Tharangambadi Travel Essentials
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Ideal duration: 1 day
Best Time: August to February Read More
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Also Refered As:Tranquebar
"Danish colonial town in Tamil Nadu with sea breeze and history"
Tharangambadi Tourism
Forgotten to be touched by time, and still known for its tranquillity, is Tharangambadi, otherwise known as Tranquebar- The land of the singing waves. Tranquebar or Tharangambadi is a tiny beach town in Nagapattinam district that dates back to the 14th century. 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.
The Dansborg Fort that was built to start a bilateral trade can still be seen on the tranquebar beach surviving the test of time. In and around the little town, one can see mixes of the Danish, British, German and French colonies that once made Tranquebar their home.
The Zion Church, built in 1701, the New Jerusalem Church of 1718, The Brethren Garden at Porayar near Tranquebar, etc. The Goldsmith Street is especially interesting and it was restored by INTACH recently. 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.
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Things to do in Tharangambadi
1. Fort Dansborg
Fort Dansborg is located in the southern part of Tharagambadi, located 283 km (176 mi) from the state capital, Chennai. It is built in Danish style, characterized by large halls, columned structures, (Read More)high ceilings and projecting drapery.
2. The town gate
The entry into Tranquebar is marked by the Town gate on King's street, the main street of Tranquebar.
3. The Zion Church
A piece of history in itself, and affected only eternally by time, the Zion church falls close to the other places of worship in Tranquebar and is surely worth the visit.
4. Old Danish Cemetery
Along with the scattered houses and Fort Dansborg that are beautiful pieces of Danish architecture, is the cemetery that houses ancient tombstones, even them being exquisite in their own way, carved d (Read More)ifferently with different beautiful quotes.
5. The Zieganbalg museum complex
The museum houses many interesting articles, the most important one being the first printing press of India. The first book, a bible printed in Tamil was printed here. A true attraction for history bu (Read More)ffs.
6. The Masilamani Nathar temple
An interesting piece of architecture, the Masilamani Nathar temple is a mix of Chinese and Tamil architecture, built possibly to attract Chinese traders to Tranquebar. It is 700 years old.
7. The New Jerusalem Church
The church that was specially built for Christian converts also houses tombs that date back to the 18th century in its cemetery. Adding beauty to the town, this church is on King's street and one of t (Read More)he first things you will see in Tranquebar.
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Danish Heritage
The heart of Tranquebar, the Danish fort of Dansborg was built in 1620 after the Danes signed a trade pact with Thanjavur’s Raghunatha Nayak. The fort eventually became the hub of the spice trade. The Danes gave Tranquebar Protestantism and India's first printing press. The Danish heritage has left cultural and architectural imprints on the city.
Restaurants and Local Food in Tharangambadi
The Bungalow on the Beach on King's street remains as the only place that sells continental food in the little town at a decent range of INR 200 per head.
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View Top Restaurants in Tharangambadi
Suggested Itinerary for Tharangambadi
Tranquebar is small enough for you to explore the whole place by foot in a couple of hours. Once you are here, it is best to start from the Bungalow by the Beach at King's street. The bungalow itself is an architectural piece to discover, after which you can visit all the nearby places, namely the Shiva temple, the churches and cemeteries. Tranquebar is a beautiful cultural and architectural mix of a range of different colonies. Tranquebar is perfect to be visited as part of a long trip. It is the perfect break.
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How to Reach Tharangambadi
How to Reach Overview
Tranquebar does not have any airport. The nearest one is in Chennai. The nearest railway station is at Mayiladuthrai. It is well connected by road.
How to reach Tharangambadi by flight
The nearest airport is in Chennai, located around 270 km from Tranquebar. The airport is well connected by flights to Indian cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and international cities too. From the airport taxi services are available.
