Bekal Experience: Bekal Fort, built along the Arabian Sea Coast is a lovely location for those who like to just dissolve with nature. A majestic fort with pathways well paved for a comfortable walk, and the sea lashing at the coast all along. For those who do not like crowds while holidaying, I will recommend the rainy season (months of July and August) for the trip to Bekal.

Food, sight-seeing and shopping: The best part of Bekal is that there is very little for shopping. Even for eating, there are limited choices. There are a few local restaurants at a distance of 4 to 5 km from the Fort; that is all.

Activities & things to do: Just walking along the inside of the Fort, which has well maintained gardens. Then, you can get out of the fort through a door facing the sea, walk a few yards and reach the sea-viewing spot, a circular structure built as part of the fort to watch sea from close quarters. You can see a number of fishing boats circling catching fish. And, towards one side of the beach, the fishermen return with their catch and sell the off. Finally, inside the fort, you walk up a ramp and reach the Observation tower which gives you a good view of the land around and the sea.

Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc: If you are going in monsoon season, do carry your umbrellas / raincoats. Also be watchful of slippery pathways. For stay, we could locate only one hotel near to the fort. Kerala Tourism is now building 20 plus cottages on the sea coast adjacent to the Fort; which is expected to be ready by first / second quarter of 2013.