Srirangapatna Fort is a fort located in Mandya district of Karnataka state. A historic fort in Srirangapatna, the historical capital of the Mysore Empire. Srirangapatna Fort is a must-see and has many historical sites, presents an attractive architecture and holds great historical significance. Srirangapatna Fort is one of the most popular forts in Karnataka.
Srirangapatna Fort is about 127 km from Bangalore. It is about 27 km from Mandya city and just 15 km from Mysore city. Mysore Railway Station is just 16 km away and Srirangapatna is 01 km away.
The Srirangapatna Fort was built in 1454 by Thimmanna Nayaka. The area later came under the control of the Wodeyar king of Mysore, Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar, the fort was rebuilt in 1654.
The fort was modified by King Hyder Ali and King Tipu Sultan during the reign of the empire. King Tipu Sultan fought to defend it against British invaders associated with the East India Company. The fort has four impressive gates.
Cauvery rivers protect the fort on three sides. The fort is protected by the Kaveri river on the western and northern sides. At the end of the 18th century they were completely fortified with the help of French architects. The fort houses the Lal Mahal and King Tipu Sultan’s palace, which was demolished when the British captured Tipu Sultan’s palace in 1799. There are seven palaces and two dungeons.
The Wodeyars shifted their capital from Mysore to Srirangapatna and established the fort as the center of the kingdom. The area and the fort were altered during the reign of Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673 to 1704). During the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1734-66), the fort became the strongest military force in the state. It was controlled by military general Hyder Ali. During 1757 King Hyder Ali had to surrender the fort to the invading Marathas, but he later regained it.
During 1782 King Hyder Ali’s son King Tipu Sultan took control of the fort and fortified the forts. The territory of King Tipu Sultan was invaded many times by the British forces. King Tipu Sultan was allied with the French and appealed to Napoleon by letter for help. After several failed attempts, British forces of the East India Company, led by Colonel Arthur Wellesley, attacked in 1799.
After King Tipu Sultan was martyred in battle, the English authorities signed a treaty with the Wodeyar Rani. Marquess Wellesley was in charge of the fort. King Tipu Sultan’s sword and ring are now in the British Museum and were taken as honors for the victory in the war.
Srirangapatna Fort Architecture
The fort is protected by the Cauvery River on the west and north . The fort housed the Lal Mahal and Tipu ‘s Palace , which were demolished during the British occupation in 1799. There are seven pavilions. The Ranganathaswamy Temple is located within the fort. It is believed to have been built by Ramanujacharya . The temple’s open space is found on the western side of the fort. Another temple, the Narasimhaswamy Temple, is on the other side of the open space. The northern side of the fort houses the prisons, where European prisoners are believed to have been held. Tipu Sultan’s palace is located opposite the main gate of the Ranganathaswamy Temple. The Juma Masjid is one of the main mosques inside the fort, built by Tipu in Indo-Islamic architecture.