Click on the pictures below for an enlarged view May 4 1799 AD. The ramparts of Serangapatam have been
stormed by theEast India Company troops under the command of Colonel Wellesley.
British troops gained the upper hand and entered the town, making
a breach in the fort. The Tiger of Mysore was engaged in a
hand-to-hand combat with the British soldiers and mortally wounded.
The death of Tipu Sultan ended the Fourth Mysore War
and heralded the end of Indian resistance against colonial rule in
South India. That day River Cauvery flowed red with blood and corpses.
Today, centuries later, gentle flows the river Cauvery down
the plains of Mandya. A lot of water has flown down the banks since
then. Serangapatam, the hallowed capital of the Tiger of Mysore,
is now Srirangapatna, a tiny sleepy suburb of Mysore. This
island town is a place of legends and history. The river Cauvery divides
itself before reaching Srirangapatna and the tributaries meet again
about three miles downstream. Life goes on languidly.
The formidable fort has decayed and fallen into ruins. Within the
fort is the
Water Gate, leading to the river Cauvery, where a memorial stone declares
that Tipu, the Tiger of Mysore met his death fighting British
soldiers on that fateful day. The place where the British troops breached
the fort, to enter the town, has a small monument.
Though the palace of Tipu is totally destroyed, the other monuments
in Srirangapatna are well preserved. The Jumma Masjid, the
grand mosque constructed by Tipu, stands towering above the town.
It has two lofty minarets noted for their majesty and grace. A flight
of about 200 steps leads to the top of the minarets. There are fine
Persian inscriptions, giving the date of construction as 1787 A.D
and also extracts from the Koran.
The main street inside the fort leads to Sri Ranganatha Temple,
from which
Srirangapatna got its name. This is one of the three most important
temples in South India dedicated to Lord Ranganatha. With a
majestic tower, it is one of the biggest temples in the State. The
temple was built over 1,000 years ago and was extended by the Vijayanagara
king in 1454 AD. Every year in the month of January, a huge congregation
of devotees attend the temple fair.
On the south bank of the river outside the fort, Tipu laid out a large garden, called Dariya Daulat Bagh. Constructed
in
1784, a summer palace stands amidst a vast expanse of greenery. This
was 'Tiger' Tipu's favourite retreat. The graceful proportions and
the arabesque work in rich colours covering the walls, render the
palace very attractive. It is a fine specimen of Indo-Saracenic
architecture, which was named Dariya Daulat, meaning "wealth
of the sea". On one side of the walls are depicted the battles
the father and son fought against the British and on the other the
paintings of the rulers and chieftains of the princely states.
At
the eastern end of Srirangapatna is the Gumbaz or mausoleum
where Tipu, his father, Hyder Ali and his mother are buried. It is
an impressive square structure with a central dome and minarets at
the angles adding to its beauty. A corridor supported by pillars of
black hornblende surrounds Gumbaz. The interiors are painted in lacquer
with tiger stripes adopted by Tipu for the military uniforms. Lord
Dalhousie presented the double doors inlaid with ivory.
As
time passes, the monuments are gradually falling into ruins and are
being replaced by modern structures. Slowly the town is losing its
historic character and turning into a modern suburb. Like the old
lady at the temple who sells old coins and trinkets says, "My
time is up, but still life here is not that fast paced to push me
into oblivion." The same sentiments are expressed by an old
sanyasi who helps devotees at the riverbank to do the last rites
for their ancestors. "The waters of the Cauvery will sweep
us away and bring in fresh water."
Do visit the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary and Amblee River Resort
just outside the city.
Traveller's Info Distance: 124 kms from Bangalore Nearest Rail head: Srirangapatna is connected by rail Nearest City: Mysore: 15 kms away Accommodation: Apart from Amblee River Resort,
very little lodging facility available.(It is better to stay in Mysore)
Best time to visit: Dasara festival in October and Temple fair
in January
12:14:34 AM 
