Chandragiri Hill (Bhadrabahu Cave).
Most Bahubali-darshan day-trippers climb the 614 steps up Vindhyagiri Hill to the 17m monolith and leave by lunch — but Chandragiri Hill (just opposite, 175 steps, 5 min easier walk) is where Chandragupta Maurya (founder of the Maurya Empire, grandfather of Ashoka) renounced his throne, became a Jain ascetic disciple of Bhadrabahu, and died here by sallekhana (ritual fast-to-death) c. 297 BCE.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
A small hill opposite Vindhyagiri with 14 Jain basadis (temples) and a cave shrine marking the death-spot of Chandragupta Maurya — India's first Maurya emperor. The Chandragupta Basadi at the summit has the famous Hoysala-era frieze panels (12th c) showing Chandragupta + Bhadrabahu story across 80 episodes. The Bhadrabahu cave below holds his footprint stones. 175 steps, 30 min round trip. Free entry; 6am-6pm.
