Travel> The Lalit Spa & Resort, Bekal

Image1: The reception area

Image2: Driving through the resort

Image3: Coconut milk custard with gelatin cubes - divine!

Image4: Starters - Prawn spring rolls, golden-fried spring onions and a lettuce salad pack with dips

Image 5: Chilled lemonade with a twist of curry leaves and crushed ice

Image6: Boat shaped pool side beds

Image7: Inside Lalit Spa & Resort, Bekal

Image8: Your conveyance inside

Image9: All cottages overlook the lagoon

Image10: The room

Image11: The poolside

Image Copyright: Tanya Munshi

Text by: Tanya Munshi

A trip to Bekal Fort would be incomplete if you haven't visited the Lalit Spa and Resort at Bekal, which is hardly 7kms from the fort. Ideal for a romantic getaway, this 26 acre property provides you with a serene and calm atmosphere that you will be craving after driving down in the hot sunny Kerala weather.

With 44 well appointed cottages overlooking the man-made lagoon, a natural backwater, a spa, in-house gym, open air yoga rooms with cascading waterfalls, this is an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. The food, the ambience and the staff are excellent and worth writing home about.

As soon as you park your vehicle a staff will receive you in a golf cart to take you to the reception area or to your room. The food is a gentle blend of Keralite and continental cuisine which is brilliant and all compliments to the chef.

Just a few months old, The Lalit Spa and Resort has a few areas still under construction, but the restaurants, rooms and the spa are operational. Barely an hour and a half drive from Mangalore (75kms), a trip to the Lalit Spa and Resort is a must if you're seeking to indulge in some luxurious relaxation and serenity.

Travel> Bekal Fort

Image1: Walking up the ramp

Image 2: Frozen in time

Image 3: The gate ruins of Bekal

Image 4: Inside the fort

Image 5: Walking inside the fort

Image 6: Walking up the fort at Bekal

Image 7: View of the Arabian Sea from the top

Image 8: View from the Bekal Fort

Image 9: Inside the premises of Bekal Fort

Image 10: Restoration in progress at Bekal

Image copyright: Tanya Munshi

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Constructed between 1645 and 1660, Bekal Fort is one of the biggest forts in Kerala spreading across 40 acres. This sea fortress is located in Kasargod district of North Kerala, around 49kms south of Mangalore and 93kms north of Kannur.

Built with laterite stones this fort is of prime archeological importance in the country. Bekal Fort is recognized under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites Remains Act 1958 (24 of 1958).

Bekal owes its history to the 12th century Mahodayapuram Perumals who were succeeded by the Ikkeri Nayakas who later fortified Bekal during the 16th century. Sivappa Nayaka of Bednore (Ikkeri Nayakas) had built Bekal Fort during his reign from 1645-1660. By 1763 Bekal Fort was captured by Hyder Ali and after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the East India Company took over the fort.

Bekal Fort is known to have secret passage ways that helped the armies to enter or return into the fort. A popular spot for local film shootings, Bekal is undergoing major restoration work in its premises. It is highly advisable to visit Bekal in the morning hours before 12 noon or in the early evenings post 4 pm as it can get very hot and there aren't many trees to offer a much needed shade to escape the Kerala sun.

Timings to visit Bekal is between 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. The entrance of the gate will remain open from 8:00 to 6:00 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 5/- per head for Indian tourists and Rs. 100/- for foreign tourists. For still camera and video camera they charge a fee of Rs. 25/-.

There's Nirvana Luxury Cottages close to the fort with an in-house multi-cuisine restaurant Kia-Ora (Phone: 0467-2272007/ 2272900. Email: nirvanabekalfort@gmail.com).

After a visit to Bekal Fort, just 7kms away you can visit The Lalit Spa and Resort and enjoy a healthy and hearty meal. As a first timer, it maybe difficult to spot this resort, so it is advisable that you keep driving towards Mangalore, on the same road keeping the railway tracks to your right. Once you spot a nursing medical college (a glass building), keep a look out on your left for a sign board which says 'Lalit Spa and Resort - 3kms' and follow the arrows as you drive through the interiors. The roads are yet to be developed, but don't let that deter you from driving up till the end. The Lalit Spa is located at a dead end and you can't miss it thanks to the red arrows pointing to the direction. A visit to the resort is a must especially after a hot and sunny day spent at Bekal Fort.