ivasmudram is an island in the River Cauvery fifty miles east of Seringapatam. The original town and fortress were utterly destroyed by the Hoysala kings. Another of Fraser's watercolours depicts ' The Ruins of the Great Pagoda at the ancient City of Shivensamudra.' A popular, although historically inaccurate tradition relates that the surviving heir, Sree Rung Rayel, was passing the site, and was struck by its resemblance to the city of his ancestors, Shivensamundra. He erected a fort at Seringapatam, naming it after himself, and passed the government of it to one of his ministers, Raj Wodeyar, from whom the Mysore Raja descended. In fact, the fort at Seringapatam dates from c.1454, and the name is thought to derive from Sree Runga Puttun, meaning 'the city of the holy Runga god.' Wilks notes that the local inhabitants, with their cattle and possessions, took refuge on the island of 'Shaven Summooder.' He also notes that this was 'the place afterwards so frequently visited by the English travellers, on account of the magnificent falls of the Caveri.' Water from the two cascades, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, was harnessed for power in 1901.

Thomas Fraser was the son of Hugh Fraser, a portrait painter of Morpeth, on the Scottish borders. He joined the Madras Engineers in 1796 and in June 1799 was appointed to survey duties at Seringapatam under Colin Mackenzie. After a few months, he returned to Madras on sick list. He was appointed Lieutenant in 1800, and Captain in 1808.