https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bekal_FortBekal Fort - Revision history2026-07-31T00:20:10ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bekal_Fort&diff=375585&oldid=prevBot at 11:21, 29 October 20222022-10-29T11:21:12Z<p></p>
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{{Infobox settlement<br />
| name = Bekal Fort<br />
| official_name = Bekal Fort<br />
| native_name =<br />
<br />
| other_name = <br />
| settlement_type = <br />
| image_skyline = Bakel Fort Beach Kasaragod7.jpg<br />
| image_alt = <br />
| image_caption = Bekal Fort in Kasargod, Kerala<br />
| image_seal = <br />
| nickname = <br />
| map_alt = <br />
| map_caption = <br />
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India<br />
| pushpin_label_position = <br />
| pushpin_map_alt = <br />
| coordinates = {{coord|12.3667|N|75.05|E|display=inline}}<br />
| subdivision_type = [[Country]]<br />
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}<br />
| subdivision_type1 = State<br />
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]<br />
| subdivision_type3 = Region<br />
| subdivision_type4 = Taluk<br />
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]<br />
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kasargod District]]<br />
| subdivision_name3 = [[North Malabar]] (Kolathnadu)<br />
| subdivision_name4 = [[Hosdurg]]<br />
| subdivision_type5 = Language<br />
| subdivision_name5 = [[Malayalam]]<br />
| subdivision_type6 = Nearest cities<br />
| subdivision_name6 = [[Kanhangad]], [[Kasargod]], [[Kannur]], [[Mangalore]]<br />
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]<br />
| utc_offset1 = +5:30<br />
}}<br />
'''Bekal Fort''' is a medieval fort built by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi in 1650 AD, at [[Bekal]]. It is the largest fort in [[Kerala]], spreading over {{convert|40|acre|m2}}.<br />
<br />
[[File:Bakel Fort Beach Kasaragod4.jpg|thumbnail|Bekal Fort Beach, a popular beach in Kerala.]]<br />
[[File:Bakel fort from beach.jpg|thumb|View from beach]]<br />
[[File:Bekalfortviewofsea.jpg|thumb|West view]]<br />
[[File:Bekal-1.jpg|thumb|Bakel fort]]<br />
[[File:Bekalfortbeach.JPG|thumb|The beach down the fort]]<br />
[[File:Bekalfort 2.jpg|thumb|Extension of the fort into the sea]]<br />
[[File:Bekalfort 1.jpg|thumb|Staircase inside the fort]]<br />
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==Structure==<br />
The fort appears to emerge from the sea. Almost three-quarters of its exterior is in contact with water. Bekal fort was not an administrative centre and does not include any palaces or mansions.<br />
<br />
An important feature is the water-tank, magazine and the flight of steps leading to an observation tower built by [[Tipu Sultan]].<ref name="khas" /> Standing at the centre of the fort, this offers views of the coastline and the towns of [[Kanhangad]], [[Pallikkara II|Pallikkara]], Bekal, Mavval, Kottikkulam, and Uduma.<br />
<br />
The fort's zigzag entrance and surrounding trenches reveal its defensive strategy. Holes on the outer walls are designed to defend the fort effectively from naval attacks. The upper holes meant for aiming at the farthest targets; lower holes below for striking as enemy nearer and the lowest holes to attacking enemy closest to the fort.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/bekal-kasaragod/259/|title = Bekal Beach in Kasaragod}}</ref><br />
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Its solid construction resembles the [[Thalassery]] Fort and the St. Angelo Fort at [[Kannur]] built by the Dutch .<br />
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== History ==<br />
During the ''Perumal Age'' Bekal was a part of Mahodayapuram. Following the decline of Mahodayapuram Perumals, Bekal came under the sovereignty of the [[Mushika Kingdom|Mushika]] or [[Kolathiri]] or [[Chirakkal Raja|Chirakkal]] Royal Family in the 12th century.<ref name=FbtS>[[#FbtS|The Hindu, 22 Oct 2005]]</ref> The maritime importance of Bekal increased under the Kolathiris and [[Zamorin|Malabar]] became an important port town.<br />
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After the [[Battle of Talikota]] in 1565 feudatory chieftains including the [[Keladi Nayaka]]s (Ikkeri Nayaks) became powerful in the region. Bekal served as a hub to first dominate, then later defend Malabar. The economic importance of this port town prompted the Nayakas to fortify Bekal subsequently. [[Keladi Nayaka#The Nayaka clan|Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka]] initiated the construction of the fort and it was completed in 1650 AD by [[Shivappa Nayaka]]. [[Chandragiri Fort, Kerala|Chandragiri fort]] near Kasargod was also built during this period.<ref name="khas">[[#KHaS|Kasargod: History &amp; Society]]</ref><br />
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The struggles between the Kolathiries and nayaks to hold this area ended when [[Hyder Ali]] conquered the Nayakas and Bekal fell into the hands of [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore kings]].<ref name="khas" /><br />
