Stock Photo - Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, India Detail of granite foot with apple offering on toe Shravanabelagola is a sacred temple city and pilgrimage site for Jaina art, architecture, religion and culture as early as 300 BC The Vindhyagiri hill is home to a spectacular 17 m monolithic stone statue of Bhagwan Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara 978-993 AD, considered to be the world´s largest monolithic stone statue It is carved from single stone of smooth fine grey granite and Gomateshwara stands erect over anthills and serpents with a serene expression on his face Creepers encircle his legs and waist About 650 steps have been cut on the Vinghyagiri hill to reach this statue The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada dated 981 CE and Tamil, as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi from 981 AD