“Aapne Kutch nahi dekha toh kuch nahi dekha, Kuch din toh guzaro Gujarat mein”
The Statue of Unity is a testimonial to the life of Sardar Patel, a role model of unity and statesmanship. The tallest statue of the world enjoys a splendidly scenic location facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam, 3.2 kilometres away. This colossal statue stands on the isle of Sadhu-Bet in River Narmada, at Ekta Nagar, District Rajpipla in the Indian State of Gujarat, with the majestic Vindhyachal and Satpuda Mountain Ranges in the backdrop. The statue is fast becoming one of the country’s top tourist attractions.
This monument of India’s doyen of integrity and honesty is well designed to be a catalyst for development of the tribal population in the area around the Sardar Sarovar Dam. In conjunction with the Statue of Unity, several projects are being undertaken such as top-quality tourist facilities, excellent transport infrastructure with good connectivity, healthcare and education infrastructure and various tribal development initiatives.
History of Statue of Unity
A countrywide program which covered several villages for ‘Loha Campaign’ were conducted during the year 2013-14. A total of 169,078 used farm tools and soil samples were collected from farmers across the country as their voluntary contribution to the iconic project. In this `Loha Campaign’ which is believed to be one of the largest social mobilization drives in the world, 134.25 metric tonnes of iron was received from villages across the nation. This iron was converted into reinforcement bars weighing 109.17 metric tonnes and used in the construction of the project. Soil collected from various parts of the country was used to make the symbolic ‘Wall of Unity’.
The Statue of Unity stands as a naturalistic and inspirational portrayal of Sardar Patel, donning his characteristic garments and a pose that reflects dignity, confidence, iron will and kindness. Bronze cladding adds richness and visual appeal to the Statue. Sophisticated, state-of-the-art surveying technologies like, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Telescopic Logging were used for the construction of the Statue.
The construction of this National Monument utilised approximately 70,000 metric tonnes of cement, 18,500 metric tonnes of reinforcement bars and 6,000 metric tonnes of structural steel. The surface area of about 22,500 square metres has been clad with around 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze.
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An Exhibition on Life and Work of Sardar Patel
- The Statue of Unity offers a unique experience and education to visitors. The museum at the base of the statue has modern audio-visual systems for an inspiring insight into the life and work of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Visitors to this exhibition can learn about Sardar’s unforgettable contribution to the Indian Independence Movement and the unification of India.
A Monumental View
- An observation deck at the height of 135 metres to accommodate 200 people at a time, offers a panoramic view of the beautiful Vindhyachal and Satpuda Mountain ranges, the 214-kilometre-long Sardar Sarovar Reservoir and the 12-kilometre-long Garudeshwar Reservoir.
Hospitality and Entertainment
- Together with providing food, accommodation and visitor facilities to tourists, the hospitality and entertainment projects in the vicinity of the statue are helping in realising the potential of tourism and generating employment for the local people.
- The project encompasses restaurants and recreational spots to make the area an attractive tourist destination, thus facilitating tourism and employment in the surrounding tribal region.
A Laser Light and Sound Show:
- A mesmerising laser light and sound show celebrates the unification of India after Independence. This must-see show is held every evening except Monday, instilling a feeling of pride and national unity whilst depicting Sardar Patel’s vision for India.
FEW FACTS ABOUT SOU
- The Statue of Unity depicts Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), a leading figure in the nonviolent Indian Independence Movement and the first Deputy Prime Minister/ Home Minister of Independent India.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is highly respected for his leadership in uniting the 562 princely states of India to form the Union of India.
- The Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest statue, with a height of 182 metres (597 feet) which is almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty, USA.
- The Statue of Unity has a viewing gallery at 135 metres, which can accommodate up to 200 visitors at a time and offers an expansive view of the dam and the surrounding beautiful mountain ranges of Satpuda and Vindhyachal.
- The Statue of Unity was built in just 46 months.
- Statue of Unity is capable of withstanding wind velocity up to 50 metre/second (180 kilometre/hour speeds) and vibration. The statue has been designed for seismic Zone IV as an earthquake resistant structure.
- 70,000 metric tonnes of cement was used in the construction of Statue of Unity.
- 6,000 metric tonnes of structural steel and 18,500 metric tonnes of reinforcement bars were used to build the Statue of Unity.
- The thickness of the bronze cladding on the Statue is 8 mm.
- The diameter of the button on the vest of the Statue is 1.1 metre.
- The height of the toe of the Statue of Unity measures 3.6 metre.
