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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sultan Bathery
സുൾത്താൻ ബാത്തറി
Spend a half‑day at Edakkal Caves and a half‑day exploring the town; one full day covers the main sights.
Sultan Bathery is a transport hub in Wayanad, Kerala. It sits at 930 m altitude, halfway between Mysore and Kozhikode. The town’s main draw is the 13th‑century Jain Temple and nearby Edakkal Caves. With good bus connections and affordable local transport, a single day is enough for the key attractions; an extra night lets you enjoy a relaxed stay in one of the many budget lodges.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- സുൾത്താൻ ബാത്തറി
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (check)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (monsoon, check)
- Stay
- 1 (optional) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–3,500 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Medical 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (cup) | ₹30–50 |
| Bamboo rice payasam | ₹80–120 |
| Bus ticket (local, ≤ 10 km (6.2 mi))Bus ticket (local, ≤ 6.2 mi (10 km)) | ₹7 |
| Autorickshaw (per km) | ₹15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCJ · Kozhikode International Airport
- ≈ 90 km (56 mi), 2 h by bus≈ 56 mi (90 km), 2 h by bus
- BLR · Bengaluru International Airport
- ≈ 200 km (124 mi), 4 h by bus≈ 124 mi (200 km), 4 h by bus
Typical fares
- Kozhikode → Sultan Bathery, KSRTC bus
- ≈ ₹150–200, 2 h (check schedule)
- Autorickshaw 5 km
- ≈ ₹75 (₹15 per km)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Autorickshaws ₹15 per km; KSRTC buses ₹7 for three km; taxis available; hire a car with driver from ₹1 800 per day (cheaper without driver).
See and do
Known for
- Jain Temple (13th c.)
- Edakkal Caves
- Battery Jumaa Masjid
- Tea‑estate bus tours
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Edakkal Caves | Bus from Sultan Bathery to Edakkal (≈ 12 km (7.5 mi)), then 1 km (0.6 mi) walkBus from Sultan Bathery to Edakkal (≈ 7.5 mi (12 km)), then 0.6 mi (1 km) walk | ≈ 45 min |
| Tea‑estate round‑trip | KSRTC low‑floor non‑AC bus, departs 7 AM from Sultan Bathery | ≈ 3 h each way |
Sleep
- PWD Rest House Government Lodge
- Basic government accommodation, cheap
- Aradhana Tourist Home
- Budget guesthouse near Police Station Road
- Asma Lodge
- ₹250 single room, near Gandhi Square
- Karapuzha Lakeshore Resorts
- ₹2 000, between Ambalavayal and Meppadi
- Bus Dormitory
- ₹160 per night, beds in an old KSRTC bus
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ക്ഷമിക്കണംkshamikkana |
| Thank you | നന്ദിnandi |
| How much is it? | ഇത് എത്രയാണ്?ith ethraanu? |
| Where is the bus stop? | ബസ് സ്റ്റോപ്പ് എവിടെയാണ്?bus stop evideya? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Maoist activity reported in eastern Kerala hills; avoid isolated trekking routes alone.
- Leeches are common on forest trails; carry table salt to remove them.
- Monkeys may snatch food at viewpoints; keep windows closed and food hidden.
Generally safe in town; stay alert on forest trails and follow local advice about Maoist‑affected zones.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sultan Bathery yet. Suggested stay: 1 (optional) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jain Temple (13th c.)
- Edakkal Caves
- Battery Jumaa Masjid
- Tea‑estate bus tours
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sultan Bathery, revision 5304359 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5304359
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sultan-bathery). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.