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Statue of Unity
Statue of Unity.jpg
Coordinates 21°50′17″N 73°43′09″E / 21.8380°N 73.7191°E / 21.8380; 73.7191
Location Narmada Valley Kevadiya, Narmada, Gujarat, India
Designer Ram V. Sutar
Type Statue
Material Steel framing, reinforced by concrete and brass coating, bronze cladding
Height 182 meters (597 ft)
Beginning date 31 October 2013 (2013-10-31)
Completion date 30 October 2018
Opening date 31 October 2018
Dedicated to Vallabhbhai Patel

The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue. It stands 182 metres (597 feet) tall and is located in Gujarat, India, near the town of Kevadia. This amazing statue honors Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950). He was an important leader in India's fight for freedom.

Patel was the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India. He worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi. People remember him for bringing many different parts of India together after it became free. The statue is built on the Narmada River, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam. It is about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Vadodara city.

The idea for the statue was first shared in 2010. Construction began in October 2013. An Indian company called Larsen & Toubro built it. The total cost was about ₹27 billion (around US$299 million). The famous Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar designed the statue. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, officially opened it on October 31, 2018. This day marked 143 years since Patel's birth.

What Makes the Statue of Unity Special?

Narendra Modi visiting the Museum, Exhibition and the Viewers’ Gallery, during the dedication of the ‘Statue of Unity’ to the Nation, on the occasion of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, at Kevadiya, in Narmada District of Gujarat (3)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the museum inside the complex.

The Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. It is 182 metres (597 ft) high. This makes it 54 metres (177 ft) taller than the previous record holder, the Spring Temple Buddha in China. Before this, the tallest statue in India was a 41 m (135 ft) tall statue of Lord Hanuman in Andhra Pradesh. You can see the Statue of Unity from as far as 7 km (4.3 mi) away!

The statue is built on a small river island called Sadhu Bet. This island is about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) from the Narmada Dam. The statue and its surrounding area cover more than 2 hectares (4.9 acres). They are surrounded by a 12 km (7.5 mi) long artificial lake. This lake was made by a weir (a small dam) on the Narmada river.

Exploring the Statue's Zones

The statue has five different sections, but only three are open to visitors.

  • Zone 1: This is from the base up to Patel's shins. It has three levels. Here you can find an exhibition area, a memorial garden, and a museum.
  • Zone 2: This part goes up to Patel's thighs.
  • Zone 3: This section reaches the viewing gallery, which is 153 metres (502 ft) high.
  • Zone 4: This area is for maintenance workers only.
  • Zone 5: This includes the head and shoulders of the statue.

The museum in Zone 1 tells the story of Patel's life and his important work. There's also a special audio-visual room. It shows a 15-minute film about Patel and the local tribal culture. Inside the statue's legs are concrete towers with two elevators each. These lifts can take 26 people up to the viewing gallery in just over 30 seconds. The viewing gallery can hold up to 200 people at a time.

Visiting the Statue of Unity

The Statue of Unity quickly became a popular place to visit. In its first eleven days after opening in November 2018, over 128,000 tourists came to see it. It has even been named one of the '8 Wonders of SCO' by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

In its first year, nearly 2.9 million people visited the statue. It earned about ₹82 crore (820 million Indian Rupees) from ticket sales. By March 2021, 5 million tourists had visited. By November 2022, that number reached 10 million. In its first five years, the statue welcomed over 15 million visitors in total!

Images for kids

  • Sardar patel (cropped)

    Vallabhbhai Patel was a key leader in India's freedom movement. He helped unite 562 small states to form modern India.

  • Praful Patel, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Dinsha J. Patel and other dignitaries at the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

    The Statue of Unity is a much larger version of this statue found at the Ahmedabad International Airport.

  • Statue of Unity under construction

    The Statue of Unity being built in August 2016.

  • The statue of unity under construction (7)

    The statue under construction in January 2018.

  • ‘Statue of Unity’, on the occasion of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, at Kevadiya, in Narmada District of Gujarat on October 31, 2018 (1) (cropped)

    The Statue of Unity on its opening day, October 31, 2018.

  • Statue from highway

    The Statue of Unity as seen from the highway.

  • Statue lawns

    The Statue of Unity seen across the green lawns.

  • Statue001

    The Statue of Unity from the paved walkway leading to it.

  • Statue of Unity - View from the other bank of Narmada

    A view of the statue from the opposite side of the Narmada River.

  • Statue of Unity - Close Shot from the other bank of Narmada

    A closer look at the upper part of the statue. You can see the viewing gallery at 130m.

  • Statue of Unity Sign Board

    The Statue of Unity sign board across the river.

  • Statue of Unity in 2018

    The skyline view of the Statue of Unity.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Estatua de la Unidad para niños

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