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Top Tranquebar Hotels
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Hotels(3)|Ratings(10)|Reviews(10) Last rated Jan 23rd 2013
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#1 |
Rs. 4500
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#2 |
Rs. 1000
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#3 |
Rs. 3500
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Tranquebar is a small panchayat town situated in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The name of the town Tranquebar is derived from the word 'Tharangambadi', meaning 'Land of the Singing Waves'. From 1620 to 1845, this small town was a Danish colony in India. Between the 10th century and 13th century, Tranquebar was under the rule of the Chola dynasty, which was later annexed by the Pandyas in the 14th century.
The town was under the rule of Thanjavur king, Raghunatha Nayak, in the 15th century. During this period, Tranquebar was an active international trading port and was popular amongst Moravian entrepreneurs, German theologists and Muslim traders. It was also the main trading hub for Arab and Portuguese traders.
When construction of the Dansborg Fort began in 1620, it marked the establishment of the Danish East India Company. Dansborg Fort is quintessential Scandinavian military architecture and was constructed by the Danish Captain, Ove Gjedde. The construction of this fort started after a treaty was signed between the king of Denmark and the Thanjavur king on November 19, 1620. This treaty was signed for approving the export of pepper from India.
The Danish East India Company took over the entire town of Tranquebar by 1777, which was later captured by the British in 1801. Again in 1814, Danish colonial rulers regained control of the town, which was eventually purchased by the British in 1845. Tranquebar is essentially a fishing village that is renowned as the first Danish settlement in India.
It is also the place where the first printing press of India was established and where the first Protestant missionaries arrived in India. The beach in Tranquebar is said to have the second richest ozone content in the world.
Apart from fishing, the local inhabitants also weave baskets using bamboo and make small household items with coconut shells. Travellers coming to Tranquebar can buy local handicraft items such as jewellery made from beads, jugs, toys, idols made of terracotta, slippers made of palm leaf and wood furniture.
The best way to explore Tranquebar is on foot. The town is pretty small and tourists can take a self-guided walking tour around the town. There are not many dining options in Tranquebar except Bungalow on the Beach on King’s Street.
The main tourist attractions in Tranquebar are Town Gate, Old Danish Cemetery, New Jerusalem Church, Ziegenbalg Museum Complex and Masilamani Nathar Koil. Poompuhar, Chidambaram, Velankanni, Pichavaram and Karaikal are some of the famous places where excursions can be planned from the town of Tranquebar.
The Tiruchirapalli International Airport and the Chennai International Airport are the two nearest airports from Tranquebar. Chidambaram and Nagapattinam railway stations are situated just few kilometres away from Tranquebar. Buses are also available to travel to the town from the neighbouring towns and cities, like Chidambaram, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Karaikal, Puducherry, Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli, on daily basis.
The months of October, November and the first week of December are best avoided, as it rains heavily in Tranquebar during this season. The best time to enjoy sightseeing and swimming in Tranquebar extends from February through August, when the temperature is moderate and the weather is cool.
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Tranquebar, also known as Tharangampadi is famous for the 17th century Danish Fort, Dansborg, which has a museum. This Danish Museum has artefacts dating back to the Danish settlement in India.
Another important tourist attraction is the Bungalow on the Beach, which is the only dining option in the region. The Commander's House and Rehling's House are also situated near the Bungalow on the Beach and can be reached on foot. The Masilamani Nathar Koil is an ancient temple in the region which was constructed in 1306, during the reign of Pandian Rulers.
The King's Street in Tranquebar is popular for some of the oldest establishments in the region, like the Town Gate, Zion Church and New Jerusalem Church. Karaikal, a major port city of the Union Territory of Puducherry, is also situated near Tranquebar. This city has many ancient temples like the Aayiram Kaliamman temple, Karaikal Ammayar temple and the temple of Lord Saturn.
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