Srirangapatna Overview

Nestling in the waters of the River Cauvery is the town of Srirangapatna. It is said that any island formed in River Kaveri is consecrated to Lord Ranganatha and Srirangapatna is part of this culture.

Three things come to one’s mind on hearing the name of Srirangapatna – the temple, Tipu Sultan’s palace, and the bird sanctuary. The town, which is in Mandya district and close to Mysore, is of historic, religious and cultural significance. Situated near the Cauvery River, it lies between the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, Mysuru, and Bengaluru.

Among several temples in this district is one of Sri Ranganatha which was consecrated in 984 AD by a vassal of Western Ganga Dynasty named Tirumalaiah. Also of immense historical importance is Tipu’s palace, Daria Daulat Bagh, which is one of the most important monuments here. The fort which is a blend of Indo and Islamic culture was built in the year 1784.

A short distance away amidst the greenery on the banks of the river is a bird sanctuary, Ranganathittu, which is a breeding ground for birds of various species. A visit to this sanctuary between June and October is the time is the time you can see various kinds of birds and their young ones. A boat ride in the river would enable a closer look at the birds and their nests.