain around the statue.

The statue was commissioned in 1432 CE by Veera Pandya, ruler of the Santara dynasty of Karkala, and installed under the guidance of Bhattaraka Lalitakirti. Carved from a single granite block, it stands 42 feet tall and 10.33 feet wide, making it the second tallest Gomateshwara statue in Karnataka after Shravanabelagola. It represents the Jain tradition of erecting colossal Bahubali images and reflects the patronage of Jainism in coastal Karnataka during the medieval period.

The statue is a major Jain pilgrimage site and one of the four important Gomateshwara statues in Karnataka, along with Shravanabelagola, Dharmasthala and Venur. It depicts Lord Bahubali, revered in Jainism for renunciation and meditation, and is the focus of periodic Mahamastakabhisheka rituals. The site reflects the cultural heritage of Karkala as a historic Jain center with numerous basadis.