Valiyaparamba

Valiyaparamba is separated from the mainland by Kavvayi Backwater. It is located five kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of Cheruvathur and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Bekal, Kasaragod, north Kerala.[citation needed] The island is approximately 16.14 square kilometres (6.23 sq mi) in size, and had a population of 11,917 in 1991. The island's main source of income is from agriculture and fishing. The island has 13 wards ruling by each ward member to leading the Valiyaparamba Panchayathu.

The island is separated from the mainland and accessible by transport boat service or by crossing the Mavila Kadappuram Bridge.

Nearest railway station: Cheruvathur, on the Kozhikode-Mangalore route, about 5 km (3 mi) from Valiyaparamba.

National Highway (NH 17) passes through Cheruvthur.

Nearest airports: Mangalore in Karnataka State, about 100 km (62 mi); Karipur International Airport Kozhikode, about 150 km (93 mi) from Valiyaparamba.

Anantha Lake Temple

Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple or Anantha Lake Temple is a Hindu temple built in the middle of a lake in the little village of Ananthapura, around 6 km from the town of Kumbla in Manjeswaram taluk of Kasaragod District of Kerala, South India. This is the only lake temple in Kerala and is believed to be the original seat (Moolasthanam) of Ananthapadmanabha Swami (Padmanabhaswamy temple) Thiruvananthapuram. Legend has it that this is the original site where Ananthapadmanabha settled down.

The lake in which the Sanctum Sanctorum is built measures about 2 acres (302 feet square). An interesting spot to keep in mind while visiting the temple is a cave to the right corner of the lake. According to the local legend, the deity Anantha Padmanabha chose to go all the way to Thiruvananthapuram through that cave. Hence both the places retain similar names, in spite of being on either end of the region.

Chandragiri Fort

Chandragiri Fort  built in the 17th century, is in Kasaragod District of Kerala, south India. This large squarish fort is 150 feet (46 m) above sea level and occupies an area of about seven acres by the side of the river Payaswini. The fort is now in ruins.

The fort has an eventful history. In earlier days, the river was considered to be the border of two powerful kingdoms - Kolathunadu and Thulunadu. When Thulunadu was captured by the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kolathunadu kings lost the Chandragiri region to them. During the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the area was administratively looked after by the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri. When the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 16th century, Vengappa Nayaka declared independence. Later Shivappa Nayaka took over the reins. He built a chain of forts of which Chandragiri is part.

Bekal Fort

Bekal Fort is the largest fort in Kerala, situated at Bekal village in Kasargod taluk in Kasaragod district, Kerala and it is 65 km (40 mi) from Mangalore city spreading over 40 acres (160,000 m2).

Staircase inside the fort.

An important feature of this fort is the water-tank with its flight of steps. The fort has a tunnel opening towards the south and a magazine for keeping ammunition with broad steps leading to the Observation Tower. From there one has an ample view of towns in the vicinity like Kanhangad, Pallikkara, Bekal, Kottikkulam, and Uduma. 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.

Kasaragod

Kasaragod District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. Kasaragod became part of Kannur district following the reorganisation of states and formation of Kerala in November 1, 1956.[1] Kasaragod was declared as a district on 24 May 1984.

To its south lies Kannur District, to the South east is Kodagu district(Coorg) and to the north Dakshina Kannada district. All along its east it is walled by the Western Ghats while along the west the Laccadive Sea borders it.

The district, covering an area of around 1992 km2, has a population (2011 census) of 1,307,375 and has four taluks, namely, Kasaragod and Hosdurg (Kanhangad), Vellarikundu and Manjeshwaram Taluk. 

Major towns in Kasaragod district are Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Nileshwar, Uppala, Kumbla, Cheruvathur and Trikaripur. It has three municipalities namely Kanhangad,Nileshwar, Kasaragod and 38 Grama panchayats.