V.O.Chidambaranar Park or VOC Park is a recreational park located in the South Indian city of

Erode Erode () is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Erode is the seventh largest urban agglomeration in the state, after Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruppur and Salem. It is also the administrative headquarters of the E ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

. The park is owned and maintained by

Erode Municipal Corporation Erode Corporation is a civic administrative body that governs the City of Erode, India. The Corporation consists of a legislative body, headed by the City Mayor and an executive body headed by the Corporation Commissioner. The Corporation's head ...

. This park was built in British India period by chairman Srinivasa Mudaliar. This park was previously known as ''Srinivasaa Park''

History

The park was constructed in 1912 with a land spread of 25 acres, when Thanthai Periyar was the Chairman of Erode Municipal Council. The original idea of the park was developed as a part of the Drinking water project to the town. Erode Municipality built a small reservoir named as ''Pechiparai'' to store the water from

River Kaveri The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicized name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu dis ...

and four tanks in the form of towers joined with a wall. And a garden has been established in its vicinity, named after the then Municipal Chairman ''Srinivasa Mudaliar''. With the succession of Sheikh Dawood as next Municipal Chairman, he renamed the place, Peoples' Park and added a Mini-Zoo to it.

Facilities

The park has Gardens, two lakes, fountains and walkways. A Mini Zoo recognized by the Central Zoo Authority has been established in the park during 1992. But due to improper maintenance it was closed in 2007. In 2007,

developed a ''Science Park'' at a cost of 13 Lakh, opposite to the main park. The Science Park developed with a scope to improve play oriented knowledge for kids, also called ''Children's Park''. A toy train ride was available till 2007, which is not being operated now.

has opened an Amma Unavagam at the second gate of VOC Park.

Sports Arenas

The Park premises houses two major

Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

s for hoisting sports, fairs and other cultural events.

District Sports Complex

The District Sports unit is functioning in this Sports Complex. It is commonly called as VOC Park SDAT Stadium. This Stadium is owned and maintained by the ''Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu''. The district level Independence day and Republic day celebrations will happen here, in the presence of District Collector.

Municipal Grounds

There is a ''

maidan Maidan is an originally Persian word for a town square or public gathering place, adopted by various other languages: Urdu (''maidān''); Arabic (''maydān''); Turkish ; Bangla ময়দান, meaning field, and Crimean Tatar, from which ...

'' owned and maintained by

named as VOC Park Municipal Grounds, which is primarily used as a ''Cricket Ground''. It also hoists various programs like exhibitions, trade fairs, annual events like Erode Book Festival and other cultural events. A dedicated track has been established for the walkers inside the premises.

Places of Worship

There are two devotional places located inside the premises of the park * Mahaveera Anjaneyar Temple * Darga of 400 years old

Notes

Erode VOC Park Photo Collection

References

{{coord, 11.352, 77.719, type:landmark_region:IN-TN, display=title Erode Tourist attractions around Erode Botanical gardens in Tamil Nadu