Tam: தரங்கம்பாடி taraṅkampāṭi’
‘Village of Waves’ Town, Tamil Nadu
From Tam: taraṅkam, ‘wave’; pāṭi, ‘village’, ‘hamlet’
This fishing port on the Coromandel coast was a Danish trading post (1620-1845).
Fort Dansborg, the New Jerusalem church, two museums and several colonial buildings stand as a testament to their 225-year presence.
Popular etymology romantically suggests this is the ‘Place of the Singing Waves’ but although pati could be related to vocal performance it is, in all likelihood, a signal of a village settlement.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Tamil Nadu place names.
Fort Dansborg, Tharangambadi/Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu Esben Agersnap