Located about 25km (16 miles) south of Bekal Fort, Valiyaparamba backwaters is a great addition to your Bekal tour itinerary. Though not as elaborate with pomp and show compared to the south Kerala backwaters, the Valiyaparamba backwaters is has its rustic charm and character.

Fishing Boat in Kerala Backwater

Bekal Ripples Jetty at Valiyaparamba backwaters near Bekal.

There are two hubs from where houseboats in Valiyaparamba operate. These are located on the mouth of Thejaswini river, on the opposite banks. So the routes slightly varies depending on which houseboats you are planning to board.

It’s an hours drive from Bekal Fort to the houseboat jetty in Valiyaparamba backwaters, though it’s only 25km.

The first step is to get to the highway (SH57). Fom Bekal Fort or Bekal Beach or other resorts nearby get it’s a ¼ to 2km drive on the local road.

Once on the highway drive south towards Hosdurg/Kannur. You’ll cross the Hosdurg town in about 16km. About 1½km further, you’ll join the NH66 in a Y fork. Drive further 6km on the NH66 highway, you’ll see the Gokulam Nalanda Resort on your right side. Immediately after the resort , the highway crosses the Karingode river. Leave the highway and turn right into the local road, soon after you’ve crossed the bridge. This is an obscure junction, easy to overshoot. This is the Nileswaram-Kottapuram road.

House Boat jetties are about 2 to 2½ km from this junction. Now this road is a bit narrow and zigzag through the villages.

In about ¼km after you’ve left the highway, the road reaches a Y fork. If you’ve booked with houseboats operated by Bekal Ripples, take the right fork. About 2½km further drive will take you to the backwaters front. There are signboards by Bakel Ripples on this road.

If your houseboat operator is ‘Thejaswini Houseboat‘, take the left fork of the Y junction. In about 2km you’ll reach the backwater front near the Kottapuram-Achamthuruthi footbridge.The boat jetty is a short walk from here.

See the attached Bekal Route map for more details.

Public Transport: If you are backpacking or depending on public transport, this is the plan to travel from Bekal to Valiyaparamba.

There are frequent bus services connecting Kasargod and Nileswaram

Take a local taxi or autorickshaw to the bus stop on the highway near to your location. Board the Nileswaram bound bus and getdown at Nileshwaram Market bus stop. Take a local taxi or autorickshaw from the bus stop.

Alternatively, you can travel by train also. There are two small railway stations near Bekal. Kotikulam (Station code:KQK) is located about 3km north of Bekal Fort and beach. About 6 daily trains towards Nileswaram stops here.

Bekal Fort Station (Station code : BFR) is 2km south of Bekal fort and beach. Only 3 passenger trains and the Malabar Express stops here.

Whichever station you take, it’s about 25 minutes journey southwards to Nileswaram (Nileshwar) (Station code:NLE). From Nileshwar take a local taxi or autorickshaw to Valiyaparamba backwaters.

A tailpiece : Valiyaparamba offers short backwater tours (2-3 hours), full day tours (with lunch onboard) as well as overnight stay tours. Also walk on the Kottapuram-Achamthuruthi footbridge, the longest foot bridge in Kerala.

Bekal Route Map

Bekal Ripples Jetty at Valiyaparamba backwaters near Bekal.

Road towards Valiyaparamba houseboat jetty

Bekal to Valiyaparamba Backwaters

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