|
History
Bekal
was under the sovereignty of Kolathunadu when it became an
important maritime centre and an important port town of
Thulunadu (old Kasaragod district). Later, realising the
political and economic importance of Thulunadu, many
laudatory chieftains successively attacked and annexed this
part of the country. The economic importance of the port
town prompted the Jeheri Nayak dynasty to fortify Bekal.
The
Bekal Fort was completed speedily during the period of
Sivappa Nayak to defend the port from overseas attack. The
Chandragiri Fort near Kasaragod was also constructed during
this period.
It
is believed that the “Kotteyar” community found in Bekal,
Panayal and other places in Kasaragod were brought here by
the Nayaks to build and defend the forts. Bekal subsequently
fell into the hands of the Mysore Sultans.
It
then served as an important military station of Tipu
Sultan when he led the great military expedition to Malabar.
Coins and other artifacts unearthed by archeologist’s
excavation at the Bekal Fort are an indication of the
occupancy of the Mysore Sultans.
Years
later, the East India Company made Bekal the headquarters of
the newly organised Bekal Taluk of the South Canara District
of Bombay Presidency. South Canara then became a part of the
Madras Presidency in 1862 and Kasaragod Taluk was set up in
place of Bekal Taluk. Gradually the political and economic
importance of Bekal and its port declined considerably.
Kasaragod
became part of Kerala with the State reorganisation in 1956.
|
