The world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, has been created as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s celebrated independence leader and Iron Man. The statue is broadly divided into 5 zones, 3 of which are accessible to the public. The Viewing Gallery, located at a height of 153 m, offers an incredible view of Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges. The museum has three main zones for visitors. The first is the memorial garden, which is a peaceful space to remember and reflect. The second is the exhibition area, where you can learn about the history of the museum and its collections. The third is the viewing gallery, where you can see 200 objects from the collection at a time.
The Statue of Unity is one of the most expensive statues in the world, costing nearly ₹3,000 crore rupees / USD $400-450 million / Euro €305-400 million. Work on the 182-metre / 597 feet tall statue began in 2014 and was completed in 2018.
On October 7th, 2013, Narendra Modi announced a project to commemorate his tenth year as the chief minister of Gujarat. A society named Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was formed to execute the project, with the Gujarat Chief Minister as its chairman.
The Statue of Unity Movement was started in 2013 in order to collect the iron needed for the statue. Farmers were asked to donate their used farming instruments and by 2016, a total of 135 metric tonnes of scrap iron had been collected. Around 109 tonnes of this iron was used to make the foundation of the statue after processing.
Who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a key figure in India’s independence struggle and the integration of over 500 princely states into the Union of India. He is often referred to as the “Ironman of India” for his role in uniting the country.Today, we can travel freely across the vast and varied landscapes of India thanks to Sardar Patel. From the deserts of Kutch to the mountains of Kargil, his legacy continues to be felt throughout the country.
Some Facts about Statue of Unity
- In Honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
The Statue of Unity is a monument built to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He is known as the Ironman of India and is credited with merging 560 princely states into the Union of India.
- Statue of Unity Cost
The Statue of Unity is an incredible sight! It cost nearly ₹3,000 crores / USD $400-450 Million / Euro €350-400 Million to construct.
- Statue of Unity Height
Standing at an impressive 597 feet or 182 meters above ground level, the Statue of Unity was built as a symbol of India’s engineering and technical capabilities. This statue is twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in the United States and 40% taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha.
- Statue of Unity Architect
The Statue of Unity is a project that was undertaken by many different people with a lot of different skill sets. The design comes from Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Sutar, who has over 50 monuments to his name. The statue depicts Sardar Patel in a traditional dhoti and shawl, looking out over the Narmada river. He is meant to be seen as a commanding yet humble leader, unfazed and unafraid. The construction was done by Larsen and Toubro and state-run Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd., with the intricate bronze cladding work done by the Jiangxi Toqine Company.
- Statue of Unity Construction
The Statue of Unity took 3.5 years to make, starting in 2014 and completed in 2018. A team of over 300 engineers and 3,400 workers built it using 70,000 tonnes of cement, nearly 25,000 tonnes of steel, and 12,000 bronze panels covering the structure. The statue weighs around 1,700 tons. Farmers from across India donated over 129 tonnes of scrap iron for the base of the Statue of Unity.
- Statue of Unity Monument Complex
The Statue of Unity is a beautiful monument located next to the river Narmada and the Sardar Sarovar Dam, with the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges on both sides. The monument complex covers an area of 20,000 square metres and has a small artificial lake. The Statue of Unity has a viewing gallery at a height of 193 meters from sea level, which can accommodate 200 visitors at a time. The Statue of Unity also has a museum with 2000 photographs, 40000 documents, video presentations, a research centre, and more dedicated to the life of Iron Man Sardar Patel.
- Statue of Unity Strength
The Statue of Unity is a three-layered structure designed to withstand earthquakes and severe wind velocity. The statue can withstand wind velocity up to 60 meters per second and earthquakes measuring below 6.5 on the Richter scale. Over time, the Statue of Unity will turn from its original bronze colour to green due to a natural aging process.