Valluvar Kottam, Chennai

Nungambakkam Lake Area Main Road

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Monument

Entry Fee & Ticket

The monument opens all day between 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The entry fee is INR 3 for Adults and INR 2 children. | No Entry Fee

Opening Time & Days

Valluvar Kottam opening and closing timing is 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM

Open Days

The Valluvar Kottam is open every day for visitors

Best Time to Visit

January, February, March, April, May, June

Place Visit With

Family Kids Friends Married Couples Solo Unmarried Couples Parents Siblings Youngsters

836 m away

Teynampet Metro Station

1.5 km away

Thousand Lights Metro Station

2.0 km away

Nandanam Metro Station

2.1 km away

LIC Metro Station

3.0 km away

Pachaiyappa College Metro Station

3.1 km away

How to Reach Valluvar Kottam

Here's the closest transport hub for each option, with the distance from Valluvar Kottam.

By air · Nearest Airport

Fly into Chennai International Airport

10.1 km away
By rail · Nearest Railway Station

Take a train to Egmore Railway Station

4.0 km away
By road · Nearest Bus Terminal

Catch a bus from Broadway Bus Stand

6.2 km away

About Valluvar Kottam

The Valluvar Kottam, located on the Nungambakkam Lake Area Main Road in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a large memorial dedicated to the renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural. Its construction was conceived and implemented by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, in the 1970s. It is built on land that was once part of the Nungambakkam Lake. It covers approximately 10,000–12,000 square meters. The site's signature feature is the towering stone chariot, inspired by the temple chariot at Thiruvarur, and decorated with bas-relief panels depicting all 1,330 verses of the Thirukkural. The Valluvar Kottam's cultural significance lies in its role as a showcase of Tamil literary heritage and as a center for community celebrations and cultural events.

Architecture of Valluvar Kottam

Valluvar Kottam features modern Dravidian-inspired architecture, blending traditional Tamil motifs with contemporary engineering. Built in 1976 during the tenure of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, it honors the literary legacy of Thiruvalluvar. The central structure resembles a temple chariot, symbolizing a cultural journey, and is constructed of reinforced concrete and granite. Fine stone panels depict all 1,330 verses from the Tirukkural. The layout includes landscaped courtyards and pathways, designed for aesthetics and visitor convenience.

Main chariot-shaped auditorium
39-meter-high Thiruvalluvar statue
Stone panels with Tirukkural inscriptions
Monumental entrance with decorative arches
Courtyards and landscaped gardens
Visitor pathways and seating areas

Interesting facts about Valluvar Kottam

About 3,000 granite blocks were used to construct the monolithic chariot without relying on internal pillars.The chariot’s four wheels each measure nearly 11 feet in diameter and 2 feet thick.All 1,330 verses of the Thirukkural are inscribed on the monument’s granite pillars and corridors.The auditorium was one of the largest in Asia at the time of its completion, seating around 4,000 people.V. Ganapati Sthapati, the monument’s architect, also designed the famous Thiruvalluvar Statue at Kanyakumari.The structure stands as a cultural emblem of Tamil literary heritage and philosophical values embodied in the Thirukkural.

Valluvar Kottam FAQs:

𝒜. It is located at Nungambakkam Lake Area Main Road, Chennai.

𝒜. Entry fee and timings information of the Valluvar Kottam: The monument opens all day between 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The entry fee is INR 3 for Adults and INR 2 children. | No Entry Fee Valluvar Kottam opening and closing timing is 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM.

𝒜. You should visit Valluvar Kottam during January, February, March, April, May, June months for best experience.