Bekal is a small town in Kasaragod district on the West coast of the state of Kerala, India. Its calm, quiet, walking distance from the beach, not a destination which is usually crowded with travellers. So we thought why not explore it out as a weekend trip to bekal.
Why go for Bekal for a short trip?
I would say why not? Who wants to miss a chance to visit Kerala, and usually the unexplored areas?
I wanted to pick something different than the usual, someplace which is not very crowded, as I actually like the idea to travel like a local. But as it was a long weekend (Holi weekend) so obviously most of the hotels will run full. Then I searched for places to visit in Kerala and came to a fellow blogger’s page which introduced me to the majestical world of Bekal and had my heart set on to experience it.
This post is long and full of details, pin the image above to save it and read again later.
The first huddle – find accommodation.
This trip too was one of those unusual trips where we decided one day prior to the trip. Firstly we had to figure out our stay keeping in mind the simplicity as we wanted it to be a refreshing natural experience as most locals do.
We wanted accommodation which is close to the beach and has beds without bed bugs. For me, MakeMyTrip always gets a thumbs up for this, as I got the best deal available from any other travel website and I cross-checked the Hotel reviews from Tripadvisor. We finalized on Bekal Palace, its only 2.9 km from Bekal beach and there are lots of eating points nearby to the hotel so all set.
Next – our customised road map to Bekal.
Thanks to Google maps, we could add the exact route we followed on the map above. Google maps show its only 380 km via NH275, NH45, and NH65 in Kasargod. Like always our plan for starting the journey was fixed at 3 am to cross all the city roads before it greats crowded.
Roads are good and scenic too on both sides. But be careful as there are some blind turns without the curve mirrors and these roads cut through the forested hilly areas and run parallel to a river (I don’t remember the name of the river and will be more than happy if someone can help in the comments). I especially love the entry to Kerala border, it gives the impression that yes we are going to enter the God’s Own Country. It almost took 9.5 hours to reach our hotel including all my smoke breaks, breakfast break, etc. not so bad huh?
“My recommendation will be travelling via road, rather than taking a train or a flight otherwise you will miss all the beauty of nature, which can’t be explained in words. Road trips never fail to make the journey more exquisite. And yes, I keep telling this every time and in no mood to end it any sooner.”
Reached Bekal – what next?
Due to summer-time, it was hot, or should I say super-hot. We reached before 1:30 pm and entered the hotel, and placed ourselves on the couch at the hotel lobby. The hotel is easily accessible via road and Google map position is also exact. The gentleman at the reception offered us cold water while he finished all the formalities before check-in to the room.
The room is okay nothing extraordinary, a big comfy bed with the TV placed just in front to exploit us and working AC. We didn’t waste too much time and ordered a simple food from their menu and their service was quick enough, by the time we freshened up the food was ready. We were damn hungry and hogged all the food, it was tasty enough. We took a little nap before we could explore the beach as we were fully exhausted.
“A hot water bath and a good meal after a long journey can make you sleep like a baby. A nap after this is very important as this will re-energize your body and will rejuvenate you for the next round.”
As we had two days of holiday so we started the evening by exploring the near beach. It’s a nice & calm beach with almost no crowd, only locals, just the way I like. The beach also had a park for the kids to play and small eateries to indulge in the local cuisine. After spending some quality time there we came to the hotel, had food and slept off.
Next day- Exploration of nearby areas
The morning was a little lazy wake-up and left the hotel for breakfast. We tried Appam and Chicken curry from the local joint, it was amazing. There are several attractions in the areas and we planned to visit at least 3 to 4 nearby places and spend the rest of the day at the beach.
Places to visit in Bekal / Things to see in Bekal
- Bekal Fort: It was built almost 300 years ago in 1965, Bekal Fort is considered as one of the largest and most preserved forts in Kerala. In 1992 it’s declared as a special tourism area by the Government of India. It offers a mesmerizing view of the Arabian Sea from its high observation tower where once the cannons were placed. The keyhole-shaped Fort spread across 40 acres of land the beautiful walkway, the beach and the grand architecture of the Bekal Fort makes this place completely worthy of a visit.
This fort was featured in the famous A R Rahman song ‘ Tu hi re‘ reminded of my nostalgic childhood memories. We spent almost 2 hours in the fort. We entered the Bekal Fort and explored the interiors of the fort.
- Bekal Beach: The beach is spread over an area of 36 acres and it’s located near the Bekal Fort and maintained really well. The breathtaking view of the sea, the golden thick sand, dense palm trees, and the grand walls of the Bekal Fort makes it perfect for a picture. We took a nice long relaxing stroll across the beach and just enjoyed the sunset. The view of the beach from the top of the fort is breathtaking.
- Kappil Beach: This is one of the few beaches in India which still has expansive golden sand and clear blue waters of the Arabian Sea. Kappil beach is only 5 Km away from the fort and has a long sandy stretch of 5 Km which is apt for taking strolls across the coastline. This place has everything one can imagine from the sun, the sand, the clear sea lined by lush green coconut trees. The picture-perfect location of the beach is sure to mesmerize us. People lazed on the sand, enjoying a drink some are reading books. The sea usually has strong currents which the Arabian Sea famous for so we stayed out of the waters.
