Changing face of Bekal

Bekal Fort, which has stood the test of time, is all set to become the top tourist spot for globetrotters and travelers. The Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC) with its muti-crore projects is geared up to develop the exotic locales of Bekal to meet the growing number of international tourist who visit its walls and waters.
Tourists’ visit the fort, which is located 16 Kms from Kasaragod, to get a glimpse of the architecture, lush greenery and beaches lined by coconut trees. It is among the biggest fort in Kerala, spread across forty acres. You could view all the important places from here like Kanhangad, Kottikulam, Uduma. It is among the most popular tourist destinations of Kerala, today, courtesy Mani Ratnam’s movie Bombay, which was shot at its beautiful locales here. It is estimated that a total of 3.5 lakh tourists visit the fort every year.
In 1992, the Indian Government included Bekal under the ‘Special Tourism Area’ for integrated resort development. With the support of Central Government, a panel was appointed to prepare blue print of the development plan following which the Indian Government set up Bekal Tourism Authority (BTA) for implementation of the project. Government of Kerala constituted BRDC as a public sector company in 1995, for speedy implementation of the Bekal Project.
Lying between Kasaragod in the north and Kanhangad in the south, the project spans over four panchayat's of Kasaragod district (Chemnad, Uduma, Pallikere and Ajanoor) covering an area of 134 sq km. The company has acquired 220 acres in the four panchayats to develop state-of-the-art beach resorts. The master plan was prepared by M/s N.M. Salim & Associates, kozhikode and consultants from India, Australia and the Philippines. The mega resort projects, worth more than Rs.500 crore, are progressing at a rapid pace in the four Panchayats.
"Bekal will attain the status of one of the finest international tourist destination with the completion of multi-crore development projects. The construction works of the resorts at three sites are progressing in full swing and all the works will be completed by 2012,’’ said Shaji Madhavan, Managing Director of BRDC.
Beautification work under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Scheme has been completed with funds received from Department of Tourism for recreation facility in about 23 acres.
People from the Panchayats are happy with the plethora of job opportunities generated during the course of construction and after the realization of the Bekal project.
``The construction of new roads would fuel the hopes of development,’’ said A Balakrishnan, president of the Pallikkara panchayat.
The roads leading to the site like Palakunnu-Kappil, Uduma-Beyoori, Palakkunnu-Malakunnu, Melparamba-Chembarika and Kanhangad-Kolayal will be developed as major district roads under the Malabar package. As part of developing infrastructure required for promoting tourism, 33 roads have been developed in four Panchayats for an approximate length of about 30 to 35 Km, 7 mld(million litres per day) water supply scheme to cater to the need of water scarce area of the four Panchayats along the pipe line route and the water demand of six Resort Sites.
Locals are happy over the new avenues of opportunities opened up for them at the site. The home stay facility at the surrounding area has received a major boost. The tourists who visit the fort along with their family prefers for home stay than the resorts.
``The demand for home stay has been increasing day by day. Foreigners are keen to learn our culture especially the British and French tourist, who come during December to April when the Theyyam and temple festival are held,’’ said C Jagannath, at Panayal near Bekal, who is running a home stay for the past four years.
Under the Rural Tourism Development project the BRDC is planning to develop Valiaparambu Back water resort. If developed this 40 Km back water area will cover from Nileshram to payyannur and parashinikadavu. At present four out boat services are operating at Valiaparambu.
How can one forget drinking water? A water supply scheme is another ambitious project under the BRDA. The source for the water supply is Karicheri River, a tributary of Chandragiri River. The construction of nine elevated water tanks to distribute water to Panchayats has already been completed with an estimated sum of Rs.15 crore.A pilot scheme to treat solid waste generated in the Panchayat was implemented in association with Ajanoor Panchayat. The scheme proposes treating 500 Kg. of solid waste per day using vermi compost bio technology at an estimated sum of Rs.50 lakh for the scheme.
Future plans:
Parking area for the vehicles is limited and during peak seasons, Bekal Fort gets congested causing inconvenience to the tourists. To overcome this, the BRDC acquired land near Bekal Fort for a Parking Bay and work will be completed within three months. An amount of Rs.45 lakh has been sanctioned from Department of Tourism.
The renovation of the Rest House has been completed except for furnishing. BRDC had also held discussion to set up a heritage museum at the site. BRDC has already begun the development work of Valiyaparamba backwaters area with provision for parking, boating, facility and recreation centres.
A Cultural Centre at Bekal with an estimated sum of Rs.200 lakh to cater the need of tourist as well as for the historians is also planned. One acre has been identified at Thachangad, 4 kms from Bekal Fort in Panayal Village for this purpose.
Five tents have been erected at Bekal Fort beach for the stay of tourists and is run by a private investor in the land leased out by BRDC.Thanal Facility CentreA Facility Centre with information counter, toilet facilities, parking has been formed. Now the Globlink Hotels (P) ltd, Jameshdpur have started accommodation facility "Nirvana" and Restaurant "Kiora". A mini house boat terminal has been set up at Kottappuram. It is the only houseboat terminal in North Malabar. Four house boats and speed Boats are operated from this centre
If the entire project is successfully marketed, then we will soon see the map of Bekal in every globetrotter’s hand and Government’s dream of making it the leading beach tourist destination will be realized.