Sulthan Bathery, previously known as Sultan's Battery, is a town in Wayanad district of Kerala, India. It derives its present name from Tipu Sultan of Mysore who used the abandoned Jain temple here and used it as his battery here in the 18th century, hence the name Sultan's Battery. This town was part of Kidanganadu Village, which got its name because the presence of the Kidangans the tribes. Later, it came to be known as Sultan Bathery, the Malayalam version of its name. It is also known as Sultan's Battery of Wayanad district. Though the fort does not remain any more, the place is worth the visit for the famous Jain Temple. The place was previously known by the name of Sulthan's Battery. It is the Taluk headquarters of Sultan Bathery. It lies on the Kozhikode–Kollegal National Highway (NH 766) 98 km from Kozhikode. It is 115 kilometers from Mysore and about 100 kilometers from Ooty (Udagamandalam). It is also connected with Nilambur. The people primarily depend on agriculture for a living.
Sulthan Battery is situated at about 930 metres above mean sea level. One can find beautiful folded hills across the horizon. The climate is pleasant throughout the year. The town has the National Highway 766 passing through it. The town is the centre of tourism in Wayanad District. It has become a very popular destination among tourists from India's software valley of Bangalore.
Popular for its history and ancient temples, Sultan Bathery is a town in Wayanad district of Kerala. Situated on theKozhikode-Kollegal National Highway, it is the biggest town in the Wayanad district. Along with tourism, the town is also an important commercial centre.
The town was earlier called as ‘Ganapativattom’ and ‘Kidanganadu’. The present name of the town ‘Sultan Bathery’ is a corruption of the phrase ‘Sultan’s Battery’. When Sultan of Mysore Tipu Sultan invaded Kerala, he had stationed his battery of field guns which gave the town its name. Tipu Sultan also built a fort to protect his forces and secure the region; however, there are no remains of the fort.
Besides its history, Sultan Bathery is known for its magnificent beauty. Lush green hills and cool climate make it an ideal holiday destination. The town, like rest of Wayanad, is known for its spice plantations.
The major attraction of the town is the Jain temple, which was built during the 13th century. It was worshiped by both Hindus and Jains. Other attractions of the town are the Ganpati temple and Mariyamman temple. The Ganpati temple is an eight century old shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha. In fact the earlier name of the town ‘Ganapativattom’ was derived from this temple.
There are several festivals celebrated with huge fervour in the town. The most distinguished is celebrated in February-March.
The town is also a shopper’s paradise. It is the biggest shopping place in Wayanad. One can get all agricultural, textiles, electronics and home appliances.
Attractions in Sulthan Bathery
There are plenty of attractions in Sulthan Bathery some of which are mentioned below
Jain Temple- It is one of the top tourist attractions of Sulthan Bathery, which was built during the 13th century. The temple has been a lone observer of the bygone historic era of this town, when the place was visited by the Jains and Hindus to worship, which was later utilized to store ammunition by Tipu Sultan’s army. The temple also includes few skillful stone carvings.
Edakkal Caves- These ancient caves are located on the Ambukuthi Mountains at a distance of about 16 km from the town of Sulthan Bathery. The Eddakal Caves comprises of three caves, located at a height of about 1,000 m above sea level. These caves are said to be one of the oldest sites of human settlements on earth. These caves include primeval stone scripts and several carvings resembling the weapons, animals and humans of the early ages. These carvings are said to be more than 7,000 years old.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Muthanga lies on the route to Mysore from Sulthan Bathery. The sanctuary is one of the top tourist attractions of Kerala. The entire region of this sanctuary is home to different varieties of flora and fauna among which some are of the endangered species. Domestic as well as international tourists come to this sanctuary throughout the year.
Ganapathi Temple- Another chief attraction of Sulthan Bathery is the ancient Ganapathi Temple, which was built during the 8th century. The temple is located at the centre of the town and is very much popular among the Hindu devotees. This temple is also the reason as to why the place was earlier called as Ganapativattom.
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport to this town is Calicut Airport, located at a distance of about 105 km.
By Road: The town is easily accessible by road from several major cities of India. The National Highway 212 links this place with cities like Mysore, Calicut and Bangalore.
By Train: The nearest railway station to this town is Kozhikode Railway Station, located at a distance of about 98 km.
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