14th March
2017.
I
was on an official duty to Thirukadaiyur on 14th March 2017 and utilizing this
opportunity visited this Danish Fort, which is about 7 KM from Thirukadaiyur.
Tranquebar is the earliest Danish settlement and was once a sea port. This was
also the headquarters of Collector for about 150 years. When Danes came
Tharangambadi they felt that this place would be a potential trading centre. So
Danish Admiral Ove Gjedde entered an agreement with the Thanjavur Nayak King
Raghunatha Nayak and build this fort. The land was given for rent and allowed
them to collect taxes from the villages near by Villages. The treaty was signed
on a golden leaf and still available at Danish Royal Archives museum at
Copenhagen. It was believed that this fort was built over a Portuguese Catholic
Church where now Fort exists.
The
Danish fort otherwise called as Dansborg was constructed in the year 1620. Many
parts are reconstructed several times latter. Once the sea was about 500 meters
away from the fort wall. But now the east side on the wall is in the sea. The
rampart wall is large in size surrounded on all four sides, with bastions at
each cardinal points. The three sides of the rampart consists of Barracks, Ware
House, Kitchen, Bar room, Kitchen, Jail and a hanging place. In the hanging
place after the prisoner was hanged, arrangements are made to dispose the body
in to sea through a tunnel.
On
the eastern side facing the sea, there is a two story building with
lower story had ware house and the upper story had the Church, Governor’s
residence and rooms for the senior merchants. The eastern side was fitted
with canons at vantage points. The Fort was protected by the sea on the eastern
side and moat was constructed around the fort. There is no moat now and the
same was completely destroyed.
During
British Period, the fort was not used since it was not a advantage place
for them. After independence the fort was used as an inspection bungalow by the
State Government till 1978. After this Tamil Nadu Government Archaeological Department
had took over the fort and renovated three times ( 2001, 2011 and 2015-16 ).
Now A Museum is functioning at the eastern side of the upper story
building.
LOCATION:CLICK
HERE
The
eastern 2 story building where Governors & Senior Merchants lodging and Church was functioned
The remains of fort wall now in the sea
Tunnel
where the dead bodies are discharged in to sea
Entrance
The
agreement between Thanjavur King Raghunatha
Nayak and Danish
For
More Photographs : CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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