Anna Nagar Tower Park, Chennai
Anna Nagar Tower Park, officially known as Dr.
Visveswaraya Tower Park, is an urban
park in the suburb of Anna
Nagar, Chennai. It is the tallest park tower in
Chennai. The soaring 12-storey tower in the heart of the park punctuates the
skyline and gives the park its popular name. The tower has been closed for the
public. However, the park is still open. The park extends over an area of
over 15 acres. Tower Park attracts scores of local residents and even people
from other areas of Chennai because it has plenty to offer apart from its leafy
greenery. There is a lake, an Amphitheatre, a bird-watching deck, badminton
courts, play area for kids and a skating rink. Visvesvaraya Park is maintained
by the Chennai Corporation.
History
Anna Nagar Tower Park was built in 1968 as part of the
World Trade Fair. The park was built by B. S. Abdur Rahman and was inaugurated
by former Vice-President V. V. Giri in the presence of the then
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C. N.
Annadurai. The park was renovated at a cost of Rs 62 million and reopened in 2010.
The Park
The park covers an area of 15.35 acres and is one of the
few remaining lung spaces in the city. The main component of the park is the
135-foot-tall, 12-storied tower located at the centre of the park. The tower
has cyclic ramp spiraling to the top. The tower also has an elevator at the
centre. The park, along with the tower, is maintained by the Chennai Corporation. The park has an Amphitheatre,
a bird-watching deck, badminton courts, play area for kids, a skating rink, a
lake, and convenience facilities for the visitors. The park has a variety of
activities to offer for various enthusiasts like Silambattam, Karate, Yoga,
Parkour.
After the December 2015 rains, the Lake area is full of
large fishes, Birds and Turtles and has become a major attraction for the
locals. Since the local police are not able to effectively manage the tower,
entry to the tower has been banned since 2011 due in part to instances of
suicides and scribblers, thereby depriving the city of a valuable tourist
location. It is popular with morning walkers and joggers, and with families and
young people in the evenings to play and relax.
Park Opening Time
The Park opens from 04.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 03.00
p.m to 9.00 p.m.
Connectivity
Anna Nagar Tower Park is located near the chief
roundabout of the neighbourhood (known as the Anna Nagar Roundana) and the
Ayyappan Temple. The main entrance of Anna Nagar Tower Park is located on the 3rd
Main Road next to the Tower Club. The second entrance lies near the Ayyappan
Temple on the 6th Main road. The Park is situated besides Anna Nagar
Ayyappan Koil Bus Stop. The Park is located at about 500 meters from Anna Nagar
Tower Metro Station, 600 meters from Anna Nagar East Metro Station, 2 Kms from Thirumangalam
Metro Station, 2 Kms from Thirumangalam Junction Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Koyambedu
Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, 8 Kms from Egmore Railway Station, 9 Kms from
Chennai Central Railway Station and 21 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Park can
be easily reached easily either by public transport or by auto rickshaw/taxi,
as the temple is located in a prime location of Chennai.
