For anyone who knows about Neemrana Non-Hotel Hotels, it’s a definitely in their wishlist to stay atleast in one of their properties atleast once. Last month, I happened to go on a long weekend, around Mother’s Day, with my mom. We headed south to Tranquebar aka Tharangambadi where there’s not 1 but 2 Neemrana properties.
The main property here is called Bungalow on the Beach. It was built by the Danish in 17th C CE along with Dansborg and Governer’s Bungalow. After the Danish pretty much left India after selling the town for Rs.12.5 lakhs to the British (more on Tharangambadi itself coming up soon) they used this building as the Collector’s Bungalow. This was from 1845-60. The town’s name was anglicized as Tranquebar by them.
As the name says, it is pretty much a Bungalow on the Beach! Located just beside Danish Fort Dansborg, this was once pretty much in ruins. The locals were using this place as a relaxing place beside beach, to mend their fishing nets, the water pump here used for bathing & washing clothes etc. This was then owned by a Rao Bahadur Rattinasamy Nadar of the Porayar Nadar Estate. Later on this came into the hands of INTACH in early 2003 who along with Neemrana Hotels restored this place. Esp Mr. Francis Wacziarg, one of the founders of Neemrana, took special care and stayed here to overlook the restoration himself! After 2 years this was open as a hotel in 2005.
Actually the hotel doesn’t even show from outside, it’s surrounded by so much vegetation! Even from the car park it isn’t clearly visible! As soon as I entered, I was given wet towels and coconut water as refreshment! You get the antique and restored feel at the reception itself! Right from retro Kolu dolls and Danish cupboards & desks and wooden ceiling, it’s just simple yet stunning. Originally the way to first floor was only from outside, but during restoration, they made a wooden spiral staircase from the reception!
This has 8 rooms in all with 2 in ground floor and 6 in the first floor. All the rooms are named after Danish ships! Though the basic infrastructure of the rooms are same, each and every room is actually unique! The furniture have been collected from various places (yes, they are real vintage stuff). So obviously there can’t be 8 of each! For eg, one of the room has an iron trunk box, another room has a barrel for side table, another room has a super comfortable plantation chair, another has a rocking chair etc!!!!!
Of the 6 rooms in first floor, 3 are sea facing. Indeed a room with a view. To be able to sit in the balcony as long as you’re awake and see the sea crashing the beach is just breathtaking! Being on the east, obviously watching both sunrise & moonrise is so peaceful. Just to cater to this, there’s one fantastic corridor cum balcony with 2 chairs and a table per room with a partition screen between them as well! The rooms are air-conditioned and has a fan too. There’s ofcourse the regular toiletries (except dental kit), mini bar, mini café, towels etc. However there’s no slipper or bathrobes provided, so gotta bring yours. RO water is available on request if you’re eco-conscious and don’t want to break a bottled waterbottle everytime. The service is good and housekeeping does a very good job. Plumbing maintenance could have been better! One fine morning by about 7 AM, as soon as I woke up and lazily came out to the balcony, the kids in the next room were already up, looking at the sea and screaming!!! Confused, I enquired the mother what was happening and guess what I saw too - a school of dolphins!!! A huge family perhaps which had 2 probably younger ones, playfully following them! And soon, it happened - one of those 2 playful ones, started to jump!!!! What more could I have asked for!!!!! Food is highly personalized! With just 8 rooms, it is more like a family!!! The chefs enquire what you want by the previous food time, to procure & prepare accordingly! Breakfast has cereals, bread, jam, eggs, fruits etc and if you request prior anything else also incl Idly, Vada, Paratha etc. Once I tried the proper South Indian meals for lunch and it was just awesome! Esp the Puli Kulambu (Tamarind gravy) was just divine! It was spicy, sour and suited the Indian palate so well! Yes, I was asked what I wanted to have for lunch when I was having breakfast itself and this entire array was my lunch, made just for me & my mom!!! Another time I tried the continental cuisine of Mashed potato and sautéed vegetables. This time it was mild with just salt and pepper without any spices and was true to the cuisine! One thing I’d suggest all the Neemrana properties is to have 24hrs service of basic something food......... You see, this hotel is in the middle of a village at the sea! If I felt hungry or if a diabetic patient wanted something to eat in the middle of the night or very early in the morning, there’s nothing available! Any other hotel in bigger cities of towns, we could get out & buy something in the nearby store. In locations like this, the whole village is sleeping and to even get bread or biscuits isn’t possible after 10PM!!! Nothing much – coffee, tea, bread sandwich & omlette would do for 24 hrs! I hope they bring the service across all Neemrana hotels! The pool is fantastic and well maintained and to view the pool, the Masilamaninathar temple and the sea beyond it from the balcony is one awesome view! To sit on the poolside and eat is one thing, but to sit in the balcony and eat with the sea view just takes it to so many level higher! Nothing could beat the stress of city life than sitting in this balcony and staring at the sea all day & night for a weekend!!! Want something better? How about some Ancient Tamil, Early Buddhism, Chola architecture & Danish history put together??? Stay tuned for more.
P.S: Check out what I wore at BoB, Neemrana, Tranquebar - OOTD 1, OOTD 2!
To get there:
From Chennai: 271km via Pondicherry
From Pondicherry / Puducherry: 117km
From Trichy Airport: 149km via Kumbakonam
Nearest Airport: Trichy; Nearest Railway Station: Karaikal & Mayiladuthurai Jn
Transport is arranged by the resort from nearest airport / railway station on prior request.
Room tariff begins at Rs.7800/-
Resort Ph no: +91 4364 289036
P.S: I was invited by Neemrana Hotels to stay and experience Bungalow on the Beach, Tranquebar for review purpose, however the opinions are my own and this post does not to advertise the product/service. 
