Advertisement
Published: November 14th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Sri Ranganath swamy temple
In front of Sri Ranganath swamy temple, Srirangapattana, Karnataka, India About Srirangapattana
I visit Srirangapattana when I go to Mysore from Bengaluru. This town in the Mandya district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located near the city of Mysore (19 km) and is of great religious, cultural and historic importance. The town of Srirangapattana, which derives its name from the
lord Sri Ranganatha swamy temple.
Sri Ranganatha swamy temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god
Ranganatha , a manifestation of Vishnu and is one of the
Pancharanga Kshetras . The temple is one of a set of three major temples that are built on three different islands on the Kaveri and are dedicated to lord Ranganatha. Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu) has been dedicated at three pilgrimages. Those are …
*
Adi Ranga at
Srirangapattana.
*
Madhya Ranga at
Shivanasamudra.
*
Antya Ranga at
Srirangam.
The Ranganatha swamy temple is one of the most important Vaishnavite shrines in South India. It is built by the
Gangas in 9th century, later improved by the
Hoysala and
Vijaya nagar kings.
History
Srirangapattana has since time immemorial been an urban center and place of pilgrimage During the Vijayanagar empire, it became the seat of a major viceroyalty, from where several nearby vassal states of the empire, such as Mysore and Talakad, were overseen. When, perceiving the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire, the rulers of Mysore ventured to assert independence, Srirangapattana was their first target.
Raja Wodeyar vanquished
Rangaraya, the then viceroy of Srirangapattana, in 1610 and celebrated the Navaratri festival in the town that year.
Srirangapattana became the de facto capital of Mysore under
Hyder Ali and
Tipu Sultan. When Tipu finally dispensed with the charade of deference to the legitimate Wodeyar Maharaja who was actually his captive, and proclaimed the
”Khudadad State” under his own kingship, Srirangapattana became de jure the capital of that short lived political entity. In that heady period, the state ruled by Tipu extended its frontiers in every direction, encompassing a major portion of South India. Srirangapattana flourished as the cosmopolitan capital of this powerful state.
Various
Indo Islamic monuments that dot the town, such as
Tipu Sultan's palaces, the Darya Daulat and the
Jumma Mosque.
Srirangapattana was the scene of the last and decisive battle fought between Tipu Sultan and the British forces led by General Harris. This battle was the last engagement of the
Fourth Anglo Mysore war. The Battle of Seringapatam, 1799, was truly momentous in its historic effects.
Tipu Sultan was killed within the fort of Srirangapattana, betrayed infamously by one of his own confidants; the spot where he ultimately fell is marked by a memorial. For the last time in history, Srirangapattana had been the scene of political change in the Kingdom of Mysore. Having secured the victory, the British proceeded to plunder Srirangapattana and ransack Tipu's palace. Apart from the usual gold and cash, innumerable valuables and objects d'art, not excepting even the personal effects of Tipu Sultan, his rich clothes and shoes, sword and firearms, were shipped to England.
While most of this is now to be found in the British Royal Collection and in the Victoria and Albert Museum, some articles have occasionally become available at auctions and have been retrieved for their native land. The sword of Tipu Sultan has been acquired by Vijay Mallya, a liquor baron from Karnataka, who purchased the same at a Sotheby's auction.
Srirangapattana remained part of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1610 to after India's independence in 1947; as the fortress closest to the capital city of Mysore, it was the last bastion and defense of the kingdom in case of invasion.
Places to See
The town is famous for a very ancient temple dedicated to Sri Ranganathaswamy, a form of Lord Vishnu.
Before entering into Temple, right side there is one more temple of Lakshmi Narasimha. It is very good temple with statues of all Krishna avathars.
Other attractions include the Jumma Masjid (a Mosque) and the Daria Daulat Gardens.
On the way to temple, you can find Tipu Sultan's body found place and government made it as memorial place for Tipu Sultan and it is under Archeological Survey of India.
Don’t forget to visit the Cauvery River while going to temple.
Places near to Srirangapattana
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 are situated a few kilometers 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 Shivanasamudra Falls, the second biggest waterfall in India and the sixteenth largest in the world.
How to reach
By Road & Rail:
Srirangapattana is well connected to Bengaluru and Mysore. You can easily accessible by train or road from Bangalore and Mysore.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Devanahalli, Bengaluru.
My experience
I plan to visit Mysore from Bengaluru (Banglore). So I took tickets from Janata travels in BTM, Bengaluru. It is a one day tour package. I started with my friend Ram Manohar on 26th September 2009 at morning 7: OO AM and return to Bengaluru at 12:30 AM. On the way to Mysore, we take halt at Srirangapattana before going to Mysore. It is good great religious and historic place with Lord Ranaganatha swamy and Tipu. It’s very nice town and one should visit. I miss some of places near to Srirangapattana, and I hope I’ll cover soon.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.068s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 11; qc: 50; dbt: 0.0231s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
lipika
non-member comment
First of it's kind i have visited
My first experience of travelling to this sacred place alone.Got relieved from a kind of illness on it's own.Your blog is 1st of it's kind I have ever visited(I never visit other's blogs). My First experience and thanks to u. If u wish u can write to me to be a friend of this kind for the first time. Wish u all the best. Lipika