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Places to Visit Near Bekal Fort: A Local's Guide to Kasaragod
Bekal Fort is the top reason people visit Kasaragod. But there are more good places to visit near Bekal Fort than just the fort itself. In this guide, we cover the best places to visit in Kasaragod: a beach park, two beaches, another fort, and a temple. Use this as your plan for a day trip, or a two-day trip if you have more time.
Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort is the largest fort in Kerala and the main reason most people visit Kasaragod in the first place.
- Largest fort in Kerala, covering about 40 acres
- Sits on a hill above the Arabian Sea, shaped like a giant keyhole
- Around 300 years old, with an observation tower, a water tank, and a tunnel
- About 15–16 km from Kasaragod town
- Best visited in the morning or evening, when it’s cooler
Create lively, community-driven experiences in a space designed for large gatherings and cultural expression. Bekal Beach Park serves as a vibrant hub for entertainment, tradition, and creativity.
For a deeper dive into everything to see and do around the fort, check out this guide to things to do near Bekal Fort.
Bekal Beach Park
Right next to Bekal Fort is Bekal Beach Park, the best tourist place in Kasaragod. It has adventure rides, water sports, a Pet Forest, a kids’ play area, and a food court, all in one place.
Bekal Beach Park is Kerala’s first complete beach entertainment park, offering a unique combination of recreation, adventure, and leisure. Designed for visitors of every age, bekal beach aprk park brings together thrilling activities, scenic surroundings, and modern amenities in one destination.
- Entry fee: ₹30 per person
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM, every day
Most visitors see Bekal Fort in the morning, then spend the afternoon at Bekal Beach Park. The two are a short walk apart.
The Bekal beach Park is located near Bekal Fort within Pallikere and is among the most convenient ways to experience the stunning coastline of Kasaragod without having to go to too much trouble. It has walking paths, green lawns, and views of Bekal Fort, and it is a favourite destination amongst families, photographers, and visitors seeking relaxation.
Kappil Beach
Kappil Beach, located approximately 6 km away from Bekal Fort, has a serene, casual atmosphere as compared to Bekal Beach. Several travelers tend to be enamoured by this beach for its gentle and soft golden sands. Another fascinating thing about this beach is seeing the color changes of the Arabian Sea from gold to pink during the sunset. You can enjoy the breathtaking views from Kodi Cliff, which is the place right at the beach and provides its visitors with gorgeous panoramas over the coastline, backwaters, and the place at which the sea meets the sky.
Since Kappil is not as developed as Bekal is, it remains quiet even in the peak of season, allowing silence-loving travelers to relax without being disturbed by other tourists. In addition, it is very close to a coastal attraction like Bekal Fort, making it even more convenient to visit it when going to the fort.
- About 6 km from Bekal Fort
- Quieter and less crowded than Bekal Beach
- Golden sand with casuarina trees
- Kodi Cliff nearby gives a wide view of the sea
Pallikere Beach
A smaller beach that sits next to the park, located a few kilometres to the south of Bekal Fort, is ideal for evening walks, minus the crowds seen at the main beach. Pallikere Beach, situated just a little south of Bekal Fort, offers a quieter and rockier option, presenting some unique rock formations, small tide pools, and slight coastal cliffs instead of a long sandy beach stretched along the coastline. The place is a good option for tourists who wish for something beyond simply lying on the beach; visitors can scramble over the rocks and take pictures, besides taking a look at the tide pool while at low tide.
It is situated close to Bekal Beach Park, which is a government-developed area, so one can easily visit both Bekal Beach Park and this place together. The rocks give the opportunity to go for a short park walk and then spend time on the rocks while enjoying the sunset. Although this is one of the few good activities that cost nothing in the surroundings of Bekal Beach and is not very crowded, it is interesting for people who want to have a rest after the crowded fort and beach. The ideal visiting time is the late afternoon, as this is when the rocks become illuminated, and the crowds leave; it is not recommended to visit the rocks during monsoons.
Anandashram
This is located around 15 km south of Bekal, is a spiritual retreat and ashram established by Swami Ramdas that is of interest to tourists who want more than just Kerala’s natural beauty. Anandashram, which means “Abode of Bliss”, is a working spiritual retreat in Kanhangad established in 1931 by Swami Ramdas (born Vittal Rao at Kanhangad in 1884) and Mother Krishnabai. Having spent years wandering through India, Ramdas returned to North Kerala where he was attracted to a hill known as Pilikunji near the river Payaswini, where he built a minimal hut for spiritual retreats in 1928, which has now developed into a full-fledged ashram.
