Wayanad district in Kerala is well known for its greenery and hills. It is nestled in Western Ghats and the vegetation is similar to any evergreen forest. The district has a salubrious climate and is now attracting nature enthusiast and adventure lovers. There are a number of picnic spots that are popular with the nature lovers. Apart from the wildlife sanctuaries and some other trekking locations, there are a number of temples that are worth visiting. So this place is now drawing huge crowds of religious people. Important among the temples are Thirunelli temple, Thrisellery Shiva temple, Seetha- Lava-Kusha temple and Manikavu temple. Sulthan Bathery is an important town in Wayanad district. There is famous Jain temple, Ganesha temple and a Mariyamman temple. The Jain Temple at Sulthan Bathery is important historically. This is because the erstwhile ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan stored his ammunition in this temple complex. The place has also derived its name from this.
The Thirunelli temple is nestled in the mountains and forests. It is located along the riverside. This temple is a classic example of Kerala architecture. It has an interesting history. This temple is believed to be dedicated to Brahma to Vishnu in the form of Chaturbuja or One with Four arms. It is referred to as Dakshina Kashi and is surrounded by Kambamala, Karimala and Varadiga. The shrine in this temple is shielded with 30 granite columns and the ground has paved with square pieces of granite. The river Papanashini runs alongside and enhances the beauty of this place. A short walk from this temple leads one to the clear mountain spring called Papanasini. This temple draws people from all over the place for conducting ancestral rites. There is a ritual among people to take a dip in the holy mountain spring and then perform the rites for the ancestors. People believe that this holy dip will wash away all the sins. Pakshipathalam, is an interesting trekking center that is located 10 kms from here.
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