Srirangapatna has seen the influence of the Vijayanagar empire which built temples and other momuments here. It was later taken over by Karnataka's famous Mughal rulers of Hyder Ali and the legendary Tipu Sultan.

The Vijayanagar empire 

The history of Srirangapatna commences from the 9th century A.D. as revealed in an inscription of a Ganga chieftain Tirumalaiah, the founder of the temple of Sriranganatha. Timmanna, one of the descendants of Hebbars, built the fort at Srirangapatna with the permission of Devaraya, the Vijayanagar king in early fifteenth century.

The town and the fort assumed such strategic importance that Sauva Narasa, father of  Krishnadevaraya, took possession of Srirangapatna and afterwards it was ruled by the Viceroys of Vijayanagar kings.

Downfall of the Vijayanagar Kingdom 

With the downfall of Vijayanagar in 1565 A. D. the powers of the Viceroys dwindled and the Wodeyars of Mysore, though acknowledging the nominal suzerainty of Vijayanagar, obtained possession of Srirangapatna in 1610 A. D. 

Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan - Karnataka's great rulers

The history of Srirangapatna as that of South India revolves round Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who revived Srirangapatna from doldrums to a powerful unified state bounded by the river Krishna in the north, Travancore in the south, the Eastern Ghats and the Arabian sea in the east and west respectively. 

The Mysore wars of Srirangapatna

Hyder Ali, along with his son Tipu fought four wars against the English, known as Mysore wars. The first two battles were won by Hyder and Tipu with the help of the French. Hyder died at  Narasingarayanapet near Chitor and was buried in an impressive mausoleum on the outskirts of Srirangapatna.

The Legend of Tipu Sultan 

After the death of Hyder, Tipu (1750-1799) was enthroned as the ruler in 1783. Tipu was a man of sound moral character, active and patriotic.

Well educated, able to speak Arabic, Kannada, Persian and Urdu, a valiant soldier and a tactful general. In 1792 A.D. at the end of the Third Mysore War, Tipu was forced to sign a treaty conceding nearly half his territories and agreeing to pay three crores of rupees as a war indemnity, pending payment of which, two of his sons where taken away as hostages by the English. 

Death of Tipu Sultan 

In the Fourth Mysore War Tipu died fighting in 1799. After the fall of Srirangapatna, the English installed Krishnaraja Wodeyar III a boy of five years as the ruler and the capital was shifted to Mysore, since then Srirangapatna has lost its importance. It’s ruined Fort, temples, palaces and mosques stand as eloquent testimony to its glorious past.

Go on a sighteeing trip of Srirangapatna and see history in action...