Srirangapatna Fort
Part of Karnataka
Srirangapatna, Karnataka, India
Srirangapatna Fort is located in Karnataka
Srirangapatna Fort
Srirangapatna Fort
Coordinates12°25′30″N 76°40′34″E / 12.425°N 76.676°E / 12.425; 76.676
TypeForts
Site information
Controlled byBangalore Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India

Srirangapatna Fort is a historical fort located in Srirangapatna, the historical capital city of the Kingdom of Mysore in present-day South Indian state of Karnataka. Built by the Timmanna Nayaka in 1454, the fort was modified by later rulers and fully fortified in the late 18th century with the help of French architects. Rulers wanted to protect it against British invaders associated with the East India Company.

Rivers protect the fort on three sides. The river Kaveri borders the fort in one direction; in the West and Northern directions it is protected by the river Cauvery. The fort contained Lal Mahal and Tipu's palace, which were demolished when the British captured it in 1799. There are seven outlets and two dungeons.

Several structures and elements are maintained as protected monuments under the Bangalore Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India: Colonel Bailey's Dungeon; Daria Daulat Bagh; Gumbaj containing tomb of Tipu Sultan; Juma Masjid (Masjid-E-Ala); Obelisk monuments, and Fort walls near the breach the spot where Tipu's Body was found; the Sri Kanthirava statue in Narasimha Temple; Sri Ranganatha Svami Temple; and Thomas Inman's Dungeon.

History

Colonel Bailey's Dungeon

The fort is believed to have been built in 1454 CE by Timmanna Nayaka, a ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire.[1] The fort was in the hands of the Empire until 1495, when the Wodeyars overpowered the Vijayanagar rulers. The fort subsequently changed hands among the competing Nawab of Arcot, Peshwas and the Marathas.[2]

The Wodeyars moved their capital from Mysore to Srirangapatna and established the fort as the seat of the empire. The region and the fort were changed during the rule of Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673 to 1704), but the three subsequent rulers did not affect it. During the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1734–66), the kingdom became a strong military force; it was controlled by military general Hyder Ali.[3] During 1757 Hyder Ali had to cede the fort to the invading Marathas for 32 lakh rupees, but he regained it later.[1]

During 1782, Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali, took control of the fort and added fortifications. Tipu's territory was invaded many times by British forces. Tipu had an alliance with the French and appealed by letter to Napoleon for aid. After several unsuccessful attempts, British forces of the East India Company, under the command of Colonel Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, attacked on 4 May 1799. The forces had 2,494 British soldiers and 1,882 Indian troops. The soldiers waited in trenches until mid-day before advancing across the river, as that was the period of rest for the fort watchmen. Colonel Beatson wrote an account of the offensive in his manuscripts.[3]

After Tipu was killed in the battle, the English officials signed a treaty with the Wodeyar queen.[2][4] Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley of Norragh, was in charge. Later known as Lord Mornington, he was Governor-General of India (1798 and 1805). This battle is considered one of the turning points in the colonization strategy of the East India Company.[5]

Architecture

Image of Sriranganthaswamy and Jumma Masjid inside the fort

The fort is protected in the West and Northern directions by river Cauvery. The fort had Lal Mahal and Tipu's palace, which were demolished during the British capture of 1799. There are seven outlets and two dungeons.[6] The Ranganathaswamy Temple, located inside the fort is believed to have been built by Ramanuja, the proponent of Vaishnadvaita philosophy with the grants from Vishnuvardhana, the 12th century Hoysala king.[7] The temple is found in the open grounds on the western side of the fort. The other temple, the Narasimhaswamy temple, is located on the other side of the open ground. The northern part of the fort houses the dungeons, where European prisoners are believed to have been confined. Tipu Sultan's palace is located opposite to the main entrance of the Ranganathaswami temple.[7] Juma mosque, built by Tipu in Indo-Islamic architecture is one of the major mosques inside the fort.[8]

Tippu Mosque, Srirangapatnam

Legacy

The sword and the ring of Tipu Sultan are maintained in the British Museum and believed to have been taken at the battle by Hon. Arthur Henry Cole, son of the Earl of Enniskillen.[5] Colonel Bailey's Dungeon, Daria Daulat Bagh, Gumbaj containing tomb of Tipu Sultan, Juma Masjid (Masjid-E-Ala), Obelisk monuments and Fort walls near the breach, spot where Tipu's Body was found, Sri Kanthirava statue in Narasimha Temple, Sri Ranganatha Svami Temple and Thomas Inman's Dungeon are maintained as protected monuments under the Bangalore Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India.[9]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Verma, Amrit (1985). Forts of India. New Delhi: The Director of Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 91–3. ISBN 81-230-1002-8.
  2. 1 2 Verma, Amrit. Forts of India. New Delhi: The Director, Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 91–93. ISBN 81-230-1002-8.
  3. 1 2 Tovey, Winifred (14 February 2013). Cor Blimey! Where 'Ave You Come From?. M-Y Books Distribution. pp. 29–32. ISBN 9780956535948.
  4. ↑ Sampath, Vikram (2008). Splendours of Royal Mysore. Rupa Publications. p. 54. ISBN 9788129115355.
  5. 1 2 "Ring and sword of Tipu Sultan". British Museum. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Dr. K., Puttaraju. Progress of tourism in Mandya District – problems & prospects. p. 18. ISBN 9781304731708.
  7. 1 2 Thompson 1990, p. 2
  8. ↑ "Srirangapatna". Mandya district administration. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka". Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts. Retrieved 21 December 2013.

References

  • Thompson, Rev. E. W. (1990) [1923]. The last siege of Seringapatam. Mysore City: Wesleyan Mission. ISBN 8120606027.
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