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Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) is located around 100 km south of Pondicherry. Tranquebar is considered the window of Denmark where 17th Century Danish forts, churches and a few old buildings survive to tell the stories.
Danish Fort (Fort Dansborg) at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
Tranquebar main attraction is the Danish fort (Fort Dansborg), one of the few forts built in the Bay of Bengal. Danish Admiral Ove Gjedde built Danish Fort in Tharangambadi in 1620. Thanjavur King Ragunatha Nayak gave the land after an agreement with Ove Giedde.
Fort Dansborg is built in the Danish style, with typical large halls and high ceilings. Danish Fort was the governor’s residence with a kitchen and a church room. Now the church room is converted into a Museum where the fort replica is kept inside the Museum.
Inside the Museum, Pictures of Danish Kings , Canon balls, Danish coins, and Sawfish bones were kept on display. On the southern side of the fort, multiple cages were built to keep the prisoners, poultry etc.
Time: 10.00 Am to 5.45 pm
Danish Fort Ticket Price:
Indians: Adult Rs.5/ Children Rs.3
Foreigners: Adult Rs.50/ Children Rs.25
Still Camera: Rs.30
Video Camera: Rs.100
The Bungalow on the beach at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
On the northern side of the Danish fort lies “The Bungalow on the beach”, a 17th Century bungalow a Danish Family owned. During the 2004 Tsunami, this Bungalow was severely damaged, and the Neemrana Group took it over for restoration like they always do. They have promoted this Bungalow on Beach hotel as the perfect honeymoon destination. You can see the hotel’s restoration with photos of before and after in the album, which was kept in the reception. Book your rooms here.
Masilamaninathar Temple at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
Masilamaninathar Temple is a few metres north of the hotel “The Bungalow on the beach”. It is one of the few shore temples in Tamilnadu, built in the 13th Century by the Pandya King. Maravarman Kulasekara Pandiyan 1 built this temple in 1306, and the architecture combines Chinese and Tamil architecture to attract Chinese merchants who used to visit during the 13th Century. Right now, the temple needs to be addressed with trash everywhere. It is our asset that needs to be preserved for the future.
Governor’s House:
Governor House is next to the Bungalow of the beach hotel. Governor House was a residence for Governors of the Danish Company in 1793. It has the tallest pillars, central courtyards and massive walls on both sides of the courtyards. There is a sign board in front of the Governor House from the department of Archeology Society of India.
Tranquebar Maritime Museum:
Tranquebar Maritime Museum is a private museum next to the Governor’s House, also the Danish Indian Cultural Center. Museum has a Library and an extensive collection of old coins, old barrels etc. New Museum was under construction on the backside when we went there. Staffs were knowledgeable about the history. They serve you tea if you order. They have pendants made from old Chinese porcelains were kept for sale. You can also buy antiques which were kept on display.
Churches at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
Zion church at the entrance of the Tranquebar is claimed to be the oldest protestant church in India, built in 1701. Just opposite the Zion Church lies the New Jerusalem Church, built in 1718 by German Missionaries and both churches were maintained well.
Gold Smith Street:
Tranquebar is dotted with heritage buildings. If you are interested in our old Tamil architectural buildings, visit Gold Smith Street, just two streets from the Danish Fort. This street is beautifully maintained, and most houses were built with thinnai and “ottu veedu” tiled roofs. INTACH is working with the local community to restore these beautiful buildings.
Tranquebar has much to offer tourists and is a potential gem if the government markets it properly.
Hotels in Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
1. Royal House
For guided tours, Whatsapp: +91-7604942994
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