Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Image

A monumental view. Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Perched on a rocky islet, the Thiruvalluvar Statue, featured here, overlooks the Indian ocean. The Statue of Wisdom, also known as the Valluvar Statue, is a towering 41-metre stone monument near Kanyakumari, at the southernmost tip of India.

It honours the renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the author of the 'Thirukkural'—an ancient Tamil text on ethics and morality. Designed by renowned Indian sculptor V. Ganapati Sthapati, this magnificent statue was unveiled on January 1, 2000. It was created in alignment with traditional Indian architecture and features a hollow interior extending from toe to scalp. Standing alongside the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, this monument is seen as a blend of cultural and philosophical legacies. Symbolising the themes of wealth and love from the 'Thirukkural,' its design emphasises that both must be built upon a foundation of virtue. The statue's right hand, with three fingers pointing skyward, represents the three cantos of the 'Thirukkural'—Aram (virtue), porul (wealth) and inbam (love).