India is full of heritage structures of the British Raj with pockets of French (Pondicherry) and Portuguese (Goa, Daman, and Diu) heritage as well. Very few people are aware of a piece of forgotten Danish heritage tucked away on the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu. A piece of Danish history lives on in the sleepy Tamil fishing costal village of Tarangambadi the place of the singing waves. It was renamed Tranquebar by the Danish sailors who colonized it. So 160 miles from Madras on the Delta of the River Cauvery, Tranquebar, became the only pocket of Danish culture in India. Its strategic location on the Bay of Bengal encouraged the Danes to use Tranquebar to expand trade in the 17th century
Apparantly Ove Gedde, a Danish Admiral negotiated with the then king of Tanjore to construct a port here and to use it to export pepper to Denmark. Tranguebar became a thriving Danish trading post. The treaty signed in November 1620 saw work start on the historic Dansborg Fort. Completed in 1622, it was the residence of the Danish Governor for 150 years. The Governor's bungalow now sits forlorn as though dreaming of the now gone by Danish era. His ADC's bungalow also has a charming character. Now a part of the fort is being converted into a heritage hotel by the Neemrma group. It is aptly name Bungalow on the Beach.
A Danish settlement soon developed around the Fort and Tranqnebar remained a Scandinavian colony from the 17th to the mid 19th century It was eventually taken by the British East India Company in the 19th century. So this massive fort reminiscent of Aalborg, (Denmark), along with its 13 brass cannons mounted on its ramparts became British property. The Fort and surroundings have retained their unique Danish character. Faded Danish landmarks give the town a strange but fascinating washed out charm. The Fort houses a small but very interesting Museum giving you an insight into a piece of forgotten Danish history. Restoration work goes on to restore the Fort.
Walk down the grandly named King's Street. Here you will come upon a memorial at the spot where the Danes first landed. The homes and Lutheran Churches on King Street and Queen street are pretty much as they must have been in the 17th century. Their facades remain unchanged though in need of repair.
In the churchyard of the pretty white-washed and renovated New Jerusalem Church also known as the Zion Church, and built in 1704 is the grave of the first Danish missionary to India, Bartholomaus Zeigenbalg. He is the one who built the church (1717-18).
The Land Gate is a majestic Empire arch built in 1792 and has been recently restored.
Tranquebar provides an interesting cameo of forgotten Danish colonial history and remains the only pocket of Danish Culture in India. Not far from it are the impressive temples of Chidambaram (30 Miles) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Good Health at Valankani (30 miles). The temples of Kumbakonam and Tanjore are also close by. So besides exploring the sleepy little enclave of Tranquebar you have much to see and do in the area.