Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi unveiled the much awaited Statue of Unity on 31st October 2018. Located facing the Narmada Dam, 3.2 kms away on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Rajpipla in Gujarat, the monument along with its surroundings occupies over 20,000 square metres, and is surrounded by a 12-sq-km artificial lake. The Statue is expected to attract a large number of tourists from across the world.
It is the world’s tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet). The Statue of Unity is almost 100 feet taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha, the world’s current tallest statue at 502 feet. The Sardar Patel statue will be almost twice as high as the Statue of Liberty in New York, which is 305 feet tall. The Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, checking in at a mere 170 feet height, is almost tiny when compared to the new wonder in Gujarat.
OPENING TIMINGS & TICKET PRICE
The Statue of Unity is open on all days for the public from 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors can book the tickets either on the spot or buy them online.
Entry for kids below 3 years of age is free and for all others, the ticket is priced at Rs 350 per person. The entry fee comes in a package which includes the entry to the observation deck, valley of flowers, the Sardar Patel memorial, museum and audio-visual gallery, the site of Statue of Unity and Sardar Sarovar dam.
The basic entry ticket includes a visit to the valley of flowers, the Sardar Patel memorial, museum and audio-visual gallery, the site of the Statue of Unity and Sardar Sarovar dam. The entry ticket costs Rs 120 for adults and Rs 60 for children below 15 years in age.
The statue complex has a separate selfie point which gets you a good view of the statue and its pristine surroundings. The visitors will also be treated with a laser, light and sound show. The show is based on the unification of India during the post-Independence period.
There is a bridge to reach the statue from the mainland and a boat ride is available too to reach Sadhu Bet Island.
