Tranquebar

Forgotten to be touched by time, and still known for its tranquility, is Tharagambadi, otherwise known as Tranquebar- The land of the singing waves. Tied up together still, and surviving the storms of time, Tranquebar is the ultimate destinations for those who lose themselves, when it comes to History.

Tranquebar is a tiny beach town that dates back to the 14th century with the establishment of the Masilamani Nathar (Shiva) Temple built in 1306. In around 1620, when Tranquebar was under the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty, the Dutch arrived, made a deal with the local king Raghunatha Nayak and built a fort to start a bilateral trade. The Fort is called Dansborg and can still be seen standing on the beach of Tranquebar.
Placed at a dreamy patch at the confluence of the Kaveri river and the Bay of Bengal, Tranquebar is a beautiful playpen of many cultures. In and around the little town, one can see mixes of the Danish, British, German and French colonies that once made Tranquebar their home. Pedal along the narrow and rustic lanes, as though the whole town is in Sepia mode. Experience culture and architectural beauty like never before.
The tiny town of Tranquebar is also where, probably, Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg translated the Old and New Testaments into Tamil, and imported a printing press, publishing the New Testament in Tamil.
Tranquebar, small it may be, has plenty of history and architecture to enjoy. The Zion Church, built in 1701, the New Jerusalem Church of 1718, The BrethrensÕ Garden at Porayar near Tranquebar, etc. Wa bak through the town reveals plenty of old interesting homes. The Goldsmith Street is especially interesting and it was restored by INTACH recently.
Also do visit the Ziegenbalg Museum Complex on Admiral Street. It houses probably one of India's first printing presses.
Tranquebar was also badly hit by the Tsunami of 2004, and there are small museums in the city run by individuals dedicated to the memory.