An Ode to the Iron Man of India - Visiting the Statue of Unity

India is a country of diverse cultures. Of mosques and churches, Gurudwaras and Mandirs, and this diversity extends beyond regional beliefs. It has richness in its monumental structures, whether they were built during the Mughal Empire, throughout English sovereign or post-Independence.

India embraces freedom, unity, individual rights, and the rule of law. And one such monument that represents all four of these universal declarations is the biggest statue in India - The Statue of Unity.

Built-in less than half a decade, this grand monument is dedicated to a prominent freedom fighter, lawyer, and influential political leader in his own right.

Vallbhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel - nicknamed Sardar Patel for his contribution to Bardoli Satyagraha, played a pivotal role in the Indian freedom movement against the British. Not only was he a charismatic leader who spoke his mind and believed in the principle of unity in diversity but played a prominent role in the Quit India Movement.

He believed in living life to the fullest. His famous quote, “Work is undoubtedly worship but laughter is life. Anyone who takes life too seriously must prepare himself for a miserable existence. Anyone who greets joys and sorrows with equal facility can really get the best of life” never ceases to inspire people.

Instrumental in uniting the country and known for his escapades during India’s freedom battle with the English, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel aka The Iron Man of India contributed massively during India’s fight for freedom.

A tribute to such a man is the biggest monument of India.

About The Statue of Unity

Located on the Narmada River in Kevadiya town of Gujarat, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam and against the backdrop of the impressive Satpura and Vindhyachal hills, stands a notable 567 feet tall, world’s biggest statue in India.

Flanked by a large valley of flower meadow along the banks of the Narmada river, the statue is located on the river island called “Sandhu Bet” hillock and is connected by a 300-metre-long bridge that connects the statue to the mainland.

This iconic engineering marvel with an enormous structure and elaborate design never ceases to amaze. However, it isn’t until you are standing below the statue that you are struck with the enormity of the creation.

With his head held high, a shawl clinging to his shoulders, and a ready stance as if about to go for an evening stroll, this bronze statue replicates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's striving persona, unmistakable iron will, and robust personality.

The statue is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Being the tallest statue in the world, the Statue of Unity coaxes thousands of tourists every year and has accelerated the already prominent tourism within Gujarat.

It is not only grand in size and pride of the nation, but it has also become a source of employment and income for local communities surrounding the region.

This state of an art statue took around 57 months to complete and employed an army of whooping 3,000 workers that included 300 engineers.

The Structure

Designed by the renowned Indian sculptor Ram V Sutar, the statue is a three-layered structure made from tonnes of steel, cement and concrete. The outer façade is made up of bronze plates and bronze cladding that perfectly reflects the light of a brightly shining sun, giving the entire structure an ethereal appearance.

Seeing as the whole structure is ginormous, there were many speculations over its ability to withstand the test of time and natural forces.

However, the statue is designed to withstand strong winds and vibrations, and because it is designed for seismic Zone IV, it can withstand an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, making it much safer than most people speculated.

Besides the statue itself, there are several other tourist attractions both in the heart of the statue and outside its premises.

It has Five Zones.

The statue houses five zones out of which only three are accessible to the public.

From the base of the statue to the shins is the first zone that has an exhibition area, a memorial garden and a museum which catalogues the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and an audio-visual gallery depicting the tribal culture of Gujarat.

The second zone reaches up to the thighs while the third extends up to a viewing gallery that can accommodate up to 200 visitors. The guests can reach the third level by riding on high-speed glass elevators and enjoy the stunning view of the Sardar Sarovar dam at the same time.

The outer complex has shopping centres, a research base and a few 3-star hotels for tourists who plan to stay for a couple of days. While Visitors typically do not need more than two to three hours to explore the Statue itself, the surrounding area does not disappoint those who have planned to stay a few days.

For a traveller wanting to experience authentic Gujarati life and admire the grandiosity of an awe-inspiring monument, nothing beats the tallest statue of Sardar Patel in India.

Tour Timings

The premises are open six days a week with Mondays as maintenance days and closed off for sight seekers.

Though the tour inside the statue does not take more than one to two hours, tourists are open to visiting as early as 9 in the morning to avoid the midday crush and then move on to enjoy other attractions nearby.

Tour Ticket 

Visiting tickets can be purchased on-site and are even available online for tourists’ convenience. Each ticket is issued for a two-hour duration.

The basic entry ticket for the statue costs ₹ 120 for adults and ₹ 60 for kids and also provides entry to Bharat Van, memorial, museum and audio and visual gallery.

Access to the viewing gallery 400 feet high from the ground and on the third floor requires a viewing ticket which typically costs ₹ 200 and 350 for children and adults respectively.

Surrounding Tourist Activities

While visiting the tallest statue in India is undoubtedly the main attraction of your trip to Kevadiya town, there are many other small activities and attractions nearby that can be the icing on the cake.

Bordering a lush forest and facing the biggest statue in India, are several picture-perfect places that are ideal for a quick selfie session and to relax and rejuvenate after your trip to the Statue’s complex.

Be it the calming atmosphere of the butterfly garden or the beauty of the Bharat Van; the grandiosity of Sardar Sarovar dam or a boat ride down the Narmada River. From the adventurous Dino trail to adventure cycling and riverside picnics to river rafting, there is something for everyone near this giant structure.

Travellers can easily book a helicopter ride to get an aerial view of the world’s biggest statue in India or glimpse the magnificence from the riverfront through a boat excursion and enjoy the scenic views of the Narmada Ghat and Shoolpaneshwar Temple or attend the evening Namrata Maha-Aarti.

Add to that a 30-minute sound and laser light show accompanied by an excellent narration of the history and life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his contributions to the Indian Independence movement is sure to leave tourists awestruck by the plethora of colours reflecting on the statue’s surface.

Following soon after, the tourists can end the evening with a visit to the Unity Glow Garden. The garden was built to inspire night tourism in Kevadia and tugs in all the attention with its glimmering array of installations, figurines, and optical illusions. There are several botanical installations, animals, birds, trees and LED fountains and a mesmerising display of glowing lights.

On An End Note

For a country so grand, mesmerising and patriotic, a visit to the biggest statue in India is going to be one of the most unforgettable experiences in a person’s life. Not only due to the grand structure but also the strength and life lessons of the person it represents.

This holiday season, browse through our India tour packages and gift yourself an experience as grand as this monument of one of the founding fathers of the Indian republic.