Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna

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If you are traveling in the Mysore region, don't end your trip just by visiting famous places like Mysore Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills and Brindavan Gardens. Explore the nearby towns such as Somnathpur, Talakad, and Srirangapatna, the historical cities of Karnataka. This small article is about the ancient temple of Ranganatha Swamy located in Srirangapatna.


Ranganathaswamy temple is the dominating site of Srirangapatna, even though there are other historically significant sites such as Tipu's Summer Palace or Daria Daulat Palace, Juma Masjid, Tipu's tomb, and Tipu's fort. The temple was built by a Ganga chieftain named Tirumalayaraya in 894 CE. Many contributions and expansions to the structure were made by Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings, and Mysore Wodeyar kings.


Almost all the major islands formed in the Cauvery (Kaveri) river have temples to Lord Sri Ranganathaswamy (Vishnu in the reclining posture). The three towns, which are the islands formed in the Cauvery river, which constitute the main pilgrimage centers dedicated to Ranganathaswamy, are:

Adi Ranga - at Srirangapatna
Madhya Ranga - at Shivanasamudra
Antya Ranga - at Srirangam


In the sanctum, Sri Ranganathaswamy, the presiding deity, is in the reclining posture on the coils of the serpent Adi Sesha. This is the largest Ranganathaswamy icon in the entire state of Karnataka. 

The temple's main entrance has four pillars sculpted with 24 forms of Lord Vishnu. It was constructed during the Vijayanagara period. 

Besides, most of the pillars are in the unique Hoysala style. In front of the main shrine, a monolithic Garuda stambha of the Vijayanagara period is found.


Ranganayaki is the primary goddess of the temple. She is enshrined in a separate shrine. 

The temple also enshrines other deities such as Narasimha with Sudarshana on his backside, Gopalakrishna, Srinivasa, Rama-Sita- Lakshmana, Hanuman, Ramanuja, and Garuda.



The colossal temple has an attractive tower (Rajagopura) visible from almost any part of the town.

Happy travelling.

Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.




Location: Srirangapatna, Karnataka, India

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