Sangolli Rayanna participated in the 1824 rebellion and was arrested by the British, who released him later. He belongs to Kuruba Gowda community. He continued to fight the British and wanted to install the adopted son of King Mallasarja and Rani Chennamma, namely Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur. He mobilised local people and started a guerilla type war against the British. He and his guerrilla army moved from place to place, burnt government offices, waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries. Most of his land was confiscated and what remained of it was heavily taxed. He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. The British troops could not defeat him in open battle. Hence, by treachery, he was caught in April 1830 and tried by the British; and sentenced to death. Shivalingappa, the boy who was supposed to be the new ruler, was also arrested by the British. Rayanna was executed by hanging unto death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belagavi district on 26 January 1831. Rayanna was helped by Gajaveera, a Siddi warrior, in his revolt against the British in 1829–30. Rayanna was buried near Nandagad. Legend says that a close associate of Rayanna planted a sapling on his grave. Unlike the usual 6-foot grave, Rayanna's grave is 8 feet long because Rayanna was tall - more than 7 feet. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. An Ashoka Stambha was installed near the tree. A small temple in the name of Sangolli Rayanna was constructed at Sangolli village, in which stands a statue of Rayanna flanked by two wooden weights used for body building. One of the wooden weights is original, that is it was used by Rayanna himself for body building. A community hall, built in commemoration of Rayanna at Sangolli serves the villagers of Sangolli.
The Gee Gee songs are heroic folklore verses composed in North Karnataka and several such songs are sung about Kittur Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and other figures of pre-independence Karnataka. A life size bronze statue of Sangolli Rayanna, riding a horse with open sword in right hand, was installed near Railway station of Bengaluru. The main railway station of Bengaluru City has been renamed as "Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway station" in 2015. However the station officially re named and notified as "Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna" Railway Station on 03-02-2016
