In 2000, former Chief Minister Karunanidhi unveiled the iconic Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari, a renowned international tourist destination. This 133-foot high statue is a tribute to the well-known Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.
Due to the statue`s location in the middle of the ocean and its exposure to salt wind, sun, rain, etc., it is cleaned and coated with a chemical compound once every four years. Consequently, the chemical coating work began last June.
Tourists were therefore not allowed to visit the Thiruvalluvar statue during this period. The application of the chemical compound cost approximately Rs.1 crore and 10 lakhs. The tourism officials have announced that tourists can now visit the Thiruvalluvar statue as the chemical compound application has been completed.