Kasargod Tour

Location	Northern-most Kerala
Significance	Popular for coir and handloom industry
Climate	Tropical, warm and humid
Best Time To Visit	August to March
Must See	Bekal Fort, Ananthapura Temple, Kappil Beach

Kasargod is known as the land of Gods, beaches, rivers, hills and fort. Located in the northern Kerala, Kasargod is one such place that is still untouched by the forces of urbanization and still draws countless tourists every season from all over the world. The reason behind is the peaceful atmosphere, divine green beauty, calm waterways and the superb views of the Western Ghats & the Arabian Sea. Situated on the sea coast, the city is bordered by hilly Kodagu and Mangalore districts of Karnataka in the east and north. Talapadi and Trikaripur rivers in north and south, respectively, add to the beauty of the place.

Livelihood

Fishing is the main economic activity of the local people here. Apart from that, they grow Areca Nut, Coconut, Rubber, Paddy, Cashew, and Pepper in their fields. Kasargod is also famous for its coir and handloom industry.

Kasargod Attractions

Bekal Fort

Popular as the biggest fort in the entire state of Kerala, the Bekal Fort lies at a distance of about 16 km from Kasargod. The best part about the Bekal Fort is that despite of being a 300 year old structure, it is one of the best preserved forts in Kerala. It has an imposing circular boundary that spreads to over 40 acre of land running into the Arabian sea.

The glorious past of this fort makes it a favourite of all the history buffs. The main tank, a tunnel opening towards the south, a magazine for keeping ammunition and the broad & wide steps leading to the Observation Tower are some of the major features of the Fort. People believe that the fort was built for fulfilling the defense requirements. The boundary wall has some holes that were specially designed to defined the fort effectively. The holes at the top are meant to aim at the farthest points while those on the lower level are meant to hit when the enemy is nearer.

There is a debate on the construction of the fort. Some people believe that it was built in the 1650's by Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty while a few say that it was originally built by Kolathiri Rajas and later captured by Sivappa Naik. Located about 1 km from here is the popular Bekal hole aqua park. It is a wonderful place to spend quality evenings with family or friends. This park is frequented for a number of water sports and boating.

Ananthapura Temple

This Hindu temple is located in the middle of a lake (5 km from Kumbala) in Kasargod District. It boasts of being the original seat of Ananthapadmanabha Swami (Padmanabhaswamy temple) of Thiruvananthapuram. The surprising fact with the temple is that it is being guarded by a crocodile for centuries, which does not make any harm to the devotees or the fish in the pond. When one crocodile dies, another mysteriously takes its place. This 9th century shrine follows a trend that the feed offered by the devotees is given to the crocodile.

Another fascinating attraction of the temple is its 'sanctum sanctorum', which is surrounded by a rectangular lake. Moreover, the original idols established here are not made of metal or stone, but of a rare combination of more than 70 medicinal materials called 'kadu-sharkara-yogam'. Later in 1972, these were replaced by the metal idols. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this is the only Lake Temple in the entire state of Kerala. The native people celebrate the annual festival of Thapotsavam in this temple in the month of April with full vigor and enthusiasm.

Chandragiri Backwater Cruises

Boat trips to nearby islands and palm groves. It offers a breathtaking view of the river and the Arabian Sea. It is a vintage point to watch the sunset.

Palikir Beach

This shallow beach offers a splendid view of the fort and has ample facilities for rejuvenating oneself.

Kappil Beach

This remote and secluded beach has become a major tourist attraction. The Kodi Cliff nearby offers a panoramic view of the Arabian sea.

Kasargod Excursion

Valiyaparamba (Backwater)

This is perhaps the most scenic backwater stretch in Kerala. Located 30 km from the city centre, it is fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands. Valiyaparamba has turned into a much favored backwater destination that offers enchanting boat cruises.

Apart from that, the famous Ananthapura lake temple is also located at a distance of 30 km from the Bekal Fort.

Flora and Fauna

Kasaragod offers you the best of greenery and natural beauty as it is surrounded by three forest districts. In the north, you will find Dakshin Kannada that has one National Park and 2 wildlife sanctuaries. In the east, there is Kodagu that again has one National Park and two wildlife sanctuaries. Similarly in the south, you will come across Kannur that is popular for one wildlife sanctuary and one elephant corridor. This way, the entire area is quite rich in vegetation.

Ranipuram shola wildlife sanctuary, Malom wildlife sanctuary, Adoor wildlife sanctuary, Parappa wildlife sanctuary, Kareem's Forest park and Thalangara Children's Park are a few wonderful places for picnic.

Shopping

Kasargod is a renowned destination for Coir and Handloom industries. Apart from that, you can also find fine items of bell metal here.

Getting There

By Air: Mangalore (50 km) is the nearest airport to Kasargod. Besides, the Kochi airport is 420 km to its south.

By Rail: Kasargod railway station is well linked to several important towns in the state as well as other parts of the country.

BY Road: Kasargod is well connected by motorable roads to various parts of India. State Transport Buses as well as Private Buses are operated for different cities and towns.