Kerala’s major tourist attraction, Munnar will now be getting an eco-township in the near future. The state government would soon prepare a master plan which would clearly define the different zones meant for commercial, residential, leisure and recreational use. Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Tourism Minister said that Munnar hill station with its rich wealth of flora and fauna deserves added measures for safeguarding its natural wealth and would be developed as an international eco-tourism destination.
Bekal, a small town on the eastern shore of Kerala is another important place of tourist interest which is undergoing a massive transformation into a major tourism hotspot this year. Bekal that lies 12 kms away from Kasaragod district is the first destination selected for planned development by Kerala Tourism. The town is famous for Bekal fort which is of great historical and archaeological interest and is presently under the Archeological Department of the Government of India.
There is a Travellers’ Bungalow, maintained by the PUBLIC Works Department of the State Government within the Bekal fort. Furthermore, there is a recently renovated temple dedicated to Hanuman, at the entrance to Bekal. Travellers can also visit an old mosque situated very near to the fort and this is believed to have been founded by Tipu Sultan.
