Tranquebar (Tharangambadi), Former Danish Colony in Tamil Nadu

Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)

Former Danish Colony in Tamil Nadu

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Tharangambadi (Tranquebar), the place of the singing waves, is a small coastal town in Tamil Nadu 120 km south of the former French colony Pondicherry (Puducherry). Tharangambadi is known for its ozone rich beaches. It was once a Danish colony and was known as Tranquebar.

Dansborg Fort, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)

Today the Danish Fort of Dansborg still dominates the Tranquebar skyline and the fortified town still has its share of colonial charm and legacy. The coastal town complete with forts, churches and colonial buildings is surrounded by high wall complete with bastions and stands as a colonial island surrounded by a rural landscape.

Advertisement

Europe along the Hooghly, Serampore, Chandannagar, Chinsurah and Bandel

Europe along the Hooghly

Serampore (Danish), Chandannagar (French), Chinsurah (Dutch) and Bandel (Portuguese)

Almost a century after Vasco da Gama landed on the West Cost of India (1498), the Europeans started making inroads in Bengal. Using Hooghly (also known as Ganga or Ganges) as the main source of navigation, they started making inroads in Bengal.

Europe along the Hooghly River (Serampore, Chandannagar, Chinsurah and Bandel)

Soon, European settlement started growing along the Hooghly River in the present day Hooghly District. Long before the British made Calcutta their stronghold, the Portuguese had settled in Bandel. They were closely followed by the Dutch in Chinsurah, Danish in Serampore and the French in Chandannagar.