|
|
|
|
|
You remember Bekal Fort, don’t you ? that’s the spot so soulfully captured in a monsoon blue-grey wash by Mani Ratnam in the film Bombay, the ultimate trysting place where the here Arvind Swamy used to meet the Burqa-clad heroine Manisha Koirala. The 300-years old circular structure of red laterite.
Tinged black by the battering elements stands on a 35 acre headland, 130 ft above sea level, the wind-lashed icy ocean ceaselessly mounting a barrage far below. Controlled by powers as varied as the Vijayanagar Kings, Tipu Sultan and the British Now the fort seems Controlled by the elements.
|
|
|
Ramparts peep-holes beautifully built up steps leading to a cove, all make for the ideal spot to picnic to navel-gaze to chill out, to shoot a movie to read a book. Oh and to catch a brilliantly dramatic crimson-and-gold setting of the sun a truly unforgettable experience I did warn you about these clichés.
Bekal Fort is the cherry atop the pasty. All around lie miles and miles of palm groves, a long stretch of beachfront, pristine sands unspoilt \by people plastic and bottles. Long may it remain so.
On the golden grassy knolls of the fort sit the Magazine, steps leading to an Observation Tower and score of picturesque peepholes.
|
|
|
|
Within
the fort
On the golden grassy knolls of the fort sit the Magazine, steps
leading to an Observation Tower and score of picturesque
peepholes. There is an ancient Anjaneya Temple, a newly
renovated mosque, a sea bastion and several underground passages
that invite your curiosity.
Bekal today still bears traces of being a sleepy little
Kasaragode villge, flanked by the forest-covered western ghats
in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west, with the Talapadi
and Trikaripur rivers flowing in the vicinity. But not for much
longer not if the Bekal Resort Development Corporation ( BRDC )
has its way. Plans are afoot to make Bekal On R Major Resort.
Sixteen resort and hotels ( and we are talking five and seven
star luxury here ) are to came up in idyllic spots that have
been identified and acquired by the BRDC. Keeping eco-tourism
firmly in mind the Corporation has planned Water management and
waste disposal methods.Ancillary area development a road network
and eventually a golf course convention centre swimming pool and
clubhouse. It ought to be on stream by 2005.
Bekal Fort Beach
To one side of the imposing fort lies the shallow beach, quite
the lotus-eater’s delight over run as it is with shells of all
sizes and colours vast colonies of bashful crabs drink though
because the little peti kada ( tea stall ) stocks just the bare
rudimentaries of refreshment
Where
to stay and eat.
Hotel City Tower
Phone No : 04994 – 230562 / 64
Tariff : 215 – 1035
Hotel Apsara Regency
Phone No : 04994 – 230124 / 220424.
Tariff – 250 - 650
Bekal International
Phone No : 04997 – 7202017
Tariff – Rs 125 - 700
|
|
|
|
Hey Webmasters! New Photo Album Service Launched - Check it out!
bravenet.com
