Shrirangapattana
| Shrirangapattana | |||
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| State : |
 India
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| State : | Karnataka | ||
| District : | Mandya | ||
| Sub-district : | Shrirangapattana | ||
| Location : | 12 ° 25 ' N , 76 ° 41' E | ||
| Height : | 691 m | ||
| Area : | 8.6 km² | ||
| Residents : | 25,061 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 2914 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Website : | www.srirangapatnatown.mrc.gov.in | ||
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Shrirangapattana ( Kannada : Ś Śrīraṁgapaṭṭaṇa ; also Srirangapattana , Srirangapatna , Srirangapatnam ; earlier Anglicized Seringapatam ) is a small town in the southern Indian state of Karnataka .
It is located on a 5 km long island in the Kaveri River (formerly Cauvery), about 16 km northeast of Mysore in the Mandya district . The population is 25,061 (2011 census).
history
The city of Shrirangapattana is famous thanks to its great historical importance. Originating from a Hindu temple built in the late 9th century , the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire later had a fortress built in the city. From 1610 to 1799 it was the capital of Mysore . In the middle of the 18th century it was attacked by the Marathas , but they failed due to the bitter resistance of the troops of the Muslim general Hyder Ali , who later rose de facto to ruler Mysores and, like his predecessors, ruled his empire from Shrirangapattana. Hyder Ali's son and successor Tipu Sultan , who at the end of the 18th century had become the most dangerous opponent of the British colonial efforts in India, was finally defeated by the British in his own capital in 1792 . His attempt to free himself from the British embrace failed, because in 1799, in the Fourth Mysore War , the British attacked again and largely destroyed Shrirangapattana . Tipu Sultan was killed in the process. After that, the city's importance faded. Today it is a small provincial town in the state of Karnataka .
Architectural monuments and sights
The parts of Shrirangapattana that were destroyed by the British are still in ruins today, but some of the outstanding buildings are still completely intact. Shrirangapattana is now a popular destination for Indian tourists and increasingly also a destination for foreign visitors.
fortress
The fortress in the west of the island is surrounded by double walls. The place where the British broke through the walls and surprised Tipu Sultan's troops is marked by an obelisk. Also marked is the place where Tipu Sultan fell. The dungeon in which the Mysore ruler kept numerous British soldiers prisoner has also been preserved.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, founded in 894 and from which the name of the city is derived, rises within the fortress walls. It is dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu , and is one of the largest and most important temples in Karnataka . Even Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, although Muslims, supported and protected the temple. Legend has it that Tipu Sultan even made sacrifices there. Architecturally, the temple is a mix of the Hoysala and Vijayanagar styles. It has an impressive gopuram (gate tower) and fortress-like enclosing walls. Inside there is a brass column with a representation of Vishnu resting on the serpent Anantha.
Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque)
This mosque, founded by Tipu Sultan in 1784, is also located within the fortress walls, not far from one of the preserved defense gates. The filigree twin minarets are the landmark of the elegant, two-story church.
Daria Daulat Bagh (Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace)
In 1784 Tipu Sultan had this palace built based on the style of the north Indian Mughals . The two-story building, made almost entirely of teak , stands on a square platform in the middle of an ornamental garden. The partly gilded inner walls are decorated with frescoes, glass and mirror work. The outside of the palace is also partially painted and surrounded by a veranda. Today a museum is housed there, in which various belongings of Tipu Sultan are exhibited.
Gumbaz Mausoleum
The Gumbaz family tomb from 1784 houses the graves of Hyder Ali , his wife Fatima Begum and Tipu Sultan . The snow-white onion dome, the rich facade decorations and the heavy ebony doors with ivory inlays are remarkable. In the surrounding gardens there is a mosque, a small Christian church and the graves of other family members and nobles.
