Bekal Fort
Location
The Bekal fort is situated 16 Km south of Kasargod, Kerala.
Famous for
The Bekal Fort is a historic fort, and was once under the rule of
Tipu Sultan
Best time to visit
During winters, ie, November to April.
About the Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort is one among the five centres selected by the Government
of India to be developed into a 'Special Tourism Area'. The Bekal
fort was built by Shivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty during 1645 to
1650 AD. The fort was later captured by Haider Ali and eventually
after defeat of Tipu Sultan, it got incorporated in the property of
East India Company. Due to its historic relevance, the fort is
controlled by the Archaeological Survey of India. Coins and other
historical artifacts were unearthed by archeologists making it an
interesting excavation site. The Bekal fort is the best preserved
fort in Kerala. This historical as well as archeologically important
fort, standing along a beach has been developed as an international
tourist spot by Bekal authorities.
Interiors of the Fort
The huge fort has a marvelous design. There is a sea side pathway
with a magnificent view of the fort. The pathway extends in the sea,
giving a 'Keyhole' shape to the fort. The entrance of the fort has a
Hanuman temple, which is very popular among locals as well as the
tourists. There are many underground passages, which lead to exit,
in various parts of the Fort. There is an observation tower in the
middle of the fort. There are large and wide stairs to reach the
observation centre. The structure, around 80 feet in circumference
at the base and more than 30 feet high, affords a magnificent view
of the sea on three sides and the green landscape. The magazine
inside the fort is closed to the public. It was used to store
weapons and ammunition. Currently it is managed by the
Archaeological Survey of India. The sea bastion located on the rocky
projection, west of the fort also offers a magnificent view of the
sea and the beach.
Reaching Ajnur
Air
The closest airport is Kozhikode airport, 160 Km from Kasargod.
Local trains from the railway station, taxis and buses are available
from the airport to Kasargod.
Rail
Kasargod railway station is connected to all the major cities of
Kerala and South India.
Road
Good roadways network ensures good connectivity of Kasargod to the
rest of India. Some major cities distances from Kasargod are:
Cochin- 344 Km, Kozhokode- 160 Km, Trivandrum- 560 Km, Alappuzha-
400 km and Kannur- 66 Km.
Accommodations
Tourists have wide choices for stay in Kasargod. Many luxury as
well as economy hotels are spread all over the city and around.
Ajnur is 5 Km from Kasargod and therefore tourists can stay at
Kasargod city.
