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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Valluvar Kottam
| native_name = வள்ளுவர் கோட்டம்
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| image = Valluvar Kottam Edit1.JPG
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| building_type = Monument
| architectural_style =
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| location_town = [[Chennai]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|3|15.88|N|80|14|30.3|E|display=inline,title}}
| start_date =
| completion_date = 1976
| inauguration_date =15 April
| renovation_date =
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| height = {{convert|39|m|ft}}
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| architecture_firm = East Coast Constructions and Industries
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}}
[[File:Valluvar Kottam Entrance.jpg|thumb|Valluvar Kottam Entrance]]
'''Valluvar Kottam''' ({{lang-ta|வள்ளுவர் கோட்டம்}}) is a [[monument]] in [[Chennai]], dedicated to the classical [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] poet philosopher [[Valluvar]]. It is the city’s biggest Tamil cultural centre.<ref name="Muthiah_2014">{{cite book | last = Muthiah| first = S. | author-link = S. Muthiah | title = Madras Rediscovered| publisher = EastWest | date = 2014 | location = Chennai | pages = 461 | isbn = 978-93-84030-28-5}}</ref>

==Location==
Valluvar Kottam is located at the intersection of the [[Kodambakkam]] High road and the Village road in [[Nungambakkam]] neighbourhood of Chennai.<ref name="MM_TimeToRestore">{{cite journal | title = Time to restore vanishing water bodies | journal = Madras Musings | volume = XXVIII | issue = 2 | date = May 1–15, 2018 | url = http://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-28-no-2/time-to-restore-vanishing-water-bodies/ | access-date = 21 October 2018}}</ref> The monument now stands at what was once the deepest point of a local lake called the Nungambakkam lake.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/><ref name="ILI_ValluvarKottam"/>

==History==
The construction of the Valluvar Kottam was conceived and executed by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu [[M. Karunanidhi]] during the 1970s.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/> It was designed by [[South India]]n traditional architect [[V. Ganapati Sthapati]], who is also the architect of the [[Thiruvalluvar Statue]] at [[Kanyakumari]].<ref name="ILI_ValluvarKottam">{{cite web | url = http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-monuments/valluvar-kottam.html | title = Valluvar Kottam | date = n.d. | website = iloveindia.com | access-date = 12 October 2018 }}</ref> It was inaugurated in April 1976 by the then President of India [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]].<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin"/>

==The monument==
The monument consists of a decorative arch, an auditorium that can accommodate around 3,500 people, and the Kural Manimandapam, where all the 1,330 couplets from all 133 chapters of the Kural literature are inscribed on bas-relief.<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin"/> The hallmark of the monument is the 39-meter-high (128 feet) stone car, a replica of the famed [[Temple car|temple chariot]] of [[Thiruvarur]].<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin"/> The chariot is made of around 3000 blocks of granite stone from [[Tiruvannamalai]]<ref name="ILI_ValluvarKottam"/> and weighs 2,700 tonnes.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/> The largest of these stones weigh as much as 40 tonnes.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/> The four giant-sized wheels of the chariot measure 11 feet in diameter and 2 feet in thickness.<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin">{{cite news | last = Kabirdoss | first = Yogesh | title = Neglect leading Valluvar Kottam to ruin | newspaper = The Times of India | location = Chennai | publisher = The Times Group | date = 18 July 2018 | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/neglect-leading-valluvar-kottam-to-ruin/articleshow/65035523.cms | access-date = 12 October 2018}}</ref> A life-size statue of [[Valluvar]] has been installed in the chariot.<ref name="ILI_ValluvarKottam"/> The chariot is adorned with the famed Kalamkari drawings.<ref name="Hindu_GetsFacelift">{{cite news | title = Valluvar Kottam to get a facelift | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 3 February 2007 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Valluvar-Kottam-to-get-a-facelift/article14715251.ece | access-date = 12 October 2018}}</ref> The bottom portion of the chariot features [[bas relief]] sculptures depicting all the 133 chapters of the Kural text.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/> The central auditorium measures 220 feet by 100 feet and is said to be Asia’s largest at the time of its construction.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/> The roof of the monument has a terraced garden with two large pools.<ref name="Muthiah_2014"/>

==Visitors==
The monument is visited by an average of about 700 people during weekdays and 1000 people during weekends.<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin"/>

==Renovation==
The monument is maintained by the memorial section of the information and public relations department of the state government. It was renovated in 2007 at a cost of {{INR}} 6 million.<ref name="Hindu_GetsFacelift"/> In 2018, the department started renovating the memorial at a cost of {{INR}} 8.5 million.<ref name="TOI_NeglectLeadingToRuin"/>

<br>
<gallery>
File:Valluvar Kottam Terrace 2.JPG|Terrace view of Valluvar Kottam
File:Valluvar Kottam terrace.jpg|Terrace view of Valluvar Kottam
File:Valluvar Kottam Chennai Lion.jpg|Lion on Valluvar Kottam
File:Valluvar Kottam terrace reflection.JPG|Terrace view of Valluvar Kottam
File:Valluvar kottam chariot.jpg|Valluvar kottam chariot
File:Tiruvalluvar.jpg|Tiruvalluvar statue inside valluvar kottam chariot
File:Tirukkural.jpg|Tirukkural
File:Outside valluvar kottam.jpg|Plants
File:Valluvar Kottam Entrance.jpg|Valluvar Kottam Entrance
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Architecture of Chennai]]
* [[Heritage structures in Chennai]]
* [[Tamil Nadu legislative assembly-secretariat complex]]
* [[List of Tamil Nadu Government Estates, Complexes, Buildings and Structures]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://chennai.nic.in/tourist-place/valluvarkottam/ Official site of the Chennai District, maintained by the Tamil Nadu government]

{{commons category}}
{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Tirukkural}}

[[Category:Tirukkural]]
[[Category:Memorials to Valluvar]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Chennai]]

Valluvar Kottam - Revision history

imported>Bhagya sri113: /* External links */ Adding category