Pookot Lake

Pookot lake is the only natural freshwater lake in Kerala, located on the Western Ghats and a major tourist attraction in Wayanad. At 2100 metres above sea level,the lake is surrounded by tall trees and dense forests.
You will enjoy a day’s trip and camp in this location. The lake is surrounded by thick woods and trees. This scenic lake presents a calm and serene environment. This is an excellent camp site for peace lovers. This tourist attraction is situated half way from Calicut. From Kalpetta you can reach Pookot Lake in half an hour.

Surrounded by forests, and greenery, Pookot lake Wayanad is an enchanting location for nature lovers and photographers. You can’t resist taking few photographs of the excellent location. Pookot lake Wayanad at a close distance to Vythiri is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous tourist spot in the entire location. The lake is cuddled up in the surrounding lap of mountains. The tall trees and dense woods that surround the pathway of the lake provide a memorable visual treat. There is also a freshwater aquarium near the lake which displays colorful and beautiful fishes.

Near Pookot lake Wayanad there is a Children's Park and shopping centre for handiwork and spices. These shopping centers are maintained by District Tourism Promotion Council. These facilities provide recreational activities to the visitors. Children will love this excellent calm and beautiful location and will enjoy the colorful display of fishes.

How To Reach :

Wayanad is well connected by road, rail and air. Kozhikode serves as the closest airport and railway station to reach Wayanad at a distance of 98 km. Wayanad is well connected by roads from Kozhikode, Kannur,Ooty and Mysore. There are regular bus services from major cities like Bangalore, Chennai,Mangaluru and Trivandrum up to Kozhikode. From here tourists can hire cabs or board bus to reach their destination.

Kodanad

Kodanad is a beautiful rural riverside village and a popular day picnic spot in Ernakulam district with a major elephant rescue and care centre. Kodanad is situated on the south bank of river Periyar, about 42 kilometers east of Kochi in the Kerala state.Kodanad is known for its 'Elephant Kraal', elephant rescue centre, mini zoo and its access via river boats to the seasonal pilgrimage centre of Malayattoor church, both placed opposite on banks of the Periyar river with stunning unspoilt and rustic views. Kodanad's various riverside locality attracts visitors, film crews, foreign tourists all around the year. There are many walkways alongside the river and they offer a unique experience to the visitors.


Kodanad is one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala specialised for rescuing and training stranded baby elephants from the forest regions across Kerala. Muthanga in Wayanad district and Konni in Pathanamthitta district are two other centres.  Kodanad also offers elephant safari to visitors. Another spot for elephant lovers is Punnathur kotta, of neighbouring Thrissur district, where 64 elephants of the Guruvayoor temple are groomed.( we will post an article on Punnathur kotta later)

A decent number of people turn up at the center simply to watch the baby elephants in their infancy. Kodanad is one of the important places in the tourist map of Kerala and is included in the list of Ecotourism destinations.Visit this camp in off season early morning before 8am is the best timing.By the river watching the big elephant getting a bath is beautyful. When the baby elephants playing with their care takers till those washing them, and how they enjoying being in the water is amazing. After their bath you can take pictures with them and can touch them.

How to Reach:

Nearest Town: Kodanad is accessible by direct bus services from Perumbavoo.(11 km from kochi). Perumbavoor is connected from all parts of the state of Kerala.

Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam, 30 kms and Aluva about 25km away from Kodanad.

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport,18 km from Kodanad.

