Bekal Fort
More than 300 years old, the Bekal Fort
in the Kasargod district of Kerala is has a rich history behind it. The
uniqueness of the fort lies in the fact that there are no palaces inside. It
seems that the fort was built for the defence purposes only. The notable
structures within the fort are the sea bastion, underground tunnels and the
impressive observation tower. The Bekal Fort itself is the largest and best
preserved fort in Kerala which is 16 km south of Kasargod. It is located on
a 35 acre headland that runs into the Arabian sea.
Fast Facts
- District : Kasargod
- State : Kerala
- Other names :
- Location : If you are going to Bekal Fort from
Kozhikode, you will have to travel for 156 km to the north of
Kozhikode. The place is 415 km south west of Bangalore.
- Journey Time : It will take you about 3 and ½ hrs
to reach from Kozhikode to Bekal Fort and 8 hrs from Bangalore by
road.
- Route from Bangalore : If you are going from Bangalore
to the Bekal Fort, take NH 4 to Nelamangala, and after you've
reached the place you can take NH 48 through Hassan, Sakleshpur to
Mangalore, then take NH 17 to Kasargod via Manjeshwar and after that
take the state highway to reach Bekal Fort, your destination.
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Feature Attraction
The Beaches Nearby
There are many attractive beaches nearby which include the Bekal beach,
Kappil beach and the Kanwartheertha beach. The Bekal beach is a shallow
beach which when combined with the view of the Bekal fort presents a
spectacular landscape to the tourists. The Kappil beach is located five km
away and is a remote vacation destination just right for those who are
looking for a vacation away from the maddening crowd of the tourists. The
Kanwartheertha beach is another attraction of the place which is famous for
its large swimming pool like formation.
Accommodation
- Hotel Bekal International
- Hotel City Palace, Kasargod
- Fort Palace Tourist Home, Kasargod
- New Happy Tourist Home, Kasargod
When to go
The winter months from November to April are the best months to visit the
Bekal Fort.
How to get there
The nearest town is at Kanhangad in Kasargod which is 8 km away. The
nearest railway station is also at Kasargod. The Mangalore and Karipur
International Airports are the nearest airports which are 50 km and 180 km
away respectively.
Other Attractions
» Chandragiri Fort
The Chandragiri fort is located beside the Chandragiri river, and was built
in the 17th century by Sivappa Naik of Bedanore. It is said that he built
the Bekal fort also. The western ramparts of the fort is ideal for watching
picturesque sunsets.
» Valiyaparamba
It is among the most beautiful backwater stretches and is 19 km away from
Bekal. There are total four rivers which give shape to this intricate
network of waterways and you can explore this stretch from the convenience
of a Ketuvallam (houseboat).