- Chandragiri Fort: One of the best places to visit near Bekal Fort, Chandragiri Fort was built in the seventeenth century by Siyappa Nayak of Bednore. It is perfectly situated on the banks of the Chandragiri River. What makes it a beautiful vantage point is its wonderful views to watch the sunset. It’s only 6 km from our hotel. We missed the sunset but heard about it from the locals.
- Valiyaparamba Backwaters: Someone told me once that if I want to go on a Bekal tour, I must include Valiyaparamba to my itinerary. It is a beautiful island situated in River Tejaswini and is widely known as one of the most picturesque backwater destinations in Bekal. It is also a fishing centre that adds to the beauty of the island. Many natural beauties such as a huge variety of seabirds, coconut lagoons are available there.
“I would suggest keeping a minimum an hour for enjoying each of these places if not more.”
And we ended our Bekal expedition like this for now until next time. We had dinner from the local joint. The next day we had the plan to come back to Bangalore. It took us almost 9 hours to reach, but that is thanks to minimal traffic.
And we ended our Bekal expedition like this for now until next time. We had dinner from the local joint. The next day we had the plan to come back to Bangalore. It took us almost 9 hours to reach, but that is thanks to minimal traffic.
Some more trip pictures
So this what our weekend trip to Bekal was. Browse through the gallery to glimpse the kaleidoscope of experiences and moments from our trip!
Frequently Asked Question
Best time to visit Bekal, Kasargod?
There are many hotels and homestay in Bekal at various price ranges starting from Rs.1000 per night. Check Airbnb, Makemytrip, and Booking.com for better rates.
Are there any places where the entrance charges are there?
- Bekal Fort: Entry 15, Timing 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
- Bekal Beach: Entry INR 10, Timing: 24 Hours
How many days required to visit Bekal?
A minimum of 2 – 3 days is required to see the best of Bekal.
Are there any places where the entrance charges are there?
- Bekal Fort: Entry 15, Timing 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
- Bekal Beach: Entry INR 10, Timing: 24 Hours
Is Bekal safe for solo travellers?
Bekal is a small village in Kasargod, Kerala which is absolutely safe for all kinds of tourists including solo female travellers.
How is the food in Bekal?
One can enjoy the authentic taste of South Kerala Cusine (Non-veg & Veg) with the sea and the backwaters as the backdrop.
What is the weather of Bekal?
The temperature in Bekal is quite high during the summers. It receives a decent amount of rainfall during monsoon and in winters, the weather of Bekal varies from a pleasant and mild cold. For more information and current weather of Bekal Click here
Research about the place before the journey
- Weather Updates on Bekal: AccuWeather
- Route Map from Bangalore to Bekal: Google Maps
- Local Attraction: TripAdvisor
28 Comments
Nice writeup, very informative with even better pictures. Loved reading the post.
Thanks Bikram 🙂
You, your life & your blog looking like very cooooool…… Keep it up Bro…
Now you are making me shy. 🙂
Really helpful for people who are planning for their next trip
Thanks, Pooja for the appreciation. This blog is to help my fellow travellers and two write travel stories.
Nice contents
Thanks, Gautam 🙂
Wow good is this good view in your country ?
Thanks for the appreciation Anwar. This is a view from Bekal, Kerala which is also known as “Gods Own Country”
wonderful job!
Thanks 🙂
Wow those are some beautiful pictures and i love the way you have described the place.
Thanks, Prajakta for the appreciation. 🙂 I am currently working on my latest blog post “Trip to Yercaud”. Hope that’s also become helpful for others 🙂
I love the food! Seems so yummy! This is the first time I heard about Bekal. Hope I can visit it soon.
Wow! Good to see someone is foodie like me 🙂
Thank you so much for this information. In fact, I was also about to go on vacation with my college friends. Well, not practically to Kerala, but definitely to the south.
Sadly, because of the corona, I had to shelve my vacation plan.
But, now I am sure that where my next vacation will be, I mean, of course, after Corona..!!
It feels great if some information is useful for others. Don’t hesitate about travelling to Kodaikanal and also do let me know how your trip experience goes. Looking forward to hearing your stories 🙂
the place looks fantastic! makes me want to visit India badly again. I would totally go there for a weekend or more
Thanks, Lyosha. Yes South India has many special spots. Do plan your visit sometime. I am sure you will be amazed to see the beauty.
Although I’ve never been to Bekal myself before, I would love to go there and see the area one day. Fingers crossed we can get back to travelling safely soon!
Finger crossed on that. Just the way of travelling would be changed in the future rest all remains the same. People will be more concerned on the hy.giene factor.
I haven’t heard about nor have I been to Bekal but it does come across as a lovely place with lots of fun activities to do. Interesting read.
Thanks Viano. Need it’s a nice place. You should visit this place at least once, try out monsoon season. Beach from the Fort looks gorgeous during the morning.
Exploring some unknown place with lots of information. Wohhhh. 😍😍
Thanks Moumita. 🙂
I love this place and in fact many places in Kerala. There is so much serenity and greenery in it, I truly feel enthralled.
Well said Kuntala. I have been to this place long back and I guess lots have changed by now.