India /Tamil Nadu /Chennai /Chennai
Valluvar Kottam High Rd, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Edit
Detail InformationEdit
Valluvar Kottam is like a temple chariot (39 m high), inside which there is a huge stone effigy of the saint Thiruvalluvar. The architect under whose guidance the Valluvar Kottam was built is a South Indian architect, V. Ganapati Sthapati, who is also the architect of the statue of saint Thiruvalluvar, sited at Kanyakumari. The main auditorium of the Valluvar Kottam can provide accommodation to more than 4,000 people at one time and stands as a contemporary cenotaph to the great and distinguished poet and saint, who symbolizes the splendid culture of the Tamils. A very unique feature of the Valluvar Kottam is that it stands baseless, without the support of any pillar. The 1330 verses of the epic Thirukkural are engraved on the granite columns in the facade hall corridors, enclosing the vast auditorium of the Valluvar Kottam. In the construction of this, about 3000 blocks of stone were used. The lion on the main gateway of the Kottam is very remarkable which decorated with attractive designs. The contribution of saint Thiruvalluvar in the Tamil Literature is very notable and admiring, visible through the affection returned to him by his fans through construction of this remarkable monument.
HistoryEdit
The Valluvar Kottam, is one such historical monument which is dedicated to the well-known intellectual poet, philosopher and saint, Thiruvalluvar, who penned his well-known Thirukkural more than 2,000 years ago. All the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural comprise of 1330 verses. It was built by M. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, dating back to 1975 – 1976. It stands on the place of a lake which was then used as a dumping ground for the garbage of the entire city. Later on, however, the land was reformed and was used to build the Valluvar Kottam. The construction of Valluvar Kottam was the finest way to pay homage to this great and renowned personality as well his tremendous collection of magnificent works. This is one of the significant sites located in Chennai and is visited by a large number of visitors, every year, from all over the world. In the cultural life of the Tamils, saint Thiruvalluvar has great significance.
Must SeeEdit
Must See
Visiting TimeEdit
8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Closed OnEdit
N.A.
Best Season to VisitEdit
November to February.
Best Time To VisitEdit
Morning, Afternoon, Evening.
Time Required for SightseeingEdit
1 to 2 hours
Ticket Required : No Edit
Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.
Kids Rs. : N.A.
Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.
Kids Rs. : N.A.
Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.
Video Camera Rs. : N.A.
Guide Required : No Edit
Approximate cost: N.A.
Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit
Dress Require: N.A.
Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit
- Crispy On Restaurant ; Corporation Market Building, 4, Lake Area, Opposite Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam. ; Ph/M – 91-44-28174410;+91-8678964440;+91-9884218526;+91-9840170323;+91-8678964440;+91-9884218526;+91-9840170323. ; Food Serve – American, Chinese, Fast food.
How to ReachEdit
Taxi : Taxis (locally called “call-taxis” since they must be pre-arranged) are available by phone. Since there are so many listed in thr phone book already and they are mostly reliable we don’t list any. They can be ordered air-conditioned and have digital fare meters, although time-based hire is also possible with some companies. Most companies charge a minimum fare of Indian rupee 100/-(Non-AC)/150/-(AC), which is for 4km (2.4 mile) and for every subsequent kilometre they charge Indian rupee 12/- or 13/-.
Bus : One of Asia’s largest bus stations is in Chennai, the CMBT. There are seven different state owned corporations which drive buses to and from various destinations within South India. There are hourly buses for places like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli etc. Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses ply throughout the city accessing areas which are not accessed by the suburban trains. These are Government-run and extremely cheap. Chennai has few major termini from where the majority of the buses ply towards the rest of the city. Normally Bus Fare in MTC range from Indian rupee 4 – Indian rupee 50.
Train : Chennai Central (code MAS) and Chennai Egmore (code MS) are the two main long distance train stations. There are daily trains from Chennai to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Cochin, Hyderabad Kolkata and most of the big cities of India. The Egmore station covers most of the places in Tamil Nadu and a few important places outside it. The long trains to Egmore stop at Tambaram and some at Perambur. These two stations serve the suburban areas of Chennai. Prepaid taxis, cabs auto rickshaws are available for hire just outside the station.
Air : The third busiest airport of India is the Chennai International Airport which is located at a distance of 7 km from the main city. Both, international and domestic flights land at different terminals: the international flights arrive at the Anna Terminal whereas the domestic flights at Kamaraj Terminal. These two terminals are located at a distance of only 150 metres from each other. Both the terminals are well connected to the major cities of India and the world, respectively. Within a few rupees you can reach the city, but if you have rather bulky luggage look for other options like the pre-paid taxi booth.
Others : Auto-rickshaw/Tuk-tuk drivers in Chennai do not use meters; some try to overcharge and often drive rashly, but that’s part of the fun of being in Chennai. Share autos have emerged in the recent years as an alternative mode of transport in Chennai. There are four wheelers known as meter taxis, which don’t have a meter and are not taxis. They supplement the existing bus services and sometimes operate on routes based on Must See demand.
Things to CarryEdit
- The backpack must contain water bottles and juices. Hats, scarves, sun- screen lotion, umbrellas and sun glasses are a must, when traveling in the city.
- Carrying medicines for fever, dysentery and diarrhea is advisable.
- Camera and video-cam are the must carry things.
Safety / WarningEdit
- Keep your valuables safely tucked against your body and avoid flashing money in public .
- Before purchasing any product confirm the price from local people.
HelplineEdit
- Valluvar Kottam : 044 2817 2177
- Police : 100
- Traffic Police : 103
- Ambulance : 108
- Fire Control : 101
- Tourist Enquiry : 1913