Thiruvalluvar Statue — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

It is the Statue tells about the pride of Tamil and Tamilnadu People by Building it long years Ago with 133ft the oldest statue built by Tamil people Pride of Tamil and "INCREDIBLE INDIA . The Thiruvalluvar Statue, or the Valluvar Statue, is a 41-metre-tall(133 ft) stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher Valluvar, known as Thiruvalluvar, the author of the Thirukkural, an ancient Tamil work on Dharma and morality. It is located atop a small island near the town of Kanniyakumari on the southernmost point of the Indian peninsula in the state Tamil Nadu, India, where two seas (the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea) and an ocean (the Indian Ocean) meet. The statue was sculpted by Indian sculptor V. Ganapati Sthapati, who also created the Iraivan Temple, and was unveiled on the millennium day of 1 January 2000 by the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. It is currently the 25th tallest statue in India.The combined height of the statue and pedestal is 133 feet (41 metres), denoting the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural. This includes 95 feet (29 metres) sculpture of Valluvar standing upon a 38 feet (12 metres) pedestal that represents the 38 chapters of Virtue, the first of the three books of the Kural text. The statue itself represents the second and third books of the Kural text, namely, Wealth and Love. The whole design signifies that wealth and love be earned and enjoyed on the foundation of solid virtue.The right hand of the statue with three fingers pointing skywards signifies the three cantos of the Kural text, namely, Aram, Porul, and Inbam (Virtue, Wealth, and Love, respectively), combined.The head of the statue stands at a height of 61 metres (200 ft) above the sea level.The statue, with its slight bend around the waist is reminiscent[citation needed] of a dancing pose of the Hindu deities like Nataraja. The statue weighs 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons)The monument is regarded as a cultural fusion because of its juxtaposition beside the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Built-in conformation with traditional Indian architecture, the statue has provision to provide a hollow portion inside from toe to scalp. Visitors, however, will not be allowed to scale, but instead be permitted to climb up to the foot of the statue at a height of 12 metres (38 ft).On 15 April 1979, the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai laid the foundation stone for the statue, in the presence of the then Chief Minister, M. G. Ramachandran. However, the actual sculpting work, led by Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapathy, former principal of the Government College of Architecture at Mahabalipuram, began a decade later on 6 September 1990, on the tiny island adjacent to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial when funds were allocated in the 1990–91 budget. Sthapathy was chosen for the project over 300 master builders because his suggestion for an all-stone monument to the poet-philosopher prevailed. He observed that stone would be more durable than metal, citing that the Statue of Liberty, which is made of copper, required extensive renovation just a century after its installation. Initially, the project stalled, perhaps owing to Karunanidhi's election loss, but then recommenced in 1997 when he returned to office. At the cost of more than ₹61.4 million (equivalent to ₹260 million 2023), the project employed about 150 workers, sculptors, assistants and supervisors, who worked about 16 hours a day to complete the work.The bend around the waist depicting a dance pose made the design challenging. However, the problem was tackled well in advance by the sculptor by creating a full-length wooden prototype before construction. Study of this prototype led to the identification of an energy line (known in Vastu as kayamadhyasutra), currently an empty cavity in the center of the statue from top to bottom.The stonework was divided amongst three workshops, in Kanniyakumari, Ambasamudram and Sholinganallur. Ambasamudram contributed 5,000 tonnes (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons) of stones. Iconic place of...

Thiruvalluvar Statue

The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a towering monument dedicated to the revered Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, best known for authoring the "Tirukkural," an ancient Tamil text on ethics and morality.

Key Points:

Location: The statue is on a small island near Kanyakumari, at the southernmost tip of mainland India, where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean meet.

Significance: Thiruvalluvar is celebrated for his contributions to Tamil literature, particularly the "Tirukkural," which comprises 1330 couplets divided into three sections: virtue (dharma), wealth (artha), and love (kama). The statue symbolises the universality of Thiruvalluvar's teachings and his enduring influence on Tamil culture and philosophy.

Designated and Dimensions: The statue stands at a height of 133 feet, representing the 133 chapters of the "Tirukkural." It is made of stone and weighs around 7000 tons. The pedestal on which the statue stands is 38 feet high, making the total height of the monument 171 feet.

Inauguration: The statue was designed by the Indian sculptor V. Ganapati Sthapati and was inaugurated on January 1, 2000, by then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M. Karunanidhi.

Architectural Features: The statue is designed in the Dravidian architectural style, showcasing intricate carvings and detailing. The pedestal is modelled to resemble a 38-foot-high "Atharapeedam," symbolising the 38 chapters on virtue in the "Tirukkural."

Symbolism: The statue's right hand, with three fingers pointing skywards, symbolises the tenets of the "Tirukkural"—virtue, wealth, and love. The structure’s height of 133 feet signifies the 133 chapters of the "Tirukkural."

Tourists and Cultural Importance: The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a significant tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over India and abroad. It is accessible by ferry from the mainland, along with the nearby Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The statue serves as a cultural symbol, promoting the values and teachings of Thiruvalluvar.

Maintenance and Accessibility: The government of Tamil Nadu maintains the statue. Visitors can climb the pedestal to get a closer view of the statue and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding waters.

Summary

The Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari is a tribute to the renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. Its impressive height and detailed craftsmanship reflect the lasting significance of Thiruvalluvar's "Tirukkural" and its teachings on virtue, wealth, and love. As both a cultural landmark and a tourist destination, the statue inspires and attracts visitors, celebrating the enduring legacy of one of Tamil Nadu's most significant...

Thiruvalluvar statue is one of the must watch places in kanyakumari however, due to excess tours tourists.This place is always overcrowd I always recommend tourists to visit this place during weekdays and not during weekend. You have 2 kinds of tickets to come in a ferr first is ₹75, and the other is ₹300. If you plan The Visit much in advance, you can come in the ₹75 ticket. However, if your plan is not Properly organised, you may have to enter using the ₹300 Ticket . The wait time is anywhere between 1 hour to 8 hours based on the crowd and that based on the ticket you are purchasing. Please do expect high crowd during the weekend. Even if you are in queue at 8 AM in the morning, you could only enter the boat after a waiting period of 4 plus hours. So please keep yourself hydrated and ensure that there are adequate snacks of food for kids and elders. I remember while I went there an elder person who fainted due to dehydration. Please ensure that you have Adequate waters and carry a umbrella visiting here. Entering the jety was really a tedious work, however, it was really worth it is so its one of the first glass bridges in Kanniyakumari area. Watchout the floor while you're walking. Ensure you walk only on the carpet area and on the glasses because if you try to walk on the either sides, it's going to be really hot and remember you have to walk in barefoot as slippers are not allowed, also yet there is work going on for maintenance. So always ensure you check for the latest news to check When it is open as the government closes once in a while for maintenance work. So after walking in the glass bridge, we could go to the Thiruvalluvar Statue, it has dark flooring which could really be hot, it doesn't have a white area like the other place like the Vivekananda rock, so be prepared to walk in the Black granite and walk fast. And you may have to walk a bit in the stairs to reach the foot rest of the statue. Remember It's really huge place. You cannot get the complete view of the statue from the front and remember there are lots of visitors who would want to take the photos from the front view. So you may have to wait for your turn and be patience. Another note, The floors are really hot so please ensure you click pictures fast and walk away and leave space for the Other tourists and dont get your foot burnt up due to the heat since the statue was built on a rock, It's really complex rock Statue built and your visit could really add-on to your...