Shravanabelagola in Hassan district developed from a place of religion in the 7th century to an important settlement by the 12th century when rich Jain merchants were established here.
Sankighatta is on the way to Shravanabelagola from Bangalore, (Bangalore Mangalore (BM) road, National Highway NH48, before Kunigal: take right from the main road near Tippasandra hand post/cross and drive for about 7 KM to reach Sankighatta).
Some scholars believe that Jain philosophy must have entered South India some time in 6th century B.C. Literary sources and inscription state that Bhadrabahu came over to Shravanabelagola with a 12000-strong retinue of Jain sages when north India found it hard to negotiate with the 12 year long famine in the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.