Colonel Bailey's Dungeon, Colonial dungeon in Srirangapatna, India
Colonel Bailey's Dungeon is an underground brick prison in Srirangapatna, in the Mandya district of Karnataka, India. The space is divided by thick pillars supporting low vaulted ceilings, and the walls still bear the iron rings and holes that were used to restrain prisoners.
The dungeon was built after the British defeat at the hands of Hyder Ali in 1782 to hold English prisoners of war, including Colonel David Baird and other officers. It stood at the heart of Srirangapatna fort, which served as the capital of the Mysore Sultanate under Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan.
Colonel Bailey's Dungeon is open to visitors and the original iron rings and carved holes used to restrain prisoners are still visible in the walls. Walking through the low vaulted chambers gives a direct sense of how captives lived in the dark and cramped space.
The monument is inside the Srirangapatna fort complex, which is easy to reach on foot from the town center. The underground chambers are dark and damp, so a flashlight and closed shoes are worth having before going in.
The dungeon is named after Colonel David Baird, who was held here for nearly four years alongside other British officers. Baird later returned and led the assault that ended Tipu Sultan's rule in 1799, making the site part of a story that came full circle.
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