Unlike temple-heavy pilgrimage sites, Anandashram’s practice centers on Nama (repetition of the Ram mantra), meditation, and seva (service) rather than ritual worship; it’s a genuinely quiet, contemplative place rather than a monument to see and move on from. The ashram still runs daily prayers and welcomes visitors and short-stay guests.
Nityanandashram Caves
A set of hand-carved caves at a spiritual ashram, good for visitors who want something different from beaches and forts.
- About 43 km from Bekal Fort, near Kanhangad
- Hand-carved underground caves at a spiritual ashram
- Cut from a single stretch of laterite rock
- A temple sits above the caves
- Good for visitors who want something different from beaches and forts
Best Time to Visit Places Near Bekal Fort
Weather makes a big difference to how comfortable these visits are, so timing your trip matters.
- October to March is the best window overall
- Weather is cooler, easier for walking around the fort and beaches
- June to September is monsoon season, with heavy rain
- Outdoor visits are harder to plan during monsoon months
- Weekdays are quieter than weekends and festival periods
How to Reach Bekal Fort
Airways: There is no airport situated in Bekal. The nearby international airport in Mangalore is the nearest airport at a driving distance of 50–70 km from Bekal (around 1.5–2 hours on the road). Kannur International Airport is another airport located at a distance of 70–90 km from Bekal.
Railways: Kasaragod and Kanhangad are two of the important railway stations close to Bekal, about a 20 to 30-minute journey away from the fort. Known as Bekal Fort Station and Kotikulam, two small local stations are located close to the fort. However, passenger as well as express trains stop at these stations only a few times. Therefore, most travelers opt for Kasaragod and Kanhangad railway stations instead.
Road Ways: Bekal is situated alongside NH66 (the Kochi–Mumbai highway via Goa), facilitating easy travel by bus and taxi from the neighboring cities of Mangalore, Kannur, and Kozhikode. Once in Bekal, getting around is more convenient via autorickshaws.
A Perfect 1-Day Bekal Itinerary
Time | Activity |
8:00AM | Start at Bekal Fort right at opening (entry ~₹15/adult, free under 15). Mornings are cooler and less crowded, and the light is best for photos from the observation towers |
10:30AM | Walk down to Bekal Beach, right beside the fort, for a stroll or a swim |
12:30PM | Lunch nearby; try a Malabar-style thali or fresh seafood (see food callout below) |
2:00 PM | Head to Anandashram for a quieter, shadier break |
4:00 PM | Drive back to Bekal Beach Park (20–30 min) for activities and coastal view |
6:00 PM | Catch sunset from Bekal Beach or at Bekal Fort’s ramparts |
7:30 PM | Dinner at a sea-view restaurant or your resort |
If you have a second day, check places to visit in Kasaragod that fit in well.
Stay and Food Options Near Bekal.
Stay Options to Look
Options near the fort range from luxury beach resorts such as
- Taj Bekal Resort & Spa,
- The Lalit Resort & Spa,
- Gateway Bekal, to mid-range and budget hotels closer to Kasaragod town.
If you want to be within walking distance from the fort and beach, look at properties in Pallikere specifically; hotels further into Kasaragod town add 20–30 minutes of drive time to reach the fort each day.
Food to try
Bekal’s food scene leans heavily on Malabar and coastal Kerala. Don’t miss the fried calamari(കൂന്തൽ ഫ്രൈ) and prawns in coconut gravy served with appam, both local specialties.
For something heartier, try Al Fahm (roast chicken) with kuzhimanthi, or the regional specialty of bamboo biryani, rice and meat slow-cooked inside a bamboo stalk. Vegetarian travelers have plenty to work with too: aviyal, erissery, and idiyappam with curry are all Kerala staples widely available here. Most beach-facing resorts and a handful of local restaurants in Kanhangad and Kasaragod town serve these dishes.
Frequently asked question
Which are the best places to visit near Bekal Fort?
Bekal Beach Park, Kappil Beach, Chandragiri Fort, and Ananthapura Lake Temple are all close by and easy to combine with a Bekal Fort visit.
Which is the best place to visit in Kasaragod for families?
Bekal Beach Park. It’s right next to Bekal Fort and has activities for both kids and adults.
What activities are available at Bekal Beach Park?
Visitors can enjoy adventure zones, kids’ activities, beachside walks, photo spots, and seasonal entertainment activities.
What kind of vibe can visitors expect at Bekal Beach Park?
Expect relaxing beach vibes by day and lively, festive coastal energy by night.
