The Northern most district of Kerala, Kasaragod is world renowned for its coir and handloom industries. Fishing is a prime source of livelihood. Kasaragod is known as the land of gods, forts, rivers, hills & the beautiful beaches.

The fort at Bekal is the largest and best preserved in the state. Kasaragod displays a variety of styles in temple architecture - the unique style of the Madhur Mahaganapathy temple, the typical Kerala style of the Historic malik deenar great juma masjid and so on speak volumes about the rich cultural heritage of the region. Spectacular pageants of Theyyam, Yakshagana, Kumbla (buffalo race), Poorakkali, Kolkali etc. Enchant visitors.


Places To Visit In Kasaragod

Bekal Fort : 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.

Anandasram : 15 kms from Bekel fort, this internationally renowned spiritual centre founded by swami ramdas in 1939, offers a quiet, peaceful ambience best suited for meditation and spiritual studies.

Kappil Beach : 6 Kms from fort, Remote and secluded, this beach is fast becoming a major tourist attraction. The Kodi cliff nearby offers a panoramic view of the Arabian sea

Pallikere Beach : 1 Km from fort, this shallow beach offers a spectacular view of the fort, and has ample facilities for recreation and relaxation.

Valiyaparamba Backwater : This is perhaps the most scenic backwater stretch in Kerala. Fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands, Valiyaparamba is fast turning into a much favoured backwater resort that offers enchanting boat cruises.

Chandragiri Backwater : Situated on the Chandragiri River, south east of Kasaragod town, this town is known for its large 17th century fort built by Sivappa Naik of Bedanore.

The Chandragiri fort, one of a chain of forts built by the same ruler, offers a breathtaking view of the river and the Arabian sea. It is a vintage point to watch the sunset.


Tourist Attractions In And Around Kasaragod

Adoor Temple : This temple is situated at a distance of 45 kms, east of Kasaragod town. The Adoor Temple is renowned for its ancient Siva Temple, believed to have been founded by Arjuna. The temple, which is known as Sri Mahalingeswara temple, is situated in picturesque surroundings on the southern bank of the river Payaswini.The Makara Samkramam is a very important festival day in the temple.

Ananthapuram : This temple is situated at a distance of 5kms from kumbla, said to be the Moolasthanam of the Ananthapadmanabha Swami of Thiruvananthapuram. It is said that the Anantha Padmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram had settled down here originally.

Madhur Temple : The famous Madhur Srinad Anantheswara Temple is situated at Madhur, eight kms north east of Kasaragod. The imposing structure of the temple, with its turrets and gables and the copper plate roofing, rises majestically against the beautiful landscape of hills, paddy fields and gardens with the river Madhuvahini flowing leisurely in front of it. The Madhur temple is a Siva temple with Srimad Anantheswara as it's presiding deity. The Sivalingam of the temple is said to have been found by a harijan woman, Madharu.A special festival associated with the Madhur Temple is the Moodappaseva.

Bekal Hole Aqua Park : Situated at a distance of about 1 km from Bekal Fort, the Bekal Hole Aqua Park is the only one of its kind in northern Kerala. This unique Aqua Park provides water sport facilities like pedal boats and water cycles.

Malik Deenar Mosque : The city of Kasaragod acquired a considerable importance as a center of Islam with the historic Malik Deenar Juma Masjid. It is built in the typical Kerala style and is believed to have been founded by Malik Ibin Dinar.The Juma Masjid, which is one of the best kept and most attractive in the districts is located at Thalankara.

Manjeshwaram : At Manjeswaram, a quaint little cashew-rich town at the northern tip of the district, which is home to 15 mosques, is the memorial to Govinda Pai, the grand patriarch of Kannada literature. Near Kanjangad in Hosdurg, is the Madiyankulam dedicated to Bhadrakali.

Nileswaram :The cultural centre of the district, this was the seat of the Nileswar Rajas. The Nileswaram palace today functions as the folklore centre of the Department of Archaeology. The town is also famous for its numerous Kavus (Shrines), temple festivals and the Kavil Bhavan Yoga and Cultural Centre, which offers rejuvenation therapy and naturopathy treatments, like mud baths and herbal baths.


How To Reach There

The nearest airport is at Mangalore, 50 km away.Kasargod has a railway station, which is linked to several important towns.An Excellent network of roads connects Kasaragod to major towns in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil nadu.