Srirangapatna, is a definite tourist spot on the agenda of tourists visiting Mysore. Other historic temple sites in and around Mysore include Chamundi Hills,   Somnathpura and Talakkad.

This island in the river Kaveri, is referred to as Goutama Kshetram and is located in the vicinity of Mysore. Srirangapatna enshrines Vishnu as Ranganatha in the Ranganathaswamy temple, which is said to date back to the period of the Ganga ruler Tirumalaiya of the 9th century CE.

Srirangapatna was the historic capital of Tippu Sultan known for his struggle against British rule. Several monuments relating to his rule are sprinkled across the island. Both Tippu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali are believed to have made endowments to the Ranganathaswamy temple.

Srirangapatna is one of the Pancharanga Kshetras in the course of the river Kaveri. The other four are Srirangam near Tiruchirappalli, Tiruvindalur near Mayiladuturai, Kumbhakonam and Koyiladi near Tiruchirappalli all in Tamilnadu, along the Kaveri as the river meanders in an easterly direction. Srirangapatna is also known as Aadi Rangam, Srirangam as Antha Rangam and Sivasamudram in Karnataka as Madhyarangam.

This vast temple has an impressive gopuram and fort like walls and it exhibits a mixture of the Hoysala and Vijayanagar architectural styles. Ranganatha is portrayed as reclining on the bed of Aadi Sesha. Also enshrined are images of Gowtama muni and the river Kaveri. Ranganayaki Thaayaar is enshrined in the north west corner of the temple. There is also a shrine to Krishna here.

The Alwars and the Acharyas of the Sri Vaishnava tradition are also enshrined here. Also seen here are images of Srinivasa and Panchamukha Anjaneya, said to have been installed by Vyasaraya. The Chaturvimsati pillars in front of the inner entrance bear carvings of 24 forms of Vishnu.

See Also:
Abodes of Vishnu
Sringeri