Tourism in the Kasaragod district is often considered synonymous with the small town of Bekal. Bekal Beach and Bekal Fort, which sits alongside it, present visitors with wonderful windows into both natural beauty and history.
The development of Bekal Beach aims to make it the first planned beach destination in India. Bekal is a ‘green field’ destination as is evident in its color and foreground vegetation.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister of Tourism, opened ‘Beach Camp’, the first Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) Hotels and Resorts property in Bekal. The Beach Camp, with 30 cabins, will be built on a two-hectare site located between the Bekal Beach Park and the Tsunami Park. The state-owned Bekal Resorts Development Corporation has leased the land for 30 years. Beach Camp will be KTDC’s first property in the Malabar region and its 32nd resort.
Cabins that resemble a tent will be built using ‘knockdown technology’. The cabins will be built with ecological materials without damaging the environment and the beach. Each cabin will offer guests a spectacular view of Fort Bekal and its surroundings. The work on 20 cabins will be completed within 6 months. The KTDC will plant more coconut trees here to make the destination more beautiful and green.
In the second phase, another 10 cabins and a swimming pool will be built. The property will have an ayurvedic center as the KTDC plans to market beach and ayurveda.
As part of the government’s efforts to develop tourism in Malabar, KTDC will also build its premium properties in Kozhikode and on the beaches of Muzhappilangad. The Union government declared Bekal as a special tourist area in 1992 and an investment of Rs 750 crore is estimated in Bekal. for integrated tourism development.
