Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Srirangapatna enshrines Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha. It is considered one of the most important Vaishnavite shrines in South India and is also known as Adi Ranga. The temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style and is known for its intricate carvings and sculptures. It is said that the Ganga chieftain, Tirumalaiya built this temple in 894 AD. The Ranganatha Swamy Temple was later expanded by the Hoysalas, Vijayanagar monarchs, Mysore Wodeyars and Hyder Ali. The architecture is a mixture of the Hoysala and Vijayanagar styles. The temple has fort-like walls and an intricately carved Gopura in the Vijayanagar style of architecture. The idol of Lord Ranganatha is in a reclining posture on the bed laid out by the serpent Aadi Sesha and is about 4.5 meters in length. The main entrance has Chaturvimsati (four) pillars and has the cravings of the 24 forms of Vishnu. There are many other shrines like Ranganayaki, Narasimha, Sudarshana, Gopalakrishna, Srinivasa, Rama, and Panchamukha Anjaneya in the complex.

Colonel Bailey Dungeon

This dungeon lies North of Ranganatha Swamy temple. It is a prison cell that was used during the 18th century by the British East India Company to hold Indian soldiers and leaders who were captured during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The dungeon is a small underground cell with a low ceiling and no windows. It is said to have been used to hold prisoners in inhumane conditions, and many prisoners are believed to have died there due to the harsh conditions. The dungeon is now open to visitors as a historical site and is considered a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the colonial period. The Vaulted dungeon measures 30.5 meters in width and 12.2 meters in height and is built of brick and mortar. The prisoners were chained to the stone slabs fixed on the East, North, and West walls.

The dungeon is named after Colonel Bailey who died here in 1780 AD this dungeon was used to imprison Captain Baird, Colonel Brithwite, Captain Rulay, Frazer, Samson, and Lindsay by Tipu Sultan. During the siege of Srirangapatna, one of the cannons rolled back, pierced the ceiling, and fell into the dungeon. One can see them still lying there.

Dariya Daulat Bagh

The Dariya Daulat Bagh is situated outside the fort, on the island. Dariya-Daulat, "the wealth of the sea", referred to as the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, was built in the year 1784 AD and is situated outside the fort, on the island. The palace is built in the Indo-Sarcenic style. Tipu Sultan laid out a garden here and constructed the Summer Palace in 1784 which was his favorite retreat. It is built in the Indo-Sarcenic style standing on a square platform. The palace is made of teak wood and has several rooms, including a durbar hall, a throne room, and a private residence for the king. The palace is also adorned with frescoes and paintings depicting scenes from the life of Tipu Sultan and the Mysore Wars. The palace also has a unique ventilation system that allows fresh air to circulate throughout the building, making it cool even in the hottest months. There are excellent mural paintings depicting war scenes, the British and the French officers, the Sultan, the Kings, and others. The palace has been converted into a museum in which are displayed war weapons, paintings, and coins of Tipu’s period. One of the main features of this museum is the famous oil painting "Storming of Srirangapattanam" by Sir Robert Ker Porter made in 1800. This historical painting depicts the final fall of Srirangapatana on 4th May 1799.

Gumbaz

The Gumbaz is situated at the end of the town. This is the mausoleum of Tippu Sultan; his father Hyder Ali and his mother Fathima Begum. Tippu built this magnificent structure in 1782-84. It is an impressive square structure, surmounted by a dome and surrounded by a corridor supported by pillars of black hornblende. The Gumbaz has a large well-shaped dome, it has beautifully carved ebony doors inlaid with ivory, and the Gumbaz has carved stone windows with excellent work on them and inscriptions. Inside the tomb, Hyder Ali has been laid to rest in the middle, and on either side are the tombs of his wife and son. Tippu's tiger stripes cover the walls of the Gumbaz.

Nimishamba Temple

The Nimishamba Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Nimishamba, who is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. Nimishamba temple was built at the time of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar about 300 to 400 years ago on the bank of the river Cauvery. The temple has the Shrichakra carved on a stone in front of Sri Nimishamba and pooja is performed. The temple is built in the traditional South Indian architectural style and is known for its intricate carvings and sculptures is located around 5km from Srirangapatna, Karnataka, India.

There is a belief that Sri Nimishamba is going to remove all the problems and troubles of her devotees within a minute. That is why she is called Nimishamba. Nimisha means a minute.

 

Other places of interest around Srirangapatna

Sangam is the place where the River Loakpavani joins the River Cauvery. This is a popular picnic spot and is a beautiful place. From here the river follows into the Mettur Dam in Tamilnadu. It is about 3 Km. from Srirangapatana.

Paschimavahini on the River Cauvery, about 2 Kms. from Srirangapatna is a sacred place for the Hindus, the pious come from far and wide to immerse the ashes of the departed and perform obsequies to their ancestors in these waters. There are bathing ghats and choultries here.

Karighatta situated about 3 Km. from Srirangapatna is a hill range rising to 2,697 ft. has the temple of Venkataramanaswamy in Dravidian style built during the Vijayanagar period.