Historic Kerala beach linked to Vasco da Gama lies in neglect

Keralas Kappad Beach linked to Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama is steadily losing its charm.

By Juhan Samuel

Kozhikode (Kerala), June 15 : Kerala's Kappad Beach linked to Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama is steadily losing its charm.

Vasco da Gama, the famous explorer from Portugal, landed at Kappad in circa 1498 with 170 men in three vessels, thus discovering a sea route from Europe to India.

Located 16 kilometres from Kozikode town, Kappad Beach has a rock landscape. It finds mention in history and geography texts as the gateway to the Malabar coast.

But, sadly, the historically significant beach has turned a major disappointment for tourists and local residents due its neglected state. Tourists, visiting the Kappad Beach, are often heard complaining about the neglected state of such a historical place.

Tourists like M.Rajiv say: "I came here with my family to see the beach of historical importance with Vasco Da Gama's visit but here I could not see anything which explains of the event. There are no facilities for the tourists. The government should think about developing this beach as an important tourist spot."

The rock-studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu.

A solitary pillar commemorates the event with the inscription, "Vasco da Gama landed here. The sea here is placid and seemingly untouched by history or time.

Locals lament there have been no effort to promote the place as a tourist circuit in the State, which gets a sizeable number of visitors from different parts of the country and abroad.

T. Mohanan, a villager, said: "I feel proud that this is the place where the first ship of Vasco landed but I feel sad to signify that historical moment just one Stupa (mound) is erected. We, the villagers, want this place to be developed as a big tourist spot of India."

Vasco Da Gama died in Kochi in February 1503 on his way back. He was buried at the St. Francis Chapel, but his mortal remains were taken to Portugal later. His tomb still remains in Kochi.

International Forum for Cultural Heritage and Tradition, a voluntary organisation celebrates the arrival of Vasco every year to create awareness among the local and foreign tourists visiting the St. Francis Church and the tomb of Vasco Da Gama.

An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.

Kappad offers the unique backwaters, which consist of a complex network of lagoons, lakes and canals. Travelling on these backwaters is an unforgettable experience for anyone.

There are no roads here, only waterways. On the banks, one can watch the lush green rice fields spreading away into the distance and coconut groves with the occasional temple or church.

These canals or waterways, vary in dimension from being wide enough to be dubbed lakes, rich with marine bounty.

Kerala is the second most visited tourist place in India. The State recorded a 51 per cent growth in 2006 as against the previous year.

ANI