Ranganatha Temple

Srirangapatna (British called it Seringapatam) is a small town, 13 km from Mysore in southern India. Tipu Sultan ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from Srirangapatna in the 18th century. The whole town is surrounded by the Cauvery river which makes Srirangapatna a rare island town.

The town achieved fame and political importance under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, who made it the capital of Mysore. It was the scene of at least one of the three battles that Tipu fought against the British who were based in Madras, and is the place where he was ultimately killed during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. The town, amongst other things, is famous for a thousand-year-old temple dedicated to Sri Ranganatha Swamy (a form of Lord Vishnu), after whom the town obtained its name. The Sultan was supposed to have patronised the temple himself, and the story goes that he had to lose one of his sons as hostage to the British to keep the temple. Some of the other attractions include the Jumma Masjid (Mosque) and Daria Daulat Gardens.

In Srirangapatna, the Sultan had a fortune in jewels and a famous wind-up model of a tiger attacking a British Redcoat. The model is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Near Srirangapatna is the Ranganathittu bird-sanctuary which is the breeding site for many bird species such as the Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Black-headed Ibis, River Tern, Great Stone Plover and Indian Shag. A small hill, Karighatta (Black Hill) with a temple of Lord Srinivasa is situated a few kilometres from the town. The deity is that of Karigirivasa (One who stays on the Black hill).

The town is easily appraochable by train from Bangalore or Mysore. The highway from Bangalore to Mysore also passes through the city. It is well connected by buses.

The town of Srirangam near Trichy is also similar in that it is in an island formed by Kaveri and is the site of the most important shrine dedicated to 'Sri Ranganatha Swamy'.