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It was an important military station for [[Tipu Sultan]] when he led a military expedition to capture [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]]. The coins and artefacts found in archaeological excavations at Bekal fort indicate the strong presence of Mysore Sultans. Tipu Sultan's death during the [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]] ended Mysorean control in 1799. The fort came under the [[British East India Company]]'s control<ref name="khas" /><ref>[[#HotT|Madras District Manual]]</ref> and became the headquarters of the Bekal Taluk of [[Dakshina Kannada|South Canara]] District in Bombay presidency. The political and economic importance of Bekal and its port declined.<br />
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Nearby the Mukhyaprana Temple of [[Hanuman]] and ancient Muslim mosque bear testimony to the religious harmony that prevailed in the area.<br />
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== Tourism ==<br />
India declared Bekal Fort a special tourism area in 1992<ref name=Deccan>{{cite news|title=Bastions of valour and victory|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/422339/bastions-valour-victory.html|access-date=19 January 2015|issue=Bangalore|work=Deccan Herald|date=29 July 2014}}</ref> and formed Bekal Tourism Development Corporation three years later to promote it.<ref>{{cite web|title=BEKAL|url=http://kasargod.nic.in/index_main.htm|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414141741/http://kasargod.nic.in/index_main.htm|archive-date=14 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fort has been featured in the song 'Uyire' (Tamil) from the movie [[Bombay (film)|Bombay]] and the song ‘Dwadashiyil’ from the [[Malayalam]] movie [[Madhuranombarakattu]].<br />
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==Transportation==<br />
Local roads connect to [[Mangalore]] in the north and [[Calicut]] in the south. The nearest railway station is [[Bekal Fort Railway Station]], [[Kanhangad Railway Station]] and [[Kotikulam railway station|Kotikulam Railway Station]] on Mangalore-[[Palakkad]] line. There are airports at [[Mangalore Airport|Mangalore]], [[Kannur International Airport|Kannur]] and [[Calicut International Airport|Calicut]].<br />
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{{wide image|SeaFromBakel.jpg|1200px|Panoramic view from inside Bekal Fort.}}<br />
<gallery><br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 01.jpg|A view of Bekalfort watch tower<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 15.jpg|A view of sea shore from Bekal fort<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 21.jpg|A view of sea shore from Bekal fort<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 25.jpg|A view of sea shore from Bekal fort<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 26.jpg|Cannonballs kept at Bekal fort<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 16.jpg|A view of sea shore from Bekal fort<br />
File:Bekal fort kasaragod 11.jpg|A view of Bekal fort from its watch tower<br />
File:Bekal Fort watch tower view.jpg|A view of sea from watch tower<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
==In popular culture==<br />
The song 'Uyire Uyire' from the film [[Bombay (film)|Bombay]] was shot in Bekal Fort.<ref name="HT">{{cite news |last= Bari|first= Prachi|date=3 July 2010|title=Indian locations provide stunning backdrops for film shoots|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Indian-locations-provide-stunning-backdrops-for-film-shoots/article16182372.ece|newspaper=The Hindu| access-date= 29 October 2022}}</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Mangalore]]<br />
* [[Kasargod]]<br />
* [[Kanhangad]]<br />
* [[Hosdurg]] Fort<br />
* [[Panathur]]<br />
* [[Kannur Fort]]<br />
* [[Thalassery Fort]]<br />
*[[Mysorean invasion of Malabar]]<br />
* [[SI-MET College of Nursing, Uduma]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
* {{cite book<br />
|last = Sturrock<br />
|first = John<br />
|title = History of the Tuluvas<br />
|publisher = Madras Gazette<br />
|series = Madras District Manual<br />
|year = 1894<br />
|ref=HotT<br />
}}<br />
* {{cite book<br />
|last = C<br />
|first = Balan<br />
|title = Kasargod: History & Society<br />
|publisher = District Panchayat, Kasargod<br />
|year = 2001<br />
|ref=KHaS<br />
}}<br />
* {{cite news<br />
|title = Fort by the Sea<br />
|author = Prashanth G.N.<br />
|date = 2005-10-22<br />
|url= http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/22/stories/2005102202980100.htm<br />
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080108153021/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/22/stories/2005102202980100.htm<br />
|url-status= dead<br />
|archive-date= 2008-01-08<br />
|newspaper = [[The Hindu]]<br />
|ref=FbtS<br />
}}<br />
* {{cite news<br />
|title = Bekal Fort, Kasargod<br />
|newspaper = Archaeological Survey of India<br />
|url= http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_kerala_bekalfort.asp<br />
|ref=BFK<br />
}}<br />
<br />
{{Forts in India}}<br />
{{Waters of Kerala}}<br />
{{Kasaragod district}}<br />
{{Tourism in Kerala}}<br />
<br />
{{Coord|12|23|32|N|75|1|57|E|display=title}}<br />
[[Category:Forts in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Mysorean invasion of Malabar]]<br />
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kasaragod district]]<br />
[[Category:Kanhangad area]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kasaragod district]]<br />
[[Category:Nayakas of Keladi]]</div>Bot