Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna is an egg-shaped island formed by the two subdivisions of river Cauvery. It is located in the district of Mandya. The whole of the town is surrounded by the River Kaveri and gives a look of an island. The town has historic, cultural and religious importance. History says that Lord Buddha visited and remained on one of the islands near Srirangapatnam.

The town got its name from the celebtated Ranganathaswamy temple. This temple dominates the town which is the reason that Srirangapattana is one of the most important Vaishnavite centers of South India. In the 9th century the temple was built by the rulers of the Ganga dynasty.

The existence of the Kaveri river is regarded propitious and blessing. The Paschima Vaahini division of the Kaveri at Srirangapattana is conceived especially sanctified. It is here that the pious come from far and wide to plunge the ashes of the dead soul and perform obsequiousness to their antecedents in these waters.

Srirangapatna was the capital of Hyder Ali & his son Tipu Sultan. In the 18th century the Marathas assaulted Srirangapatna and squeezed great payments. Hyder pulled back the Marathas and thus saved the Kingdom. But in the year 1799 Tipu agitated a furious combat against the British and he fell down courageously thus supporting his capital.

A fort was built at Srirangapatna by a feudal lord in 1537 and it had four main enterings. It had a dual wall defense arrangement. The architectural mode of the fort is alleged to be Indo-Islamic and a Persian inscription on the gateway shows the date of construction.