Bekal Fort ' Bekal Fort ' ( ) , ( Kannada : ಬೇಕಲ್ ಕೋಟೆ ) is the largest fort in Kerala , situated at Kasaragod district , North Kerala . spreading over . 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 , Pallikkara , Bekal , Kottikkulam , Uduma etc . The nearest railway stations are Bekal Fort , Kotikulam , Kanhangad , and Kasargod . 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 especially 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 . Recorded history . Sivappa Nayaka of Bednore constructed the Bekal Fort in 1650AD . During the " Perumal Age " Bekal was a part of Mahodayapuram . The Kodavalam inscription ( Pullur , 7 km from Kanhangad ) of Bhasakara Ravi II ( the King of Mahodayapuram ) illustrate the undisputed political sway of Mahodayapuram over this region . Following the political decline of Mahodayapuram Perumals by the 12th century AD , North Kerala including Bekal , came under the sovereignty of Mushika or Kolathiri or Chirakkal Royal Family ( who were a secondary royal family at that point to the Cheras , Pandyas and Cholas ) . The maritime importance of Bekal increased much under the Kolathiris and it became an important port town of Tulunadu and Malabar . It was usual in older days for every royal palace to be protected by a fort . The Bekal fort might have , therefore , existed even from early days of the Chirakkal Rajas . While writing a description of the Kolathiri Kingdom in his Kerala History , K . P . Padmanabha Menon writes : " The eldest of the male members reigned as sovereign Kolathiri . The next in succession , the heir apparent , was the Thekkelamkur . The residence assigned to him was the Vadakara fort . The third in succession was the Vadakkelamkur in charge of Vekkolath fort . This V ( B ) ekkolath fort is identified by some scholars as the present Bekal . " H . A . Stuart , in his Handbook of South Canara ( 1985 ) , makes this observation : " Several forts were built by the Shivappa Nayaks of Badnore between 1650 and 1670 . The two forts of Bekal and Chandragiri were originally under the Kolathiri or Chirakkal Rajas until the time of Shivappa Nayaka ' s invasion . Perhaps , the Bednore rulers might have rebuilt and improved it . " The Battle of Talikota in 1565 led to the decline of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire and many feudatory chieftains rose in political prominence including the Keladi Nayaka s ( Ikkeri Nayaks ) . The Nayakas realized the political and economic importance of Tulunadu ( which is the region comprising modern - day Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts along with the northernmost part of Kasargod District ) and attacked and annexed the region . Bekal served as a nucleus in establishing the dominance of the Nayakas in Malabar . The economic importance of the port town prompted the Nayakas to fortify Bekal subsequently . Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka initiated the construction of the fort and it was completed during the period of Shivappa Nayaka . The speedy completion of the port was aimed at the defense of the fort from overseas attack and to strengthen their attack on Malabar . Chandragiri fort near Kasargod was also constructed during this period . Somashekhara Nayak captured Manjeswar and Taliparamba and built a fort at Kanhangad called Hosdurg which literally means ' New Fort ' in Kannada / Tulu . The other forts found in Kasargod are constructed on the coastal region and on the route to Madikeri ( Mercara in Coorg ) . It is believed that the ' Koteyar ' / ' Ramakshatriya ' community found in Bekal , Panayal and other places in Kasargod were brought to this land by the Nayaks to strengthen and defend the fort . There was a prolonged struggle between the Kolathiries and Nayaks to recapture and maintain their hold over this area . These battles came to an end with the rise of Hyder Ali who conquered the Nayakas . Subsequently Bekal fell into the hands of Mysore kings . Bekal served as an important military station of Tipu Sultan when he led the great military expedition to capture Malabar . The coins and other artifacts unearthed by the archaeological excavation conducted recently at Bekal fort is a manifestation of the strong presence of the Mysore Sulthans . The death of Tipu Sulthan in Fourth Anglo - Mysore War in 1799 saw the end of Mysorean control and subsequently the fort came under the British East India Company . During the reign of the Company Bekal became the headquarters of the newly organized Bekal Taluk of South Canara District in Bombay presidency . South Canara became a part of the Madras presidency in 1799 and Kasargod Taluk was up in the place of Bekal Taluk . Gradually the political and economic importance of Bekal and its port declined considerably . Kasargod became part of Kerala with the state reorganization in 1956 . Its solid construction resembles the St . Angelo Fort at Kannur built by Portuguese and also the Thalassery Fort . The Ikkeri Nayakas had not developed guns to defend themselves from the invaders approaching from the Arabean sea route . But the western part of the fort is built in a solid manner with numerous slits on the walls for defending the fort from the naval power of other rulers . So it is believed that the present look of fort was the outcome of the conflict between European powers . Modification to the fort was made by all the rulers who ruled the land from before the time of the Ikkeri Nayakas . Moreover a number of forts built by the Ikkeri Nayakas have failed to stand the test of time and perished . Located at the centre of the fort is an Observation Tower built by Tipu Sultan , which offers a breathtaking view of the coastline . Also in existence is a rest - house built by the British Government . Presently the protection and preservation of Bekal fort has been entrusted to the Archaeological Survey of India . Tourism . In 1992 the Government of India declared Bekal Fort as a special tourism area . In the year 1995 the government formed Bekal Tourism Development Corporation for transforming Bekal Fort into international tourism centre . Tourism promotion activities have been taking place of late in the areas surrounding the fort , under the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation ( BRDC ) . The song ' Uyire ' ( Tamil ) from the movie ' Bombay ' directed by Mani Ratnam has been shot at Bekal Fort . Many such films , music albums , commercial advertisements etc . , are being shot at Bekal Fort .