Statue of Unity : To Become a World Tourist Destination.

Introduction:

       The Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest colossal statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, made by the Government of India on October 31, 2018, which marked the 143^rd Birth  Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India and one of the most respected personalities in the History of India.  This Statue of Unity is known as world famous because of its exterior design, dimensions, and symbolic importance. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel known for “Iron man of India”.

Who is Vallabhbhai Patel:

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, presently in Gujarat. After studying Law in England and becoming a successful barrister before returning to India to join Freedom struggle. He was very good at Strategic thinking, the ability to deal, and leadership skills. He played as an Indian Barrister in India’s struggle for independence.

Mahatma Gandhi and Patel are both very good close associates. Later they played a key role in organizing the Indian National Congress along with gaining public support for the freedom struggle. After getting the Independence Patel served as the first Indian Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister to Independent India. More importantly played a crucial role in integrating the princely states of Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, and Junagarh. On December 15, 1950, he died at the age of 75.

General Information about this Statue:

     At present this statue is considered the tallest statue in the world, measuring 183 meters or 597 feet high. This beautiful statue is located on the island of Sadhu-Bet, Sardar Sarovar Dam on the bank of Narmada River in the state of Gujarat, India.

    This statue Symbol of Unity, Integrity, Leadership, and Patriotism among the Citizens of a country.  It will create a sense of national identity and pride among the people of India. The Statue of Unity has attracted millions of visitors from all over the world with India’s commitment to technological innovation with Cultural heritage and diversity.

Construction Process of the Statue:

      The Statue of Unity’s work started in December 2013 and ended in October 2018. The whole project was undertaken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust, which was organized by the Gujarat government. Larsen and Toubro, an Indian Engineering firm took the whole construction work and completed it with the help of 3400 workers.

     The Statue of Unity was designed by Great Indian Sculptor Ram V. Sutar, who is considered an iconic figure in the Sculptures. Sardar stands tall, dressed in dhoti-kurta attire, arms folded, and looking straight. The activities of the Patel statue represent unity and integrity.

Dimension of the Statue:

 A specialty of this statue is made of bronze cladding, with an iron framework and a concrete core. 25 meters of deepen its foundation gives perfect balance to whole statue. 58 meters high its pedestal and 67,000 metric tons of total weight, makes one of the proud Indian Statue. 

The Materials Used for Construct the Statue:

     While constructing this statue, L&T company used several materials including Bronze, iron, steel, and concrete. The bronze cladding was made by melting down around 200 tons of scrap metal, later molded into thin sheets, and separated on the iron framework.

Location of the Statue:

     The Statue of Unity is located on a river island called Sadhu-Bet, Located near Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat. Purpose of selecting this location for the statue due to its closeness to the dam and its beautiful surroundings.

Significance of the Statue:

    This Statue of Unity is the symbol of several aspects of Indian history and culture, especially at the time of the Indian struggle for independence, the Union of India, and the Creative leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. More importantly, this statue represents the power of unity, integrity, diversity, and finally inclusiveness of Indian Princely States.

Meaning Behind this Statue:

     The main purpose of establishing the Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,  who took a major role in uniting India’s 562 princely states into a single nation after independence. Patel is considered to be one of the founding fathers of independent India, along with his contribution to Indian unity is unforgettable.  Statue is also seen as a tribute to India’s cultural and social diversity, which mirrors its rich heritage and traditions.

Statue of Unity become a “Tourist Destination”:

• Become a Popular Tourist Spot:

After its inauguration in 2018, the Statue of Unity has become getting popularity from all over the world along with major tourist attraction. This Statue is the Symbol of national pride, history, and innovation.  Provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the rich culture and history of India. Under this Statue you can see the museum, sound show, viewing gallery, and river journey.

• How many Visitors are Visiting:

     As per recent Statistics, this Statue successfully completed the 1 Crore of visitors after the inauguration in 2018. Around 45,000 to 50,000 visitors are visiting daily to explore this huge statue. It is considered one of the most visited tourist destinations in India, and it provides a good number of income to the local economy (Gujarat Tourism) and to the Nation’s Tourism.

• What is Lightning and Sound Show:

     The lighting and sound show at the Statue of Unity is a wonderful show that opens the history and great diverse culture of India. This Show is held every evening, with the feature accompanying displays of colorful lights, lasers, and music, which explain the history and India’s struggle for freedom and integrity.

• Sustainable Tourism:

The Statue of Unity is the perfect tourist destination to Promote Sustainable Tourism mantra. The government of Gujarat has taken several steps to promote sustainable tourism at this site. Normally on this site conservation of the natural environment, protection of the heritage site, and promotion of eco-friendly activities.

The Main Mantra of this Statue of Unity is to Protect Nature and Environment. Which includes minimizing the effect on the environment, reducing water consumption, more importance given to promoting renewable energy, and low wastage.

Facts and Myth of the Statue of Unity:

• How tall is the Statue/Height:

This Statue is considered the tallest statue in the world at present, measuring 182 meters (597 feet) is height from its base.

• Cost of Construction:

The total cost for the completion of this statue is around Rs. 2,989 crores or approximately $407 million. Which includes the cost of the statute along with infrastructure and services.

•  Entry fees/Tickets/Cost per Person:

How to reach the Statue of Unity:

• Rail:    The nearby railway station is the ‘Vadodara Railway Station’.

• Road:  ‘200 Km from Ahmedabad and 150 Km from Surat. 
•  Air:     You can also take a Flight from other Metro and International Airports to this Tourist destination.

  ‘Vadodara International Airport’ is the nearest International Airport to this Tourist Destination’.

    This mind-blowing statue is not only a tourist destination spot, apart from, symbol of integrity, unity, and great Indian history. People who are willing to explore this statue definitely they will get the value and importance of his Patriotism. The purpose of this statue established is, world should know the worth and importance of unity, integrity, and value of his nation.

FAQ’S:

Q: Who made statue of unity?

A: The Statue of Unity’s work started in December 2013 and ended in October 2018. The whole project was undertaken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust, which was organized by the Gujarat government. Larsen and Toubro, an Indian Engineering firm took the whole construction work and completed it with the help of 3400 workers.