Bekal Fort one of the most beautiful forts in
Kerala, located 15 kms from Kanghangad in Kasargod district. Due to the
scintillating beauty of the structure and the panoramic view of the beach
nearby, this fort is a famous tourist destination and most sought after
shooting locale for filmmakers. Many of the superhit movies like Bombay of
Maniratnam were shot here. This fort was completed under the rule of Sivappa
Nayak. Chandragiri fort which is also located in Kasargod was also constructed
by the same person. Later the fort came under the control of Tipu Sultan who
used it as an important military station.The
fort spread over 40 acres. One day trip is sufficient for visiting this place.
The Archeological survey of India is maintaining the monument. Timings are from
8 am to 5:30 pm. It is better to start the visit early so that you can cover
the entire area and spent some good time shooting the same.
The Mukhyaprana Hanuman Temple of Hanuman is located at the entrance of the fort. The prominent structure that can be seen
is the observation structure, which was used for the finding the movement of
the enemy. One can see the entire towns of Kasargod from the tower.It
is interesting to note the tecnique used by the builders. The entrance is
zigzag. There are holes located at
various heights on the outer walls. The upper most one can be used to target
the enemies at the farthest.Almost 75% of the fort is covered by sea. This
makes it difficult for the enemies to attack the fort. Now the view from these
points are amazing.The
other structures are the water tank, the tunnel etc. Visitors are banned from
entering certain locations as excavation is still going on. The beautiful
garden in the front, a latest initiative will surely enhance the beauty of the
fort.
The view of the Arabian sea from the strategic locations of the fort gives a remarkable experience to the viewer. At times one finds it difficult to get a snap due to the immense crowd at these places. The best time to visit the fort is after the rains , that is from September to November. The entire region is filled with green grass, the green brown colour combination gives a true delight for the cameras.
There is ample parking facility available at the fort, a nomical fees is collected for the same. One can can catch a taxi from kangangad to reach this place. State Trasport Corporation is running buses which have a stop near this tourist place. This happens to be most economical mode of transport available.
Bekal Fort is surely a place for a day trip. Can be a place for a leisurely tour or a serious visit for a study of the past. When you come across the emotional song Uyire from the movie Bombay be aware that Bekal Fort is surely one of the main contributor for its success...