Kasaragod

Kasaragod lies in the north tip of Kerala bordered by the Western ghats on the east and the Arabian sea on the west.

Lying on the north western coast of Kerala State in South India, Kasargod was famous from time immemorial. Many Arab travellers, who came to Kerala between the 9th and 14th centuries A.D., visited Kasargod as it was then an important trade centre.

Kasaragod was a part of South Kanara district of Madras prior to the states reorganization on November 1 1956.

The Bekal fort in Kasaragod is the largest and best preserved fort in the State.It is being developed into an international tourist center. Other than the fort,the many temples, mosques and churches add to the cultural value of Kasaragod.

With a large tribal presence the region is rich in art forms.It has a number of traditional folk art forms to its credit,such as Theyyam, Kathakali, Yakshagana, Pulikkali, Bhuta Kola, Oppana and Kolkolli etc.

The backwater cruises at Chandragiri and Valiyaparamba are not to be missed experiences. The largest backwater area in the far north centres on the island of valiyaparamba, which you can explore on one of only four rice-barge cruise boats operating in the area from the jetty of Nileswaram .Valiyaparamba backwaters centre on a small thirty kilometre delta fed by four rivers whose various bands and tributaries form a tangle of inland lakes, creeks and winding lagoons speckled with tiny islets.

It makes a wonderful region for off track explorations. The mosr convenient springboard for exploring Valiyaparmba is the boat jetty at Kottapuram fom where local ferries fan out to islands further afield. A 300 metre footbridge the longest of the kind in the state connects Kottapuram with the island of Acham Thuruthi opposite.

The nearest aiport is Mangalore which is 50 Km away, and Cochin airport is 420 Km from Kasaragod. It is also linked by rail route to all the important towns in and around Kerala and in the neighboring states.

Communal harmony and religious tolerance are the noteworthy characteristics of the people.

The weather is dry from December to February. March to May is the hot season. The coolest months of the year are January-February and the best time to visit this place.