Built nearly three hundred years ago, Bekal Fort is taken into consideration as one in all the biggest and maximum preserved forts in Kerala. Nestled withinside the lap of nature, Bekal Fort is a ancient citadeles surrounded via way of means of a lovely seashore imparting an interesting view of Arabian Sea from its excessive remark tower in which as soon as the cannons have been placed. The lovely walkway, illuminated seashore and the grand structure of the Bekal Fort make this area a favorite a few of the masses. The citadeles became featured withinside the famous A R Rahman song ' Tu hello re'.
Located at sixty five kms farfar from Mangalore, Bekal Fort is a keyhole-fashioned lofty shape that stands nevertheless in opposition to the rocky beaches of sea and its finesse. The entire cause of erecting this shape via way of means of Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore withinside the yr 1650 became natural of defence.
The region has been a witness to an uninterrupted record with converting numerous seats of electricity from Indian royal dynasties to the guideline of thumb of delicate Sultans and surviving the colonial technology of British Raj. It is the biggest citadeles in Kerala, unfolding over a place of forty acres. Located withinside the Bekal Village of Kasaragod District of Kerala, Bekal Fort became declared because the unique tourism location via way of means of the Government of India withinside the yr 1992.
Considered to be constructed via way of means of Shivappa Nayaka in 1650, Bekal Fort has diverse different variations of its origin. According to a few theories, the citadeles became in lifestyles for the duration of the Kolathiri Rajas after the decline of Kolathiri and Vijayanagara Empire. Later it got here below the guideline of thumb of Ikkeri, Nayakas, who rebuilt the citadeles.
Then the citadeles fell into the fingers of Hyder Ali withinside the yr 1763, additionally serving as an essential navy station of Tipu Sultan later whilst he had the top notch navy day trip to seize Malabar. It became in 1799 that the Mysorean manipulate got here to an give up and eventually the Bekal citadeles got here below the English East India Company. Further, Bekal have become the headquarters of the Bekal Taluk of South Canara district.
Bekal Fort is a lofty keyhole-fashioned shape located withinside the small village of Pallikkara, Kasaragod district unfold over a complete location of forty acres. The head of the citadeles is round product of red-brown stone. The citadeles land incorporates of partitions, walkways and citadels with trenches surrounding the entire shape, stated to be constructed in 1650 AD.
A captivating a part of the citadeles is the Observation Tower constructed via way of means of Tipu Sultan. It gives a exceptional view of the rocky coastline of the Arabian Sea and a bonus almost about its strategic position. Recently a temple and a Darbar in conjunction with a few cash belonging to the length of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali had been discovered.
Unlike the bulk of Indian forts, Bekal became now no longer a centre of administration, and hence, there aren't any stays of any palace or mansion in its premises. The citadeles reveals diverse capabilities that aptly justify its cause of construction. It has holes at the outer partitions which are an powerful manner to enhance the protective electricity of the citadeles. The citadeles utilises terrific defence era. For instance- the holes at the pinnacle have been used to purpose on the enemies who have been gift at a distance, even as the holes withinside the center have been used to combat the closer enemies and the lowermost holes have been used to guard the citadeles from the nearest positioned enemies.
The zigzag front and the trenches also are a image of the awesome defence era inherited via way of means of the citadeles. The location indicates non secular concord as well. One can go to the Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman in addition to the historic mosque close by even as touring the Bekal Fort. There is an antique 9th-century lake additionally positioned withinside the area of the citadeles.
