Bekal Fort at opening time

Bekal Fort covers a large headland, and its walls rise straight from the rocks above the sea on three sides. It was built in the 1650s by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi, whose kingdom ruled much of coastal Karnataka, as part of a chain of forts guarding the coast. Later Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore held it, before it passed to the British East India Company at the end of the 18th century.

The entrance is a zigzag passage designed to slow attackers, and inside, paths lead across open ground to the main features: a broad ramp climbing to the observation tower, a step well-like water tank, an underground passage and the bastions with gun ports facing the sea. From the tower, you look south along Bekal beach and north towards Kappil, with fishing boats close to shore.

We arrive at opening time, when the ramparts are cool and almost empty. Your guide explains the fort's design and its place in the struggles between Keladi, Mysore and the British. The fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and keeps set hours with an entry fee; check current status before you travel. The beach park below has a small promenade.