a town of British India, presidency of Madras district, and 51 miles east of Tanjore, on a small inlet of the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded by walls and bastions, and protected by a small fort, in which stand the government offices. The chief other buildings are a Roman Catholic and several Lutheran churches. The territory of Tranquebar has an area of 15 square miles. It has a healthy and not very hot climate, and produces rice, palms, mangos, and various fruits. The territory formerly belonged to Denmark, but was ceded to England in 1845 for a pecuniary compensation. Pop. of the territory (1844) 23,426.