|Sulthan Bathery is situated about 100 km from Kozhikode on NH212 and it was earlier known as Ganapathivattom. The place owes its new name to the erstwhile ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, who during his invasion of the Malabar region dumped his ammunition and parked his artillery battering in an old Jain temple here. The place was hence known as Sulthan Bathery which is a corrupted form of Sultan’s battery. Tipu Sultan also built a fort here, which is in ruins now and a police station stands on the mounds of the fort now.
Situated at an altitude of 1000m above sea level, Sulthan Bathery enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. The topography interwoven with valleys, plains and mountainous terrain enchants any visitor here.
Once known as a strategic location in the Malabar region, Sulthan Bathery is now the largest town in Wayanad district and is known for its tourism and commercial activities. The pre-historic caves, jungle trails, sparkling streams and rivers and lush greenery of the undulating hills draw a lot of tourists to the region every year. Though tribes constitute the majority of the population, Sulthan Bathery also houses a settler population (those who migrated from various parts of Kerala). The main occupation of the people here is agriculture.
The place is well connected with various places with the NH 212 Kozhikode – Mysore National Highway. There is also another road that branches off from Sulthan Bathery and leads to Gudallur in Tamil Nadu. Accommodation options too are available in the town. There are various resorts and government guest houses and budget hotels in the area.