Colonel Bailey’s Dungeon, Srirangapatna

The word Dungeon is morbid and imagination conjures up of prisoners suffering in the dark dungeons. To see it for real, travel to Srirangapatna and visit the Dungeon built during the rule of Tipu Sultan.  He used the dungeons to confine the British officers. It is named after a British prisoner Colonel Bailey who died in this dungeon in 1780.

There are shoulder height stone slabs fixed on the East, North and West walls with holes. The captives would be chained at the wrists and tied to the slab with waist deep cold water.

Captain Baird and Rulay, Colonel Brithwhite Sampson, Frazer and Lindsay were all imprisoned in Colonel Baileys Dungeon.

Colonel Baileys Dungeon as you imagined is below ground level and you will have to climb down few steps to enter the dungeon. The arches of the dungeon greet you and when you enter the arch and explore the clean dungeon, you again get illusions of prisoners being held here. I have noticed that hyper children stop chattering and stay still with eyes transfixed and absorbing the surrounding, maybe thanking that the dungeon is history gone by.

There is a Cannon in the center of the dungeon and there are many theories explaining its presence here. One being, that the cannon fell through the roof, while Tipu was waging a war with the British.

From the top of the dungeon, the view of Cauvery River and the bridge cutting across is worth taking a picture.

Place Statistics:
Type of place: Dungeon
Situated: Srirangapatna
Transport: Well connected by road, you can hire autorikshaws or tongas to reach the place
Distance: 15 Km from Mysore, 125 Km from Bangalore
Transport: Well connected by road and rail
Facilities: Many hotels and resorts are available

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