Bekal Fort

About Bekal Fort

• It is exquisitely designed and built with dark maroon laterite stones.
• It is the largest and best preserved Fort in the whole of Kerala.
• The fort is endowed with impressive walls and ramparts which are again interrupted by massive bastions.
• While the bastions are equipped with several large and small openings for guns, the walls are interspersed with windows and peepholes. These were used to spot the enemy from afar in the past
• A unique and eye-catching feature is a lone bastion, projecting out into the sea.
• It was built in the 17th century.
• This historic monument offers a superb view of the Arabian Sea from its tall observation towers, which were occupied by gigantic cannons till afew centuries ago.
• Originally constructed by the rulers of the ancient Kadampa Dynasty, the Fort changed hands over the years to the Kolathiri Rajas, the Vijayanagara Empire, Tipu Sultan and finally, the British East India Company.

· The most prominent structure inside the fort is the observation tower built by Tipu Sultan.

Q1:What are Laterite stones?

These are a type of sedimentary rock that is commonly found in tropical regions. They are characterized by their reddish-brown to yellowish color and are rich in iron and aluminum oxides. Laterite formations are a result of prolonged weathering and leaching of parent rocks, such as basalt, granite, and gneiss, under hot and humid conditions.

Source: First public sector caravan park in Kerala to come up at Bekal