TRANQUEBAR

Tranquebar was for 229 years a Dansih colony (1616-1845). In 1616 the Danish monarch Christian IV wanted to strengthen the countries oversea trade. For this he set up an East Indian Company. The East Indian Company settled down in Tranquebar and buildt their first building, Fort Dansborg. The map of the 17th century shows already the main outlines like today. The two most important street, the Kongensgade, witch is going westwards to the main gate and is connecting to the outside world and the north-south street the Dronningensgade with is connecting the Parade Ground the Dansborg Fort and the European quarters with the Indian bazar areas are still existing. In 1845 Tranquebar was solt to Great Britain. The city was restored till 2004. After the tsunami the same year the city was flooded and adjoining villages where destroyed. Many people died, and since this the city and the villages whererebuild by local and international organistations.

Fort Dansborg was constructed in 1620, and it is located north of the city and close to the sea. The outerlines of the whole complex measures 90x90 meters. The walls have a thichness of 12 meters and consists of an inner and outer wall filled with earth between. The windows of the building are influenced by the Indian culture and building tradition. The Tranquebar Association, formed in 2001, with the help of the Tamil Nadu State Archaeological Department and the Danish Royal family, restored the South end of the fort with the same kind of material like brick and black stone, used during the original construction. The renovation was comleted in 2005, with contributions from local artisans, Danish volunteers, Danish and Indian experts. The fort is used as a museum housing artefacts of the fort and the Danish empire.