Name: Chennai
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Valluvar Kottam, Chennai Overview

Valluvar Kottam is a temple chariot like-monument in Chennai, built to honour the renowned classical Tamil poet and saint, Thiruvalluvar. This intricately designed monument was built by Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi during the 1970s to honour the contributions of Thiruvalluvar. A popular Tamil poet and philosopher, he has been attributed with the creation of Thirukkurals which are hailed as one of the greatest works of Tamil literature. Valluvar Kottam is known for its great architecture, built with innovative layouts and well-thought execution. The sublime beauty of Valluvar Kottam is best experienced during the morning hours when the city is just waking up to the day, or you can make a visit to this destination during the evening hours when the sun is just setting over the horizon. The magnificent design of the Valluvar Kottam is a wonderful sight to behold, which makes it the perfect destination to click a few pictures.

In addition to being an important tourist destination in the city, Valluvar Kottam also plays host to some of the most important exhibitions and events in the city. Handlooms and handicrafts are regularly hosted in the auditorium here which is an air-conditioned facility and is a good way to spend a few hours admiring the artistic beauty of both the what lays inside and outside. The monument is complimented perfectly by a temple car, which is fixed to the floor but is a delightful addition to the edifice. Another interesting fact about the Valluvar Kottam is that you can also see a few saplings here which were planted here by Mother Teresa herself, and are marked by a stone plate marking the year 1984.

Architecture of Valluvar Kottam

A magnificent example of Tamilian architecture, Valluvar Kottam is a magnificent edifice that was built by a South Indian architect V. Ganapati Sthapati. As you enter the premises of Valluvar Kottam, you are welcomed by the statue of a lion which itself is embellished with interesting detail. It is seen as a replica of temple chariot in Thiruvarur, and a life-size idol of the Thiruvalluvar has been installed in the 39-metre high chariot at the top of an ancient vehicle called 'Thaer'. It is believed that as many as 3000 blocks of stone were used to create the facade of this magnificent monument. All of the 1330 verses of the Tamil epic Thirukkural are carved out on the granite columns that have the main auditorium within its bounds. It also has an auditorium that can accommodate 4000 people in one sitting. An interesting detail about this architecture is that it stands as it is without a base and without the support of any pillars.

History of Valluvar Kottam

Thiruvalluvar is hailed as one of the most important and proficient poets in the history of Tamil literature. Also known as the 'Divine Poet', Thiruvalluvar is said to be the greatest Tamil scholar. However, information about his life and times is very limited. Oe theory says that he belonged to a family of weavers, while another states that he belonged to a family of agriculturalists. What is known with surety is that he the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural (short poetry) which include 1330 verses. In order to commemorate the works of this gifted writer, M. Karunanidhi built the Valluvar Kottam in 1975-76 and it has been a modern landmark of Chennai ever since.

About Thirukkurals (Small Poetry)

Thirukkual is derived from two words" Thiru " meaning revered and "Kural" which is a poem writing style. Thirukkurals are the most ancient works in the Tamil language. They work as a guide for human morals and betterment in life. It is divided into three sections, among which one deals with right conduct, another focuses on the right manners of conducting worldly affairs and the last one deals with love between men and women. Each chapter of the section has 10 couplets, so a total of 1330 couplets form the final piece. Thus, Thiruvalluvar gives much more importance to righteous living in public life. They have been translated into other languages also.

How To Reach Valluvar Kottam

Valluvar Kottam is located at the intersection of Kodambakkam High Road and the Village Road. To reach there, you can take buses, taxis and rickshaws as per your convenience. Buses run to and from Valluvar Kottam High Road quite frequently, so you might want to via this mode of transport. Alternately, you can also drive your way to Valluvar Kottam.