Planning to spend a long weekend with your dear one at a serene and beautiful place? Puducherry, Yercaud, Pollachi and Kodaikanal are already ticked off your weekend getaway options. So how about visiting a quiet settlement, that was once the home of  high-ranking Danish admirals and eventually the Collector of British East India Company! If you are absolutely clueless, do not try too hard. Tharangambadi or Tranquebar is probably one of the lesser known places of Chennai, that makes for a fascinating stay.

Danish Fort

Tharangambadi or the land of singing waves has a beautiful beach with absolutely pristine blue waters. And if your beach-crazy, then you need not go far.  The Bungalow On The Beach, a beachside property, in Tranquebar, is one of the best places near Chennai to spend a relaxing weekend. The property itself is like a leaf straight out of history textbook with high ceilings, long verandahs and slanting, red tile roof that remind you of its colonial past. Built by the Danes in the 17th century, the property was taken over by the Neemrana Group in the early 2000s and was converted into a hotel.

Bungalow On the Beach

 The interiors of the bungalow continue to maintain the old-world charm. The rooms are furnished with four poster beds, antique rocking chairs, chests and dressers.

While long weekends are all about lazing around and spending quality time with family, if you are in a mood to explore the area, do take a walk to the 15th century Danish Fort that’s on one side of the hotel. The fort is  in ruins but those who love history, would be enthused by the amazing treasure of information at the place. It houses  a museum where Danish manuscripts, porcelain ware, sculptures, lamps, and armoury from the bygone time are on display.

If you are an architecture enthusiast, there is a 14th century Masilamani Nathar Temple built by the Pandiyans on the other side of the Neemrana property. This architectural landmarks is reminiscent of the town’s Tamil heritage.

Before the Danish came by, Tranquebar was known as Tharangambadi {it is now officially called by this name} or the Land of The Singing Waves.

If you still have some time in your hand wander by the Town Gate that was built in 1792 and then around Goldsmith Street, which has many colonial mansions (many of them are being restored by Indian National Trust For Art And Cutural Heritage or INTACH)