How to reach Tharangambadi by road
The best way of getting to Tranquebar is by bus. Bus route 324 runs all the way from CMBT (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal) in Madras along the coast to Nagapattinam south of Tranquebar. The bus will make stops in Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Tranquebar and Karaikal on the way to Nagapattinam, so it is perfect if you already are in one of these cities. From Madras, the trip will take around 7-8 hours, from Pondicherry around 4 hours, from Karikal around 30 minutes and Nagapattinam around one hour.
How to reach Tharangambadi by train
The nearest railway station is at Mayiladuthrai, located about 24 km from Tranquebar. Trains from Rameshwaram, Chennai, Varanasi and Coimbatore do halt at the station. From the station, you can hire taxi or board state-run buses.
Local transport in Tharangambadi
One can easily move around the town on foot. An alternative would be to rent a cycle.
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Tharangambadi Photos
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FAQs on Tharangambadi
What is famous about Tranquebar?
Tranquebar now known as Tharagambadi is a tranquil beach town which is known to have the thickest ozone layer in India, which prolongs life.
What is not so good about Tranquebar?
Accessibility and language pose a problem for the travellers.
Who should visit Tranquebar?
It makes for a great weekend getaway or a half day offshoot for people travelling to Chennai. Ideal for people looking for a peaceful destination in Southern India.
What is the best time to visit Tranquebar?
The best time to visit the place is between November and March. The summers make for an uncomfortable time as temperatures soar really high.
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What is the local food in Tranquebar?
The Bungalow on the Beach on King's street remains as the only place that sells continental food in the little town at a decent range of INR 200 per head.
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What is the best way to reach Tranquebar?
Tranquebar does not have any airport. The nearest one is in Chennai. The nearest railway station is at Mayiladuthrai. It is well connected by road.
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What are the things to do in Tranquebar?
The top things to do in Tranquebar are Fort Dansborg, The town gate, The Zion Church, Old Danish Cemetery, The Zieganbalg museum complex, The Masilamani Nathar temple. You can see all the places to visit in Tranquebar here
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Popular Questions And Answers on Tharangambadi
Q. Is Tranquebar good for photo walks?
Pallavi Siddhanta
7 years ago
Tranquebar is small enough for you to easily be able to walk around. If you are a true history buff and want to see all the sites like the remains of Peter Anker's country house and gardens or the Go (Read More)vernor's Mansion in nearby Porayar, it may make sense to hire a pedal bike. Needless to say, its your camera's day in the sun!
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Tharangambadi Reviews
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Rohit Shroff
7 years ago
- A very good way of getting around here, is by renting yourself a cycle.
- This is a simple town with not much to do but lie back and relax. The two hotels in town are very nice, both have pools. (Read More) Carry a book with you along with a camera. The Fort Dansborg as well as the streets of Tranquebar offer enough photo opportunities. The Masilamani Nathar Temple deserves a couple of visits at least. You could stroll on the beach in the evenings and enjoy beautiful skies above at night. Nearby: The Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is a gorgeous little jungle of grasslands, Blackbucks and migratory birds. It is barely 100km south of Tranquebar. It also has an ancient Lighthouse after which the sanctuary is named. On the south of Tranquebar, across the river is Porayar. Peter Anker's country house and gardens or the Governor's Mansion are a couple of places to visit here.
- This is a simple town with not much to do but lie back and relax. The two hotels in town are very nice, both have pools. (Read More) Carry a book with you along with a camera. The Fort Dansborg as well as the streets of Tranquebar offer enough photo opportunities. The Masilamani Nathar Temple deserves a couple of visits at least. You could stroll on the beach in the evenings and enjoy beautiful skies above at night. Nearby: The Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is a gorgeous little jungle of grasslands, Blackbucks and migratory birds. It is barely 100km south of Tranquebar. It also has an ancient Lighthouse after which the sanctuary is named. On the south of Tranquebar, across the river is Porayar. Peter Anker's country house and gardens or the Governor's Mansion are a couple of places to visit here.