Bekal
Fort :
Location - Bekal, Kerala
Built By - Sivappa Naik
Built In - Around 1650 A.D.
Unique Feature - Largest Fort In Kerala India Tourist
Guide
Bekal fort, which is the largest and the best-preserved fort in Kerala is
the most important monument of the region. This fort, located on the
highway, is believed to have been built in the 1650's by Sivappa Naik of the
Ikkeri dynasty. Later it was transferred to Hyder Ali of Mysore and then to
the British.
The sea bastions, underground tunnels and the observation tower are
impressive. An old mosque is situated very near the fort, which is believed
to be built by Tipu Sultan. History sleeps here among the lonely battlements
of the Bekal Fort by the sea shore.
This landscape of ethereal quality, its never-ending grasslands and sea
views possess all the potential to be developed into a superb tourist
destination. The Bekal fort is located on a vast 35-acre headland that runs
into the Arabian Sea. Click here for Fort Tours in Kerala
This imposing structure of laterite rising 130 ft. above sea level has a
chequered history of 300 years ,which adds to its interest as an archaeology
site. Due to its historic relevance, the fort is controlled by the
Archaeological Survey of India.
Nearby Attractions :
Pallikere Beach - The Pallikere beach, which is a
beautiful expanse of shallow waters and beach is fast developing as a
tourist destination. Providing ample scope for recreation and relaxation,
the beach affords a scenic view of the Bekal Fort.
The Bakel Aqua Park - Located north of Bekal fort, The
park, the only one its kind in Malabar, offers boating facility in the
backwaters near the Pallikere beach. Facilities for pedal boats and water
cycling provide perfect recreation on the cool stretches of the Bekal Hole
backwaters.
Edakkal Caves :
Location - Ambukuthi Hills, Wayanad
Unique feature - One Of The Earliest Centres Of Human
Habitation
Discovered by - F. Fawcett
Significance - World's Richest Pictographic Gallery of
its kind
Situated on Ambukuthi Hills, Edakkal caves are 10 kilometers from
Sultanbathery, in Wayanad district. Formed by a large split in a huge rock,
the two natural rock formations represent the world's richest pictographic
gallery of its kind. The two caves located at a height of 1000m on Ambukutty
Mala near Ambalavayal can be accessed only by a 1 km trek trail from
Edakkal. Edakkal literally means 'a stone in between'.
It is a prehistoric rock shelter formed naturally out of a strange
disposition of three huge boulders making one to rest on the other two, with
its bottom jutting out in between and serving as the roof. Edakkal rock
engravings stand out distinct among the magnitude of prehistoric visual
archives of paintings and graphic signs all over the world.
Archaeological Evidence :
Archaeologists consider these as one of the earliest centres of human
habitation. It is believed that similar straight-line cave drawings that are
considered 7000 years old can be seen only in Stiriya in the European Alps
and a few rocky places in Africa.
The pictures depict the moods of man and woman, stars, bow, knife, palm
etc. ancient carvings and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal
figures with peculiar head-dresses and swastik forms and other geometric
symbols. The caves contain several paintings and pictorial writings of the
New Stone Age Civilization, which speak volumes of the bygone life and
civilization.
The Discovery :
F. Fawcett, the then Superintendent of Police, who was also a pre-history
enthusiast, accidentally discovered the caves.
Fawcett went around exploring the Wayanad high ranges, which eventually led
to the discovery and identification of the Edakkal rock-shelter in 1894. He
identified the site as a habitat of Neolithic people on the basis of the
nature of representations on the cave walls, which appeared to him as
engravings made of neolithics celts.
Guruvayoor Temple :
Location - 29 Kms North-West Of Thrissur, Kerala
Popularly Known as - Dwaraka of the South
Dedicated To - Lord Krishna
Significance - Most Important Hindu Pilgrim Centre in
Kerala
Guruvayoor, where the famous Sree Krishna Temple is situated, is one of the
most sacred and important pilgrim centres of kerala. The walls of the
sanctum sanctorum are inlaid with exquisite mural paintings and carvings. In
Kerala, this is probably the only temple that hosts the maximum number of
marriages and rice feeding ceremonies (the ritual first meal for infants).
It was also the hub of the 'Guruvayoor Sathyagraha', a historic movement
demanding temple entry rights for the 'so called' lower castes. The historic
temple is shrouded in mystery. According to local belief, the temple was
created by 'Guru', the 'preceptor of the gods' and 'Vayu', the 'god of
winds'. The eastern 'nada' is the main entrance to the shrine. In the
'Chuttambalam' (outer enclosure) is a 33.5-m tall gold-plated
'Dwajastambham' (flagpost). There is also a 7 m high 'Deepastambham' (pillar
of lamps), whose thirteen circular receptacles provide a truly brillant
spectacle, when lit.
The square 'Sreekovil' is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple,
housing the main deity. Within the temple, there are also the images of
Ganapathy, Sree Ayyappa and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagavathy. Only Hindus are
allowed inside the temple. Punnathoorkotta, which is at a distance of 2 kms
from Guruvayoor is home of 50 temple elephants, offers unusual spectacles of
the gentle pachyderm.
Timings :
The temple is open 03:00 am to 01:00 pm & 04:30pm to 08:30 pm. It then
proceeds to Thriprayar, Koodal Manikyam, Vadakkumnathan Temple, Chettuva and
returns to Guruvayoor by late evening.
How to go to Guruvayoor :
Air - Nearest international airport is at Nedumbassery
(87 km).
Road - The place is well connected to neighbouring places
by good motorable roads.
Napier Museum :
Location - Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Also Known As - Government Art Museum
Designed By - English Architect, Chisholm
On Display - Life-Size Statues Of Kathakali Dancers
An architectural splendour, the Napier Museum combines traditional Kerala
style with the Chinese and Mughal influences much evident in its
architecture. The 19th century English architect, Chisholm, designed the
building, which houses a rare collection of archaoelogical and historical
artifacts. The museum housed in a whimsical building dating from 1880,
displays an assortment of bronzes, historical and contemporary ornaments,
temples carts, ivory carvings and life size figures of Kathakali dancers in
full costumes.
The interiors of the Indo-Sarcenic structure are every bit as intriguing as
the exterior with pink and blue stripes alternating with stripes of yellow
and cherry red, scalloped arches of a banana yellow, interpreting
elaborately carved balconies, the whole linked together with red and white
lattice work and mock friezes. The building boasts of a natural air
conditioning system. Nearby, there is the Natural History Museum, first
opened in 1857, that has a collection of ethnographic pieces, animal
skeletons and stuffed animals and birds.
Timings :
The museums are open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. On
Wednesdays, the museum opens only at 1 p.m.
