detail of sri ranganatha temple-trichy

Sri Ranganatha Temple

The temple is much older than the town and fort having been founded in A.D. 894 by the Ganga king, Tirumalaiya; and later enlarged by a Vijayanagar viceroy in the C15th A.D. The island shrine is dedicated to Ranganatha and is a centre for the Vaishnava faith. The temple is also referred to as Paschima (western) Ranganatha Kshetra, to distinguish it from another island temple on Srirangam further down the Cauvery near Trichy and which is referred to as Purva (eastern) Ranganatha Kshetra..

Outer view of a gateway located on the south-western face of the fortress - leading down to the southern arm of the Cauvery (Kaveri) River. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. 4:29

Inner view of the hidden gateway.

Rampart, North Wall

View from the fort ramparts of the north arm of the Cauvery (Kaveri) River - looking towards position occupied by the Bombay Army in 1799.

Fortified Doorway

Iron-spiked wooden doorway on the northern face of the fortress.

Jibi Gate

View of the Jibi Gate on the northern face of the fortress - narrow fortified sallyport gateway used by Mysorean troops to mount attacks against the Bombay Army encamped across the Cauvery (Kaveri) River.

Powder Magazine

Inner view of (restored) powder magazine located in Rampart Road near the north-eastern corner of the fortress.

Masjid-E-Ala Mosque [Jama Masjid Mosque]

The twin minarets of the mosque were a gift from Tipu and they dominate the eastern skyline (along with the nearby Flag-Staff Cavalier). The minarets were a favourite subject matter for many contemporary European artists in their depictions of the British campaigns against the capital of Mysore. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. SRI 2:2

Close-up view of one of the minarets of the Jama Masjid Mosque at Srirangapatna.

North-Western Rampart

View of one of the outer ramparts near the north-western corner of the fortress - suffered heavy bombardment from the enfilading artillery fire of the Bombay Army in 1799. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. BANG 4:34

Memorial obelisk erected on the north-west rampart wall commemorating the names of those British troops who fell during the assault on the breach on 4 May 1799. Tipu Memorial Concrete memorial purportedly marking the spot (east of the Water Gate) where Tipu's body was found after the fighting on 4 May 1799. Dovecote Restored dovecote located near the entrance to the Daria Daulat (Tipu's Summer Palace) Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Original dovecote located beside the roadway on the way to Ganjam, Srirangapatna island.