The Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world, standing at 182 meters (597 feet), which is almost twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.
It was inaugurated on October 31, 2018, on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The statue is located on the Narmada River, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Indian state of Gujarat.
It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, who has created several notable statues in India.
The construction of the statue took about 5 years and involved over 3,000 workers, including engineers, sculptors, and laborers.
The Statue of Unity is made of bronze cladding over a steel framework and reinforced concrete core.
It can withstand wind speeds of up to 180 km/h and earthquakes of up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.
The statue's viewing gallery, located at a height of 153 meters, offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the dam and the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges.
The project was completed at a cost of approximately $430 million (around 3,000 crore INR).
The base of the statue houses a museum and exhibition hall that showcases Sardar Patel's life, work, and his role in India's independence movement.
The statue is part of a larger complex that includes a three-star hotel, a memorial garden, and an extensive network of roads and bridges for easy access.
The statue's height of 182 meters was chosen to match the number of seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
The construction involved the use of 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze, 18,500 tonnes of reinforced steel, and 6,500 tonnes of structural steel.
The Statue of Unity is illuminated by dynamic lighting that highlights the statue's features at night, making it a spectacular sight.
The statue aims to promote tourism in the region, and it has already become a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists.
