Nestled in Chennai, Valluvar Kottam is recognised to be a historical monument, which is dedicated to Thirkuvallubar, the well-renowned saint, philosopher, and intellectual poet. This poet has gained a high reputation for writing Thirukkural around 2,000 years ago. The chapters present in this book are composed of around 1330 verses.
Construction
Karunanidhi, who was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, constructed this monument during the years 1975-1976. It is built on a lake, which used to be a dumping ground for the city’s garbage. At a later phase, the specific land got reformed, which was later used to construct Vallubar Kottam. The place’s construction was recognised to be the suitable option to pay homage to the well-renowned and outstanding personality. It is regarded as a popular place in Chennai, which is visited by a flock of visitors across the globe. Read More
These short poems act as the guide to love, proper conduct, and the right way to handle everyday affairs. The poet showcases the way to righteous living. If you are looking for a suitable way to commemorate the legacy, the monument was constructed in the year 1970. This monument stands firm at a specific place, which used to be the Nugambakkam Lake once. The land later on was transformed to create the specific memorial.
Architecture
This monument was designed by Ganapati Sthapati, the Valluvar Kottam architect. This monument comes with the chariot, which is equipped with 300 granite stone blocks, along with a massive auditorium. The most massive of the stones boasts a weight of about 40 tonnes. Kalamkari drawings are used to cover this monument. The stone chariot’s giant wheels include measurements of approximately 11 ft in diameter as well as 2 ft in thickness. In addition, the auditorium includes a measurement of 220 * 100 ft.
A prominent feature of this monument is that it is baseless and it stands without any pillar support. The lion present on the primary gateway comes with attractive designs. It is considered an outstanding feature of this specific monument.
Things to do
If you are planning to visit Valluvar Kottam, you should consider taking a walk through Kural balcony, exploding stone chariot, checking the auditorium exhibitions, visiting Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden, Birla Planetarium, Government Museum, Vivekanandar llam Museum, Marina Beach, to name a few.
The massive chariot comes with dual stone elephants at the front, like they used to pull it. It includes four wheels, two of which are small ones, and two big ones are present on either side. In addition, the sanctum includes the Thiruvallaubar statue, life-size, which features a 30 ft. height. In addition, the chariot includes the kalasam upon the top, which used to be 5 ft tall. After climbing up, you are going to witness the intricate sculptures within the stone.
Valluvar Kottam is a popular place which comes with an ornate auditorium. It includes a plethora of handicraft exhibits and international art. In addition, the entrance gets decorated in line with the specific ancient Tamil culture, which is known to welcome the visitors.
The Kural Balcony includes the hammway, which includes the polished granite stones, which includes the inscriptions of 1330 Thirukkural verses. Such stones are known to look similar to the open book leaves on the pillars. Such inscriptions are divided into three different parts, where every part is found in a unique color, which depicts the major reverre literature sections.
The Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden is another popular place around the Valluvar Kootam monument, which includes a collection of more than 500 plant species. Apart from this, it includes a plethora of exotic trees and plants across the globe. Moreover, there are a bunch of aromatic and medicinal herbs at this specific place.
The Birla Planetarium is another popular place in Valluvar Kottam. This modern planetarium is loved by people owing to the 3D astronomical shows, virtual night sky tours, and outdoor science park for children. Moreover, there is a plethora of aromatic and medicinal herbs here.
The Government Museum is considered to be an old museum, present here. It includes the collection of bronze sculptures and artefacts, which are relevant to culture and history. Furthermore, the museum complex includes a spacious theatre and an art gallery. Vivekanandar llam Museum is another popular museum, which comes with VR and AR shows, picture galleries, and exhibits. Marina Beach happens to be an natural urban beach which stretches for about 12 km. Visit here also
Valluvar Kottam is nestled at the intersection of the Village Road and Kodambakkam High Road. If you are willing to reach the place, you can opt for rickshaws, taxis, or buses, catering to your needs. Buses will run to and from Valluvar High Road frequently. You can also consider taking a drive towards Valuvar Kottam. Valluvar Kottam happens to be a popular tourist destination across Chennai. If you are planning to visit the place, you should consider traveling to the places, mentioned in this article.
