Sulthan Bathery
Label : Great For Family Outing
Tags : Temple
Time Required : 1 day
Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad Overview
Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad's main market town, takes its name from a battery built by Tipu Sultan when he used a 13th-century Jain temple here as an ammunition store — the ruined temple still stands beside the bus stand. It's the usual entry point for Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary and the Karnataka border, so it works better as a stopover than a base.
Located at an altitude of 1000 meters above the sea level, the town of Sulthan Bathery boasts of a fantastic topography: majestic hills interspersed with valleys, cliffs and plains. Not only is Sulthan Bathery now the largest town in the entire Wayanad district, but the place is also reputed for its tourism and commercial activities. The main attractions for the tourists are the pre-historic caves, jungle trails, sparkling streams and rivers and lush greenery of the undulating hills, along with many options to explore the city and its surroundings. Stopovers such as the Edakkal Caves, Chethalayam Falls, the Jain Temple, Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary, Ambalavayal Heritage Museum and St. Mary's and Yakoob Church make this town a suitable choice for every kind of traveller, having something for everyone to see.
Read More on Sulthan Bathery
History of Sulthan Bathery
The ancient history of the town goes in sync with the history of Wayanad. Tipu Sultan ruled over this territory when the British Invasion started, which led them to claim the area under the 1792 Treaty of Srirangapatna. Consequently, after various political arguments, the British troops withdrew from Wayanad, conceding to Tipu's rule.
Sulthan Bathery Jain Temple
Other famous places located here are the Sulthan Bathery Jumaa Masjid, which is the largest one in the town and can hold more than 1000 worshippers; the Ganpati Temple, the Masjid Madeena and Shaduli Masjid. The Mariyamman Temple is yet another significant temple, especially for the local tribes. The yearly festival which takes places here in February-March gathers a lot of crowds.
Other than temples and mosques, one can also find numerous churches in Sulthan Bathery, such as the Soonoro Church, St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Assumption Church, Church of God in Malabar and the Assemblies of God Church.
Tourist Attractions in Sulthan Bathery
1. Situated on the Ambukuthi Mountains, at a distance of 16 kilometres from the central town, the Edakkal Caves is a set of three caves in all. These caves are considered to be one amongst the earliest sites of human settlement on the entire planet.
2. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located en route from Sulthan Bathery to Mysore. The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna and also houses many rare and endangered ones.
3. The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum is one of the largest and best archaeological museums in the State. The museum exhibits rare artefacts, stone weapons, clay sculptures and ancient hunting equipment. The museum, located 12 kilometres to the south of Sulthan Bathery, never fails to fascinate archaeologists, historians and ordinary people alike.
4. Other places of interest in Sulthan Bathery include the Chembra Peak, the tallest peak in Wayanad at an altitude of 2100 metres above the sea level; the Chethalayam Waterfalls which involve an exciting 4 kilometre trek to reach the site; and the Pookot Lake, which houses a freshwater aquarium, facilities for boating and a children's park.
Best Time To Visit Sulthan Bathery
Shopping At Sulthan Bathery
How To Reach Sulthan Bathery
The nearest Railway Station is Nilambur Road, situated 43 kilometres away. The most convenient option to travel is via buses, as one can quickly get regular buses to Sultan Bathery from other major cities of the country.
