Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
World War I Firing Walls
Cercle solaire du Kiischpelt
Kiischpelt’s Solar Circle
Front of the monument from the ground
Niederwald Monument
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Big Well
This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.
about 14 hours ago
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.
Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?
1 day ago
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
2 days ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All India Booluvampatti The Adiyogi Shiva Statue

The Adiyogi Shiva Statue

The world's largest bust sculpture celebrates the Hindu deity, Shiva.

Booluvampatti, India

Added By
Priyanka Dalal
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
112-foot Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center.   Photo by Bsnigam
112-foot Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center.   Photo by Bsnigam
Lord Shiva   Photo by Napolee007
Adiyogi Shiva Statue   Photo by Nandu Genius/Flickr
  Himadri Karmakar / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest bust sculpture, the Adiyogi statue depicts the Hindu deity, Shiva, in 500 tonnes of steel.

Surrounded by lush green farms, coconut groves, and the Velliangiri hills, the towering Adiyogi stands 112 feet tall in Coimbatore, India and celebrates Shiva, the first yogi. Shiva is popular in many forms across the land but depicting the deity as the ‘first Yogi’ is not common.

The height of 112 feet symbolizes the 112 methods to obtain freedom—or moksha—a theme in yogic culture. It's also said the height represents the 112 chakras, points of focus in the body used in meditation.

The structure, which was inaugurated in February 2017,  is owned and maintained by a non-profit and non-religious organization called Isha Foundation. It was made to remind the world about inner transformation and liberation. According to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation, “Adiyogi is a reminder for humanity to shift from religion to responsibility.”

Despite the overtones of Hinduism at Adiyogi, it is a non-religious place. People of any faith and religion are welcome to visit Adiyogi and partake in many of the events that unfold in the shadow of Shiva.

The Isha Foundation often holds games, cultural programs, discourses, dinners and other events of camaraderie in front of the statue. At the base of the bust is a quaint shrine where visitors can chant or meditate. Unlike traditional Indian temples or meditation spots, here visitors are allowed to take selfies with Adiyogi. 

 

Related Tags

Yoga India Culture Hinduism Shiva History Deity

Know Before You Go

The Adiyogi Statue is about 30 km from Coimbatore city. Private taxis can be hired from the city to visit Adiyogi. Local buses also serve the route from the Gandhipuram bus stand to Adiyogi.

The Isha Yoga Center is situated just a couple of kilometers from the statue, so while you are there, you can also visit the center. There are restaurants, meditation programs and other amenities available at the yoga center.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Delhi and Rajasthan: Colors of India

Discover Colorful Rajasthan: From Delhi to Jaipur and Beyond.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

priyankawriting

Edited By

SamM, Nikki Vargas

  • SamM
  • Nikki Vargas

Published

August 16, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/458751-largest-bust-sculpture
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiyogi_Shiva_statue
The Adiyogi Shiva Statue
Isha Yoga Centre, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar Post
Booluvampatti
India
10.978181, 76.736371
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bull Surfing in Kerala

Palakkad, India

miles away

Kuda-kallu of Aryyannur

Thrissur, India

miles away

Village of Twins

Nannambra, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Nearby Places

Bull Surfing in Kerala

Palakkad, India

miles away

Kuda-kallu of Aryyannur

Thrissur, India

miles away

Village of Twins

Nannambra, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Related Places

  • Kulasekharapatnam, India

    Arulmigu Kulasai Mutharamman Temple

    Every year, massive crowds flock to this 300-year-old temple to celebrate a unique, goddess-centric Hindu festival.

  • Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Literary Café

    Once frequented by heavyweights of the Russian arts scene, this café is stuck in the 1800s.

  • Chicago, Illinois

    Hudson Chess Park

    A Japanese temple, old German townhouses, and public chess tables offer a peaceful escape from the bustle of the North Side.

  • Clock faces. Notice the national symbols, numbers, and alphabets.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Ottoman Clock

    This clock was gifted to Mexico as a show of gratitude for its long history of welcoming Arab migrants.

  • The exterior of the museum in the former Immigration Inn.

    São Paulo, Brazil

    Immigration Museum of São Paulo

    This intriguing museum chronicles the history and impact of immigration in Brazil.

  • A saintly sculpture.

    Guanajuato, Mexico

    Ex-Hacienda de San Gabriel de Barrera Gardens

    This colonial mining complex is now home to magnificent themed gardens.

  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Mask and Wig Clubhouse

    A curious building honoring past and current members of a historic musical comedy troupe.

  • Hendrix’s bedroom.

    London, England

    Handel & Hendrix in London

    The next-door homes of two very different musicians, George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.