With a height of 182 metres (597 feet), the Statue of Unity, which is situated close to Kevadia in the Indian state of Gujarat, is the tallest statue in the world[3]. It features Indian statesman and independence activist Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and the country's first deputy prime minister and home minister. Patel is well-known for having contributed significantly to India's political unification. Situated 100 kilometres (62 miles) southeast of Vadodara, on the Narmada River in the Kevadiya colony in Gujarat, lies the statue facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam.[4]
The Indian business Larsen & Toubro began building on the project in October 2013, after it was first announced in 2010. The project is estimated to cost ₹27 billion (US$422 million) to build.[5] On October 31, 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel's birth, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the sculpture, which was created by sculptor Ram V. Sutar.[6]
PAST EVENTS
On October 7, 2013, to commemorate the start of his tenth year as Gujarat's chief minister, Narendra Modi unveiled the project.[7] To carry out the project, a society called the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was established, with the Gujarat Chief Minister serving as its chairman.[7][8] In order to gather the iron required for the statue, the Statue of Unity Movement was founded in 2013 and asked farmers to contribute their old farming equipment.[7][9] A total of 135 metric tonnes of scrap iron had been gathered by 2016, of which 109 tonnes had been processed and utilised to create the statue's foundation.[10] .
FEATURES
At 182 metres (597 feet), the Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. It is elevated by 54 metres (177 feet) above the previous record-holder, the Buddha Spring Temple in the Henan region of China.[37] The 41 m (135 ft) tall statue of Lord Hanuman at the Paritala Anjaneya Temple, close to Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh, was the tallest statue in existence at the time. One may observe the statue from a distance of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi).[10]
The monument is situated on Sadhu Bet, an island in a river, 3.2 km (2.0 mi) downstream from the Narmada Dam.[1] The monument and the surrounding area span around 2 hectares (4.9 acres)[38]. An artificial lake spanning 12 km (7.5 mi) was created by the Garudeshwar weir located downstream on the Narmada river.[39][10]
There are five zones on the statue, however only three are open to the public. The first zone, which consists of the display space, mezzanine, and roof, is three storeys high and extends from its base to Patel's shins. There is a museum and a memorial garden in the first zone as well. The second zone reaches Patel's thighs, while the third zone rises to a height of 153 metres, where the viewing gallery is located. The statue's head and shoulders make up the last zone, while the maintenance area is the fourth.[40][10]
The first zone's museum lists Sardar Patel's accomplishments and life story. In addition to presenting a 15-minute documentary about Patel, the adjacent audio-visual gallery highlights the state's tribal cultures.[10] Each of the two concrete towers that make up the statue's legs has two lifts. In slightly over 30 seconds, each lift can transport 26 passengers at a time to the viewing gallery. Reaching a height of 153 metres (502 feet), the gallery has space for up to 200 people.[41][42]
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