Bekal Tourism And Travel Guide
Planning A Trip To Bekal? Here's a detailed Bekal tourism and travel guide to help you plan a memorable holiday
Current Temperature:
24.5° C / 76.1° F
Current Conditions:
Few Clouds
Best Months To Visit:
October to February
Recommended Duration:
2 to 3 Days
Nearest Airport:
Kozhikode International Airport (156 kms)
Nearest Railway Station:
Kanhangad and Kasaragod Railway Stations (12 kms)
Bekal is a small city comprising of an expansive belt of golden beaches that lie along the coast of the Arabian Sea. This town is covered by a pristine layer of stunning flora and has grasslands scattered throughout its terrain. With colossal sea-facing forts, resplendent beaches, thrilling water-sports, and glorious backwaters, Bekal uplifts the fascination of fearless adventurers from all over the world. These attractive features mean that Bekal is fittingly titled as God’s Own Land. Boasting of such remarkable natural phenomena, Bekal is slowly transpiring into this unseen city that every traveler wants to discover, with tourism in Bekal growing leaps and bounds. Let us browse through this exemplary travel guide to know why Bekal provides such intriguing prospects.
How to Reach
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By Air:
The domestic airport situated in Mangalore provides apt connectivity to other major cities of India. The Bajpe Airport offers tourists with flights that ply to and fro on a regular basis. It lies around 50 km apart from Bekal. When it comes to international expeditions, the Kozhikode International Airport is the closest flight hub to Bekal, lying at a distance of 156 km from Bekal.
By Rail:
The railway route that connects Kozhikode, Mangalore, and Mumbai provides a number of trains to reach a place close to Bekal. Situated atop this route, Kasaragod and Kanhangad railway stations lie within 12 km of Bekal’s mainland. These railway stations provide apt interconnectivity between Bekal and other metropolitan hubs of the country and Kerala. This is the best way to reach Bekal.
By Road:
Frequent buses ply to Bekal from Kanhangad. These state run buses take off every 30 minutes. A splendid tracery of roadways connect the district of Kasaragod to other prime towns in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The Kasaragod bus stand is situated nearest to Bekal. Along this route, tourists are treated to serene panoramas and magnificent views. Adventurers would love this way of commutation.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
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Bekal is an apt holidaying site for spending some time in the company of sand and water. This means of staying closely knit to Mother Nature’s arms offers splendid relaxation. Let us look at some of the best months to visit this secluded city.
Summer (March to May):
The weather in summer season remains humid and moisture laden with temperatures soaring to 36°C at times. Although imposing heat prevails in the region, the winds blowing by the sea face help reduce this heat wave to a great extent. Tourists prefer this season for the convenient travel on offer. Many visitors spend their evening along the shores of Bekal’s beaches in the midst of bonfire and partake in song and dance activities.
Monsoon (June to September):
Thumping cloudbursts normally signal the arrival of monsoon season in Bekal during the first half of June. The monsoon rains light up Bekal with astounding grasslands and temperatures also stay well below 30°C due to the rains. This provides visitors with a perfect atmosphere to explore the natural aura of the forts and beaches and their surroundings. Resembling a gigantic keyhole, the Bekal Fort presents a stunning vista of the Arabian Sea from atop its colossal observation towers during monsoon season. Rates fall drastically in monsoon as this is an off-season time, offering tourists with low-budget vacations.
Winter (October to February):
Winter is regarded as the best time of the year to pay a visit to the undisturbed town of Bekal. The temperatures drop down to as low as 22°C during these months. This provides tourists with a refreshing and cozy atmosphere. These traits not only provide families with an apt getaway destination from their routine lives, but also offer honeymoon couples with a perfect spot for their vacation. The conditions are perfect for taking up a houseboat and loitering around the still backwaters of Bekal. It is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with Bekal’s rich cultural heritage.
Things to Do
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Discover Historic Forts and Battles:
In the bygone era, a familiar practice was to defend a royal palace by constructing a fort in the vicinity. Bekal’s marvelous chain of fortresses are a result of the rich presence of royalty in the region. The Kolathiri and Nayak communities spent many prolonged battles to mark their supremacy over this region. However, it was the Shivappa Nayak from Bednore who built these grandstand forts in the 17th century. The valiant warrior, Tipu Sultan, also used this military fortress in his quest to conquer the Malabar region. If Bekal’s history can intrigue, then its administrative progress over the years is also worth a study.
Cruise through the Stunning Backwaters of Bekal:
The backwaters of an unknown territory tend to showcase the different cultures that the region comprises of. Bekal’s backwaters are no different. They offer wonderful rides that help explore how life prevails within this tiny city. With houseboats containing embellished bedrooms and luxurious facilities, the Bekal Resort Development Corporation has left no stone unturned in providing tourists with an experience to treasure. Families can board these vehicles to take a trip of Bekal in the company of still waters. Couples can also relish each other’s presence on these houseboats with only secluded waters accompanying them.
Centers of Religious Fervor and Festivities:
Bekal’s religious importance is a culmination of the diverse cultures that reside within its splendid realms. These distinct communities have peacefully thrived inside Bekal, adjusted, and welcomed each other’s lifestyle. Some of the renowned festivals celebrated imperiously in Bekal include Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Uroos, Vishu, and Nagara Panchami. The shrines that host these vibrant celebrations not only offer eye-catching pictures, but also magnificent carvings and sculptures. Sarvajanika Ganeshotsavam is celebrated with great passion and fervor during the month of September by the faithful. Dance and art forms such as Theyyam and Yakshaganam have also been preserved within the city over the years.
Land of Phenomenal Beaches:
Bekal has been blessed with breathtaking beaches surrounding its grasslands and forest cover. Some of these fantastic beaches include Pallikere Beach and Bekal Beach. With astonishing landscapes and impressive sunsets, these beaches provide tourists with apt spots to unwind from their usual grind. Bekal’s beaches not only offer natural aroma, but also peaceful spa treatment and wellness centers that can calm and relax the nerves. Beaches that are lesser known to the world add to the tranquility of their atmosphere. This means tourists obtain the alone time they seek within the quiet sands of Bekal.
What to Eat
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Fried and steamed delicacies are popular throughout Bekal. These steamed dishes are available in plenty, including food such as Idli, Puttu, Ada, and Idiyappam. Owing to its proximity to the sea, Bekal offers fried dishes such as fish fry, fried chillies, and fried bananas at many places too. A sweet dish going by the name of Payasam is a must try while in Bekal. This dish consists of ingredients such as coconut, wheat, and rice and acts a mouth-watering dessert. A trip to Bekal or any place in Kerala would be incomplete without sipping some coconut water or Toddy, a local drink prepared using coconut water.
Shopping
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The streets surrounding Bekal Beach are studded with local shops that come alive once the sun sets. These shops offer some amazing handmade accessories for tourists to take home. They light up the beach area with their luminous accessories. As Bekal forms a part of Kasaragod district, it is a perfect chance to get your hands on one of those famous Kasaragod saris. Prepared from yarn of the highest quality, these wonderfully crafted saris are famous for their wide-ranging color schemes and decorated borders.