Bekal is a small town in the Northern part of the Indian state of Kerala, and is particularly known for the historic Bekal Fort that offers a breath-taking view of the Arabian sea.

I am always on a lookout for short getaways from Bangalore and Bekal seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Having visited Kerala in the past and having loved it every bit, I was not filled with mountains of expectations of finding anything new but this state is so beautiful that it can never disappoint you.

How to reach?

1. Train – Kasargod and Kanhagad have railway stations and are very close to Bekal.
2. Flight – Nearest airport is Mangalore and Bekal is approximately 70 kms from airport.
3. By road.
   
   We took a flight to Mangalore, followed by a taxi service to take us to Bekal. I must warn you that the 2 hours trip is not a very pleasant one as the roads are pretty dilapidated. If they have improved now, you are really lucky!

Where to stay?

We stayed at the Lalit Bekal resort and spa & I cannot recommend it enough. Let me tell you why..

1. The rooms are spacious and well-maintained. The room is well enough for 3 members and you would not need any extra bed as their couch at the foot of the bed is sufficient.
   
2. Be prepared to be greeted by a warm welcome that will melt your heart.
   
3. The entire property is huge- spread through 26 acres of land with coconut trees lining the paths and total of 38 suites nestled in the tranquil calmness of the greenery and a lagoon in the centre.
   
4. They provide bicycles for you to paddle away and get around faster and also, a buggy if walking or cycling is not something you wish to do.
   
5. The staff is quite courteous and ready help, each step of the way.
   
6. The property is surrounded by river Nombili, that forms an internal lagoon, and a white sand beach. There is a wooden bridge connecting to the beach giving a very rustic feeling. The most instagrammable spot is this one!
   
7. There is free kayaking that starts at morning 8.30 am in the Nombili river backwaters. I had 2 rounds in all of two days that I stayed.
   
8. Each room has its very own Jacuzzi. So, just forget everything and relax!
   
9. The food is scrumptious. And I had all the cuisines possible and not even one was disappointing.
   
10. Kid-friendly – This does not matter for everyone but for whom it does, this can be a deciding factor. The chef visited us every time we were at the restaurant, making sure that we were feeding our child well !
    
11. Kerala and Ayurvedic spa go hand in hand, and this property has a state of the art Ayurvedic spa, which is the perfect way to rejuvenate yourself.
    
12. The Bekal fort is just 15 minutes away. This is pretty much the only touristy place you can visit, made popular by the Bollywood song ‘tu hi re’. Getting there is easy and make sure to reach in time to leave by it’s closing time, 5.30 p.m. If you ask me, 30-45 mins at tops are enough!
    

Picture gallery to lure you!!

Expenses

It is definitely not a pocket-friendly affair but I would say that the hospitality and services did justice to the price we paid.

Bekal does not have much to offer in terms of sightseeing, so might as well splurge in a good resort and enjoy your time there.

The break up –
Flight – 5-6K INR per person (Bangalore to Mangalore )
Ola outstation for 3Days & 2Nights – 6,500 INR
Hotel – 22,000 INR for 2 nights of weekdays
Food -( 2 major meals for 2 days ) approx. 2,500 INR /2 person / day
Bekal fort – 25 INR /person

If there are any questions, do comment below or send me a message and I will surely get back. Happy travelling!