Srirangapatna is small town 15 km northeast of Mysore. The island fortress of the legendary Tiger of Mysore - Tipu Sultan, takes you through the pages of history. Every stone, every Temple, every Palace and every Mosque in here has a story to tell.

Srirangapatna renowned for its seemingly impregnable fort, associated with the great ruler Tipu Sultan, is situated at the western end of an oval shaped island formed by the two branches of the Cauvery.  It is the island fortress of Tipu Sultan, the legendary Tiger of Mysore who put up a valiant fight against British domination. The high stonewalls and moats enclose palaces, with its beautiful frescoes, Wellesley Bridge and the celebrated Sri Ranganatha Temple are other monuments from its chequered past.

The town is famous for a very ancient temple dedicated to Sri Ranganathaswamy, a form of Lord Vishnu. Other attractions include the Jumma Masjid (a Mosque) and the Daria Daulat Gardens. Near Srirangapattana is the Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary, which is the breeding site for several bird species, including the Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Black-headed Ibis, River Tern, Great Stone Plover and Indian Shag. The Karighatta (Black Hill) and its temple of Lord Srinivasa is situated a few kilometres from the town. The deity is that of Kari-giri-vasa (one who resides on the black hill). The famous Nimishambha temple is located in the near by district of Ganjam.The summer palace of Tipu Sultan is also a very interesting place.

Located 27 km upstream from the town is the spectacular Sivasamudram Falls, the second biggest waterfall in India and the sixteenth largest in the world

Decription courtesy Archeological Survey of India
 

• Dungeon

• Jibi Gate

• Ranganatha Temple

• Narasimha Temple

• Tipu's Palace

• Bathing Ghat

• Gamgadharesware Temple

• Water Gate

• Place of Tipu's Death

• Masjid-e-ala

• Bangalore Gate

• Flag staff Cavalier

• Mysore Gate

• Daria Daulat Bagh

• Obelisk

• Abbe Dubois church

• Bailee's Tomb

• The Gumbaz

• Cauvery confluence

• Gosai Ghat

1. Dungeon
   
   In the Northern rampart is a large oblong bastion in the fort wall on the top of which was formerly placed a heavy battery called Sultan Bateri. Within this is a dungeon, hidden from the view. It is about 100' X 40' and has a low vaulted brick roof. It is said that many English prisioners were confined here.
   At North-East cornerof the fort is another dungeon about 45' X 32' which is called as Irman's Dungeon who discovered this in 1895. In this dungeon, many Maratha and others were kept during Haider and Tipu's period as captives.
   The so called 'Malabar hut' dungeon in which many important British officers were kept is now no more.
    

2. Jibi Gate
   
   The secret entrance into the fort from river Cauvery.
   
    

3. Ranganatha Swamy Temple
   
   Ranganatha Swamy Temple is one of the largest temples in the state and is of great local importance (the name Srirangapatnam is derived from it's Deity) . An inscription dated 894 A.D reveals that a Ganga Chiefian by name Thirumalaiah was the founder of the temple of Sri Ranganatha. Later, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Mysore Wodeyars and Haider Ali Enlarged it. The presiding deity is the colossal image of Ranganatha reclining on Adishesha. The inner most part of the temple was constructed by the Hoysalas of which several granite pillars at Sukaneshi are impressively designed shallow domes. The Novaranga which has round bell shaped pillars, and Mahadwara (Gopura) was built in the style of Vijaynagara. Two pillars depicting Vishnu in 24 forms with their names arranged are noteworthy. Lakshminarsimha, Gangadhara and Jaina temple are other important temples of this place.
    

4. Narasimha Temple
   
    

5. Tipu's Palace
   
   The ruins of Tipu's Palace - Lal Mahal at Srirangapatana.
   
   150 meters away from Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple is a ruined structure identified as Tipu's Palace. It was called Lal Mahal. Once a very beautiful structure as described by many English historians, who visited it, was dismantled between 1807 and 1809 by the orders of Col. Wellesley.
    

6. Bathing Ghat
   
   The spot is located near to the ruins of Lal-Mahal.
    

7. Gamgadharesware Temple
   
   Located just behind the ruins of Lal Mahal- the official residence of
   'Tipu Sultan'
   
    

8. Water Gate
   
   To the north-east of Gangadhara Swamy temple, the fort wall is pierced by a low arched Gateway known as the Water gate. Since the residents of the northern portion of the fort, used the gate to enter the river for thier daily needs, it is appropriately called the Water Gate.
   
    

9. Place of Tipu's Death
   50 meters to the east of Watergate, inside the second fort line, is said to have stood another gateway which led through the inner eastern wall, which was constructed by Tippu Sultan inside the second line. On the 4th of May 1799 A.D., pushed back by the storming troops Tippu moved along the second wall and descending from it near the Watergate tried to enter the town through the second gate. It is said that he found the gate closed. Meanwhile the British troops who crossed over to the third wall came along, descended into the town and entered the gate from inside. Then Tipu was stuck between the two advancing English forces. Fighting, he fell down wounded. The storming troops not knowing that Tipu was there, entered the gate and rushed towards the palace.
   When the British officers tried to trace the body of Tipu, his dying private secretary pointed to place where his master lay under a heap of the dead. Tipu's body was easily identified since his face had not been disfigured and since he had worn a well-known talisman. The body was yet warm and was removed to the palace for the night. It is found that the inner fortification was razed to the ground by Col. Wellesley. Now there is a Stone Tablet erected stating "THE BODY OF TIPPU SULTAN WAS FOUND HERE"
    

10. Masjid-e-ala
    
    Masjid-E-Ala at Srirangapatna
    The Jumma Masjid constructed by Tipu Sultan in 1787 A.D is a grand structure with two lofty minarets noted for their majesty and grace. The hall of the mosque has a number of foil arches and mihrab on the west. Cornices and floral bands adore the shafts of the minars. A flight of about 200 steps leads to the top of each minars. There are fine persian inscriptions-one mentions the date of the construction and others, the extracts from the Holy Quran.
     

