Archaeologists in Southern Karnataka have identified the ruins of a 10th-century Jain Basadi (temple) belonging to the Western Ganga dynasty. Located in the forests of Chamarajanagar, the temple is characterized by its austere granite architecture and two monolithic Dvarapalas (gatekeepers) that still stand guard at the entrance to the garbhagriha. This site is significant as it demonstrates the continued patronage of Jainism by the Ganga kings even as Shaivism began to rise in the neighboring regions.
The excavation has also yielded several Nishidhi stones (memorial markers for Jain monks who practiced Sallekhana) and a finely carved pedestal for a Tirthankara image. The architectural style suggests a transition between the earlier Badami Chalukyan and the later Hoysala traditions, featuring heavy, square-based pillars with simple floral bands. Local heritage groups are working with the state government to secure the site from forest encroachment and to initiate a structural stabilization program.