Bekal
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Bekal is a small place located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the Pallikare village in Kasargod district of Kerala state, South India. Bekal Fort is a major tourist attraction in the state. It is situated around 15 km. to south of Kasargod town. According to Bekal Rama Nayak, a local Kannada writer, the word Bekal is derived from the word Baliakulam, meaning Big Pond. The term Baliakulam got corrupted as Bekulam and later as Bekal.
Spreading over 40 acres, Bekal Fort is the largest and best preserved fort in the State. An alluring view of the sea shore as well as its exhilarating natural beauty attracts tourists and nature-lovers. Bekal Fort is fast emerging as an international tourist centre.
[edit] History of Bekal Fort
The Ikkeri Nayakas of Bedanur have been widely regarded as the founders of this fort. The fort was eventually completed during the period of Sivappa Nayak. It is believed that the Kotteyar community found in Bekal, Panayal and other places in Kasaragod were brought here by the Nayaks to build and defend the forts. However the issue of the fort's origin has forever been open to dispute.
The Ikkeri Nayakas had not developed guns to defend themselves from the invaders approaching from the Arabean sea route. But the western part of the fort is built in a solid manner with numerous slits on the walls for defending the fort from the naval power of other rulers. So it is believed that the present look of fort was the outcome of the conflict between European powers. Modification to the fort was made by all the rulers who ruled the land from the time of the Ikkeri Nayakas. Moreover a number of forts built by the Ikkeri Nayakas have failed to stand the test of time and perished. Located at the centre of the fort is an Observation Tower built by Tipu Sultan which offers a breathtaking view of the coastline as well as that of neighbouring places like Kanhangad and Pallikare. Also in existence is a rest house built by the British Government.
[edit] References
'History of Bekal Fort' Nandakumar Koroth
 A stairway inside the fort. The steps lead to a tunnel and eventually to the outside wall of the fort facing the Arabian sea. |
 An extension of the fort into the sea. The circular bastion is built on the rocky formation well into the sea. The view is through arched slits at the upper portion of the bastion. |
