Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bekal & Around
0467
Bekal and nearby Palakunnu and Udma, in Kerala's far north, have some long white-sand
beaches begging for DIY exploration. The area is gradually being colonised by glitzy
five-star resorts catering to fresh-from-the-Gulf millionaires, but it's still worth the trip for
off-the-beaten-track adventurers intent on discovering the beaches before they get swal-
lowed up by developers.
The laterite-brick
Bekal Fort
(Indian/foreigner ?5/100; 8am-5pm)
, built between 1645 and
1660, sits on Bekal's rocky headland and houses a small Hindu temple and plenty of
goats. Next door,
Bekal Beach
(admission ?5)
encompasses a grassy park and a long, beautiful
stretch of sand that turns into a circus on weekends and holidays when local families des-
cend here for rambunctious leisure time. Isolated
Kappil Beach
, 6km north of Bekal, is a
beautiful, lonely stretch of fine sand and calm water, but beware of shifting sandbars.
There are lots of cheap, poor quality hotels scattered between Kanhangad (12km south)
and Kasaragod (10km north), with a few notable exceptions.
Gitanjali Heritage
( 9447469747, 04672234159;
www.gitanjaliheritage.com
; s/d full-board ?3500/5000; )
This lovely place
lies surrounded by rice paddies, deep among Kasaragod's inland villages. It is just 5km
from Bekal and is an intimate heritage home with three comfortable rooms filled with an-
cestral furniture and polished wood.
HOMESTAY
$$
Neeleshwar Hermitage
RESORT
$$$
( 04672287510;
www.neeleshwarhermitage.com
; Ozhinhavalappu, Neeleshwar; s/d cottages from ?10,600/12,600,
seaview ?16,000/17,300; )
This spectacular beachfront ecoresort consists of 16 beautifully de-
signed thatch-roof cottages modelled on Keralan fisherman's huts but with modern com-
forts like iPod docks and a five-star price tag. Built according to the principles of Kerala
Vastu, the resort has an infinity pool that gazes out to sea, nearly 5 hectares of lush gar-
dens fragrant with frangipani, superb organic food and Ayurvedic massage, meditation
and yoga programs.
Getting There & Around
