Bekal Village Homestay: Luxurious Villas by the Bekal River
North Kerala is beautiful during the monsoons and the months right after. And what better place to start your holiday than Bekal, home to the largest and one of the best preserved forts in Kerala – the Bekal fort. And if you are planning to explore Bekal fort, the beaches, backwaters and mountains nearby, you will need a good place to stay. One such place where I stayed recently during my monsoon motorcycle ride through Malenadu in Karnataka and North Kerala is the Bekal village homestay, a stunning group of luxurious yet reasonably affordable villas by the Bekal river and just a 5 minute drive from Bekal fort.
This property review is based on my recent experience of staying with them. I found them online when I had already reached Bekal on a week day and needed a place to stay.
1) Scenic Location: Bekal village homestay is located away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal highway and closer to nature. It is located in a residential area with coconut groves and areca nut plantations. And it shares a border with the Bekal river giving it a fantastic and scenic location. This gorgeous location ensures that you do only hear the sounds of birds and the soft laps of the river while staying here.
2) Fantastic Rooms: Bekal village homestay is designed more than luxury villas than a homestay. They have villas that come in two sizes. One that can house a couple and the other that can house a family. Each villa comes with a bedroom with attached bathroom, a small dining area, a fully working kitchen with gas stove, induction cook top, water filter, kettle and more, a balcony that overlooks into the garden area and a private parking area for your car/motorcycle. The villas come with satellite television, free wi-fi, air conditioning and running hot water. In simple words, it offers all of the modern amenities in a reasonably large space.
3) Seriously Affordable: I stayed at the small sized villa that comes with a bedroom, dining area, kitchen, balcony and private parking area. Apart from its amenities, I also got treated to free breakfast (that included idlis, sambar, chutney and coffee) in the morning. And all I paid was INR 2000 per night. I think the larger villa costs a bit more, but given the amenities and the free breakfast, the price is seriously affordable.
4) Proximity to Popular Tourist Attractions: Bekal fort is just a 5 minute drive from Bekal village homestay and so is the gorgeous Kappil beach. Other beaches that are located between Bekal and Kasargod on the coastal highway are also not too far away.
5) No In-House Restaurant: This is the only drawback when staying at this property. Apart from the free breakfast, you don’t get lunch, dinner or any snacks at this property. You will have to walk or drive to the nearby shops for a cup of coffee or hot snacks. And drive to the main road for proper vegetarian and non vegetarian meals. The in-house kitchen in the villas allow you to cook your own food using the provisions that you might have bought or carried with you. This might be preferred by people who like to cook their own meals, especially those with food allergies or young children.
In sum, Bekal village homestay is a fabulous place to stay when you plan to visit Bekal fort and the surroundings. It’s luxurious villas, affordable cost and beautiful nature make it a top choice for me.
