An Asian Development Bank aided renovation project is now underway to beautify the 400-year-old Dansborg fort, a heritage structure at Tarangambadi in the district
The Tamil Nadu tourism department, in co-ordination with the department of Archeology, has taken up this heritage conservation and tourism promotion project at a total cost of Rs 5.21 crore.
The ADB-aided project named 'India Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism' envisages environmentally and culturally sustainable and socially inclusive tourism development.
Tourism department officials said the project involves works like conserving and renovating the Fort by giving a face-lift to outer walls, provision of sanitary complexes for the floating population, placement of gravity entailed deep earth bins for garbage collection and erection of energy efficient heritage street lighting.
They said traditional building material like limestone, river sand, jaggary, eggs, and plant extracts are being used in the renovation work to ensure that the fort's originality was not affected.
The works would be completed before the end of this year, they said.
The majestic 'Dansborg' Fort, situated at the sea-front, was built in 1620 AD when Tarangambadi became Denmark's chief overseas settlement.
The Danes built churches, bungalows for Danish Governors, Guest Houses and King and Queen Streets,all near the seashore.
With a clean beach and all these monuments, Tarangambadi attracts thousands of tourists everyday.
