Kasaragod, referred to as the land of forts and gods, is one of the districts in the northern tip of Kerala. Kasaragod is surrounded by Kannur district in the south, Mangalore in the north, Western Ghats in the west and Arabain Sea in the east. Like other districts of Kerala, Kasaragod district too has a high literacy rate, around 85.17%. The district preserves a mixed culture as it has been highly influenced by the neighbouring states. The Malayalam spoken here has influences from Tulu, Kannada Urdu, Konkani etc. Kasaragod has enchanting beauty and is a land of historical importance. The district is home to the most fascinating forts, rivers, hills and beautiful beaches. The Bekal Fort is the largest and best preserved fort in the state.
The northernmost district of Kerala, Kasaragod is world renowned for its coir and handloom industries. Fishing is a prime source of livelihood. Kasaragod is also known for its rivers, hills and beautiful beaches.
Kasaragod displays a variety of styles in temple architecture - the unique style of the Madhur Mahaganapathy Temple, the typical Kerala style of the historic Malik Deenar Great Juma Masjid and so on speak volumes about the rich cultural heritage of the region. Spectacular pageants of Theyyam, Yakshagana, Kumbla (buffalo race), Poorakkali, Kolkali etc. enchant visitors.Nileshwaram Palace, once the seat of Nileshwaram Rajas who had been patrons of art and culture for centuries, today functions as the folklore centre of the Archeological Department of the state.
Valiyaparamba, 30 kms from Bekal, is much favoured as the most scenic backwater stretch in Kerala.
Pallikere Beach offering an enchanting view of the fort; Kanwatheertha Beach with its spectacular swimming pool like formation of the sea water; the remote and secluded Kappil Beach with the Kodi Cliff nearby offering a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea – are all nearby attractions.
Kottancherry is situated 30 kms north of Konnakkad and 30 kms north east of Kanhangad, and is a forest area that is ideal for trekking.Situated 780m above sea level, Ranipuram, also known as Madathumala, is famous for its trekking trails and varied vegetarian, which includes evergreen Shola woods, monsoon forests and grasslands. Its beauty and bounty of nature is comparable only to Ooty.