11. Bangalore Gate - Entrance to Srirangapatna town
    
    The Bangalore gate formerly known as the Ganjam Gate, is also designated as the Elephant Gate. Built of stone, brick and lime mortar, it is now used as the main gate to the town.
    
     

12. Flag staff Cavalier
    
    Flag staff Cavalier located at the highest spot in Srirangapatna
     

13. Mysore Gate
    
    
     

14. Daria Daulat Bagh
    
    
    The Daria Daulat Bagh, which is an ancient monument of national importance, houses the museum. The museum exhibits confined to the ground floor of the palace and mostly pertaining to Tipu Sultan, consists of oil paintings, pencil sketches, aquatints and engravings, coins and medals, costumes, furniture, arms, etc.
    
    The storming of ‘Seringapatam’ an oil painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter in 1800 is one of the great historical paintings depicting the final capture of Srirangapatna on 4th May 1799. Many English officers like General Baird, Sgt. Graham, Col. Dunlop are featured in it. Tipu’s men are on the bridge offering stiff resistance. In the back ground behind the fort walls are part of Tipu’s palace, the minarets of the mosque and the gopura of the Ranganatha Swami temple.
    
    A portrait of Tipu Sultan depicts him wearing a turban, a striped shirt. A necklace, a girth belt and a stone-studded cross belt to which is attached a sword. The artist was G.F. Cherry who painted it in 1792. Another full portrait of Tipu Sultan as prince painted by John Zoffany in 1780is on display.
    
    Another historical painting by Robert Home, painted between 1792-95 depicts Tipu’s sons Abdul Khaliq and Maizuddin, the hostage princes with Ghulam Ali Khan, the Vakil of Tipu who is shown seated in a carrying chair and in the background an Englishman, most probably, Captain Kennaway the personal secretary to Lord Cornwallis is shown as having a discussion with Ali Raza Khan another Vakil of Tipu holding a treaty document.
    
    There are eighteen pencil sketches on display and among them are those of the seven sons of Tipu Sultan Fateh Haider, Abdul Khaliq, Maizuddin, Mohiuddin, Yasin Sahib, Sultan Sahib and Shukrullah his Vakils ghulam Ali Khan and Ali Raza Khan – Commanders Ghulam Ali Khan, Badruz Zaman Khan, Sheikh Hussain, his companion and confidential servant Raja Khan and the senior door keeper Firuz Saut. Also on display are the sketches of Mir Alam, Minister of Nizam, his son Mir Dauran, Krishna Raja Wodeyar III and his maternal uncle, Nandi Raja. These portrait sketches were drawn by Thomas Hickey the English artist, between 1799-1801 in Srirangapatna and Vellore.
    
    Some of the soldiers of the East India Company were talented artists who drew views of forts, buildings and scenery as seen from their encampments. The pictures drawn on spots were later used for making engravings and aquatints so that a large number of copies were made. Two copies of engravings, ‘Cornwallis receiving the hostage princes’ and the ‘last effort of Tipu Sultan’ in defense of Srirangapatna besides many aquatints depicting the various forts of Tipu Sultan.
    
    Coins of various denominations on view include Double paisa, Paisa, Half paisa, Quarter paisa and One-eighth paisa issued by Tipu Sultan from different mints at Bangalore, Calicut, Chitaldurg, Dindigul, Gooty and Srirangapatna. Madals of different metals like silver, copper and bronze issued by the English, commemorating their victory over Tipu are also exhibited.
    
    Among the other exhibits mention may be made the costume of Tipu, a payjama, a silk coat and a straw hat, two silver bowels presented by him to the Ranganathaswami temple, a hand made paper manuscript in Persian dealing with the military code of regulations, furniture comprising of chairs, sofa with backrest, couch and a rosewood roundtable, a brass cannon, daggers, swords, pistols and muskets besides iron cannons.
     

15. Obelisk
    
     

16. Abbe Dubois church
    
     

17. Bailee's Tomb
    
     

18. The Gumbaz
    
    At the eastern end of the island towards the south is Gumbaz or Mausoleum. It was built by Tipu Sultan for his parents between 1782-84 A.D. Later Tipu was buried here on 5th May 1799 A.D. It is an impressive square tomb chamber surmounted by brick built dome. Open corridors run black stone pillars. The carved stone windows and doorways with ivory inlaid doors are fine workmanship. In the verandahs and on the platform are housed the Tombs of Haider's family members. There is also a mosque in the complex built in Moghal style.
     

19. Cauvery confluence
    
    Sangam
    
     

20. Gosai Ghat
    
    Located in the south of Abbe Dubois Church