The Statue of Unity: facts about the world's tallest statue

Standing on a small island in the middle of the Narmada river in Gujarat, the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is the tallest statue in the world. It is called the Statue of Unity — in memory of the leader who united hundreds of princely states into one India. Here are interesting facts about this giant statue.

The Statue of Unity at a glance

How tall is it?

At 182 metres, the statue is about twice as tall as America's "Statue of Liberty" (about 93 metres including its pedestal). Before it, the world's tallest statue was China's "Spring Temple Buddha" (about 128 metres). The height of 182 metres is also special because the Gujarat Legislative Assembly has 182 seats. The statue shows Patel walking, wearing a dhoti and a shawl.

How was it built?

• The statue's inner frame is of concrete and steel, and thousands of bronze plates have been fixed on the outside.
• It was designed to withstand strong winds and earthquake shocks.
• During construction, a campaign was also run to collect iron from old farm tools from farmers across the country, so that every village could feel part of it.
• The statue took about five years to complete.

Did you know? Near the statue's chest, at a height of about 153 metres, there is a viewing gallery reached by high-speed lifts. From there you get a wonderful view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the Narmada and the Vindhya and Satpura hills. In 2022 the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) included it in its list of "Eight Wonders".

The link with the Sardar Sarovar Dam

The statue stands about 3.5 kilometres downstream of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. The dam supplies water and power to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and it too is named after Sardar Patel — read Major dams of India.

The sculptor Ram Sutar

Ram Vanji Sutar, who designed the Statue of Unity, was born in Maharashtra in 1925. He made statues of great figures over many decades; the famous statue of Mahatma Gandhi seated in meditation in the Parliament complex is also his work, and his Gandhi statues stand in many countries. He was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to art.

How to get there

The nearest major airport is Vadodara, about 90 kilometres away. Since January 2021 direct trains have run from several cities to Kevadia (Ekta Nagar) railway station, and the site is easy to reach by road too.

What to see nearby

• Valley of Flowers: a large garden along the Narmada.
• Jungle safari and cactus garden: popular with children and families.
• Light and sound show: Patel's story told with lights on the statue in the evening.
• National Unity Day parade: held here every 31 October — read National Unity Day.

Before you visit, always check the latest information on tickets, timings and the weekly closing day on the official website. Patel's story: Sardar Patel and the integration of the princely states.

More articles: Interesting facts.