ourism development will make a milestone in the district by the turn of this year.
A comprehensive tourism development programme is being implemented by Tourism Department for renovating and beautifying the Danish Fort at Tranquebar (Tharangampadi) with the twin objective of conservation of this ancient monument built by the Danish East India Company centuries ago and for promoting tourism in the zone.
The department has sanctioned Rs. 4.84 crore for the massive execution of various works — all related to tourism promotion. “We have planned to set up Korean grass all around the fort. Further, a beautiful landscape will be created all around, as the fort is located close to Bay of Bengal,” said Ramamoorthy, District Tourism Officer, who has been closely monitoring the progress of the work. A children’s park will come up in the area. The old and weak wooden frames will be removed and replaced by steel. Maximum effort is being taken to use the same material used centuries ago for the construction of the fort, he said.
A separate toilet block will be another facility for the tourists. A compound will be constructed for ensuring additional protection and beautification to the fort, he added.
As an innovative method, stone slabs are being fixed to provide pathway from the fort to the nearby places so that the green meadows are not destroyed in any manner.
Governor’s bungalow
Every building here is a monument as Tranquebar is dotted with massive structures built during the Danish regime and each monument speaks volumes about the architectural beauty as they had been constructed very close to shores of Bay of Bengal.
It has a famous church, a governor’s bungalow built about 239 years ago and a majestic fort besides a museum. The Governor’s Bungalow was built by the Danish East India Company by the Danes in 1785 and was the official residence of the then Danish Governors.
During 2004 tsunami, it suffered some damage and was renovated jointly by the Denmark Best Seller Foundation and the State Tourism Department at an estimate of Rs. 85 lakh.
Work on the beautification of the Dansborg fort will be completed in course of time and the bungalow would be thrown open to public by the turn of this year, according to Mr. Ramamoorthy.
Tranquebar is dotted with monuments built during the Danish regime
Published - November 28, 2015 12:00 am IST
