Kerala’s Forts – Bekal Fort

Sixteen km off Kasargode town, you’ll find the majestic 40-acre Bekal Fort standing tall beyond the Bekal Fort Beach. The beach was developed by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation  (BRDC). This 300 year old fort which rises about 130ft above the sea is believed to have been built in the 1650s by Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty. Another belief says it was originally built by the Kolathiri Rajas and later captured by Sivappa Naik. In 1763 A.D., the fort was occupied by Hyder Ali of Mysore and then, by the Huzur of Canara and later, by the British.

A favourite haunt for tourists, researchers and nature-lovers alike, the fort consists of winging stairs, underground tunnels, an observation tower and look-outs. The observation tower is located in the middle of the fort. It is around 80ft in circumference at the base and more than 30ft high. Two of the underground tunnels are still intact; one leading to the south of the fort and the other to the  moat on the east.

The magazine inside the fort is not open to the public, and is used to store weapons and ammunition from earlier years, and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Pallikere beach which is about a kilometre from the fort is another tourist attraction close by. It’s fairly less crowded than the Bekal Fort beach.

A mosque built by Tippu Sultan of Mysore, that stands outside the fort and the Anjaneya temple, dedicated to Sree Hanuman, at the entrance are two attractions of the fort.

The BRDC was set up by the Government of Kerala to develop Bekal as an eco-friendly destination. They have built a beautiful walkway, a multi shed and an Eru madam (tree house) for tourists. The fort and the beach is easily accessible from Kasargode, Kannur and Calicu, and has a number of accommodation options in the vicinity, too.