January 2, 2009

BEKAL Fort

Posted in Trips at 4:29 pm by suhonnet

It was the beginning of the new semester at our college NITK, Suratkal and with nothing much to do at the college we friends decided to go to Bekal fort which sounded a pretty nice getaway for a day.

So on the 13th of December 2008 five of us Prashanth, Viney, Harsh, Nikhil and myself left at 10pm from our hostel. It was an hours journey from Suratkal to Mangalore and from there we picked up a bus to Kasargod. The journey took us about two and a half hours. At the bus station we packed our lunches coz the bus to Bekal was about to leave. We boarded the bus at 1.30 pm and it was another hours journey to Bekal.

It was around 2.30 pm when we reached Bekal and it was a short walk from the bus stop to the fort. We had our lunch there itself. After paying a nominal entry fee we went in. The fort consists of a very long perimeter wall with the numerous fortification structures like watchtowers etc. One side of the fort faces the sea. The other side is filled with the view of coconut plantations. There are many platforms jutting out of the fort as a means of look out posts.

Within the perimeter of the fort renovation was underway and the area was being converted into beautiful gardens. There was also a secret tunnel but its entrance was barred. We walked around the perimeter of the wall looking out at the sights of the sea and making merry. Along the walls there is a small doorway which leads from the fort to the shore outside. We went through it and the rocks, the splashing waves and the imposing fort made for quite an experience. There is also a wall that runs from the port to a post right out on the water.

The fort took us about 2 hours to go around and from there we went to the beach (Bekal beach). The beach was nothing much to talk and the lifeguard over there prevented us from going into the water. After convincing him otherwise we enjoyed for a short while in the water. Other than that the beach was well managed with other facilities which we didnt have time to explore.

To our luck there was a railway station just a few yards away from the beach (of which we were not aware earlier) and at 5.30 there was a scheduled train back to Mangalore. So we boarded the train and were back in Mangalore by 7.30 in the evening.

Bekal fort is an economical, nice one day picnic sort of a spot. The fort in the background of the sea make for a panoramic view and people of all ages can find something pleasing to experience.

If you are planning to go by bus then first, you will need to go to Kasargod (frequent busese are available from Mangalore) and from there go to Bekal. More ideal and comfortable would be to pick up a train from mangalore (trains towards kozhikode, ernakulam etc all have a stop at Bekal) and come back by train also.

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