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach is a beach in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It is located parallel to National Highway 17 between Kannur and Thalassery. This beach is also considered the only Drive-in Beaches in Asia and the most popular beach in the Malabar region in Kerala. Even though Goa has many beautiful beaches, it does not have a Drive-in beach.
The beach festival is celebrated in the month of April and it is one of the important tourist attraction in the district of Kannur in Kerala. The youth also try many driving stunts in cars like drifting and wheeling in bikes as this is a paradise for driving along the shore. Just 100m from this beach you would find a private island, which can be reached by walk at times of low tide.
There is an unpaved road winding through coconut groves leading to the beach. To get to this road, if you are driving from Tellicherry towards Kannur, take the left turn just before the first railway crossing you encounter after crossing the Moidu bridge. The beach is about 5 km long and curves in a wide area providing a good view of Kannur on the north. Local laws allow beachgoers to drive for a full 4 km directly on the sands of the beach. The beach is bordered by black rocks, which also protect it from the stronger currents of the ocean.
Approximately 100–200 m south of the beach there is a private island called Dharmadam Island (Pacha Thuruthu in Malayalam, which translates to Green Island in English). It is possible to walk to the island during low tide.
Since the late 90's, the beach has seen a steady influx of European tourists during winter. even though the beach has attracted many lucky visitors into her,a major share of foreign and domestic tourists are not aware of the potential of this elusive destination.it is a must see destination for Indians as well as foreign tourists.after the face lift of the beach there has been a huge improvement in the facilities available to the beach visitors including resorts roads etc.

Bekal Fort

Hello Friends,We are starting our blog, Kerala Dashan with post about the historic BEKAL FORT, which is the  largest and the best-preserved fort in the state of Kerala. This fort, located on about 16 km South of Kasaragod on the national highway was constructed between 1645 and 1660 A.D. Shivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty is credited with its construction.Another version says that the fort was captured by Shivappa Naik from the Kolathiri Rajas, who were its owners. Around 1763 A.D. the fort was occupied by Haider Ali. During Tipu Sultans' (Haider's son) reign it housed the Huzur of Canara. It was later incorporated into the dominions of the English East India Company.

Some important features of this fort are the water-tank with its flight of steps, the tunnel opening towards the south, the magazine for keeping ammunition and the broad steps leading to the Observation Tower, which is a rarity. From there one has an ample view of towns in the vicinity like Kanhangad, Pallikare, Bekal, Kottikkulam, Uduma etc. This observation center had strategic significance in discovering even the smallest movements of the enemy and ensuring the safety of the Fort.

The Fort appears to have been built up from the sea since almost three fourths of its exterior is drenched and the waves continually stroke the citadel. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim mosque nearby bear testimony to the age-old religious harmony that prevailed in the area. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort show the defense strategy inherent in the fort.

Unlike most other Indian forts, Bekal Fort was not a center of administration, for no remains of any palace, mansion or such buildings are found within the fort. Arguably the fort was built exclusively for fulfilling defense requirements. The holes on the outer walls of the fort are specially designed to defend the fort effectively. The holes at top were meant for aiming at the farthest points; the holes below for striking when the enemy was nearer and the holes underneath facilitated attacking when the enemy was very near to the fort. This is remarkable evidence of technology in defense strategy.

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.

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

Getting There :

Nearest towns : Kanhangad – 8 km and Kasargod 18 km. These towns are well connected to nearby cities by bus and train. 

Nearest railway station: Kasaragod on the Kozhikode(calicut)-Mangalore route.

Nearest airport: Mangalore, about 60 km from Kasaragod town;
Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode, about 180 km from Kasaragod town.

Accommodation :

• K-Tees Residency    

Tariff Rs.225 - 1800     
contact@kteesresidency.com
+91 467 2275633, 2310837

• Hotel Nirvana

   Tariff Rs. 3200 - 3800
 nirvanabekalfort@gmail.com
+91 467 2272900, 2272007

•  Vivanta by Taj       

Tariff Rs. 6400 -13500
reservations@tajhotels.com
+91 467 6616612, +91 22 66011825, 1800 111 825, +91 467 6616613

•  The LaLiT Resort & Spa Bekal   

Tariff Rs. 20000 - 55000
ajoy@thelalit.com
+91 467 2237777, +91 467 223757

•  Apsara Regency     

Tariff Rs. 300 - 800
+91 4994 230124, 220424, 220454