Travel Guide to the Statue of Unity in India – Tallest Statue in the World
The Statue of Unity in Gujarat, India is the tallest statue in the world, standing at 182 m. It is almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York (93 m). The earlier tallest statue, the Spring Temple Buddha in China, only stands at 153 m. Since its public opening on November 2018, the Statue of Unity has already created a buzz, attracting millions of local visitors and tourists in its first seven months. The Government of Gujarat is expecting the number of visitors to increase over the coming months as foreign visitors spread their experiences online.
I first heard about the Statue of Unity back in the U.S. from a Chinese friend who told me to visit it after she knew of my plan to travel to the province of Gujarat in India. I immediately checked photos of the statue online and the ways to get there from where I am staying in Anand, India. About two hours by car — it says.
Below I detailed a travel guide to the Statue of Unity in India.
Plan your transportation
I spent some time planning for the trip to the statue when I arrived in Anand. I asked information from my hotel about the best transportation mode to get there. I was told to get an air-conditioned cab (with a driver). Yes, they really highlighted “air-conditioned”. Heat in India could become unbearable in the month of June. Anyway, my hotel staff was very helpful in booking the cab for me at a very reasonable price. I was charged at 9 Indian rupees (Rs) per kilometer. The total distance from Anand to the statue and then back to Anand is 266 km.
$US 1 = Rs 69
266 km x Rs 9 = Rs 2,394 (or $US 35)
Including the toll fees that I had to pay myself, the cost of the 2-hour travel to the Statue of Unity was only $US 40! The price was awesome!
Purchase tickets online
Getting your tickets online is recommended so as to avoid the long queue at the ticket counter. Follow this link for the official website of the Statue of Unity.
There are three tickets that you need to buy:
1. Entry ticket – This is the ticket that would be checked once you enter the perimeter of the statue.
Children (3 to 15 years old) = Rs 60
Adults = Rs 120
2. Bus ticket – The bus ride is necessary because the parking lot is about 10 to 15 minutes away from the statue.
Same price for everyone = Rs 30
3. Viewing gallery ticket – This ticket is a must-buy so you could fully take advantage of your visit. This would allow you to go inside the statue and go up to the chest via a lift.
Children (3 to 15 years old) = Rs 200
Adults = Rs 350
In my case, I spent Rs 500 for the tickets (120 + 30 + 350). Note that if you decide to purchase your tickets online, the website may require an Indian mobile number to complete your purchase. If you have an Indian friend, ask him/her to purchase the tickets for you. If you could not purchase the tickets online, get them at the ticket counters located at the site.
I purchased the Rs 350 ticket at the ticket counter. Being the only foreign tourist that time, I had a difficult time explaining to the lady at the counter the ticket I wanted, since she couldn’t understand English. In fact, no one in ALL counters could speak or understand English! I looked around for help, specifically for other foreign-looking tourists who could be in the same state of despair as I was. I found no one. Luckily, my Indian driver who observed me from a distance, came to my rescue. He explained everything to the lady in Gujarati language, and I was able to purchase the Rs 350 viewing ticket.
Entering the Statue of Unity
Once I had all three tickets, I was directed to the buses. There was a long queue at the bus station. The bus ride from the ticket counter to the statue was about 10 to 15 minutes. Each bus has a tour guide assigned. Unfortunately, the guide who spoke in Gujarati never translated anything to English. I simply assumed that she was talking about the statue.
Once I got off the bus, I simply followed the hoard of visitors. There was a single line that led to a security check point. I was asked to open my bag as they checked the contents.
When everything was clear, I was ready to explore!
The Statue of Unity
To pay tribute to India’s first deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the tallest statue in the world was constructed. From afar, the statue looked massive. Built amidst Satpura and Vindhyachal Hill Ranges, the statue is 182 m high. According to the website, building the statue requires 70,000 tonnes of cement; 18,500 tonnes of steel reinforcement; 6,000 tonnes of structural steel; and 1,700 tonnes of bronze cladding.
To get closer to the statue, I had to pass through another security check point. This time, it was much faster. My bag was not even checked.
A little walk further revealed a large modern walking canopied plaza. The long canopy on the right was intended for visitors heading to the statue, while the one on the left was for visitors exiting from the statue. Both canopies had moving walkways that make it easy for everyone, especially for the kids and elderly visitors.
As I came nearer to the base of the statue, its real size became evident. So huge it was that taking a photo of the whole statue near the base was impossible. I noticed an escalator that would lead to Sardar Patel’s feet. There was also a door that would bring me to the museum. I decided to visit the museum first.
The museum had exhibits that detailed the life of Sardar Patel and his important contributions to India. Also inside the museum was an audio-visual gallery that highlighted the life of Patel and the tribal culture of Gujarat.
Take the lift to the top
At 153 m from the base was a viewing gallery that offered a panoramic view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the surrounding beautiful scenery including Vindhya and Satpura hills and Narmada valley. To get to the viewing deck, there was a little access hall inside the museum. The queue to the top was already really long. The viewing gallery could only accommodate around 200 people at a time, so the long wait could be a problem for those who do not have enough time to spare. Luckily for me, someone let me enter the hall when I asked for directions to the lift. I had the feeling that I was given a special treatment for being a foreign visitor.
One staff who was manning the viewing gallery that time told me that the observation deck is located right at the second button (from the top) of Patel’s outfit. From the deck, the 212 km long Sardar Sarovar Reservoir and the 12 km long Garudeshwar Reservoir were visible.
I spent about 30 minutes at the top.
At the foot of Patel
I went out of the museum and took the escalator that brought me to the feet of Sardar Patel. There were, if I am not mistaken, three levels of escalators to reach the feet.
Before I took some photos, I touched the foot of Patel. He was wearing sandals! The statue was covered in bronze panels that looked beautiful under the scorching heat of the sun.
I spent a good 30 minutes taking photos of the statue and enjoying the view of the surrounding landscapes.
Who is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Below summarizes who Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is — texts taken from statueofunity.in.
Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31, 1875 – December 15, 1950) was a political and social leader of India who played a major role in the country’s struggle for independence and subsequently guided its integration into a united, independent nation. He was called the “Iron Man of India”, and was often addressed as “Sardar” which means “Chief” or “Leader” in many languages of India.
Vallabhbhai Patel already had a successful practice as a lawyer when he was first inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Patel subsequently organised the peasants of Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in a non-violent civil disobedience movement against oppressive policies imposed by the British Raj; in this role, he became one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress and was at the forefront of rebellions and political events, organizing the party for elections in 1934 and 1937, and promoting the Quit India movement.
As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi, and led efforts to restore peace across the nation. Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from the 565 semi-autonomous princely states and British-era colonial provinces. Using frank diplomacy backed with the option (and the use) of military action, Patel’s leadership enabled the accession of almost every princely state. Hailed as the Iron Man of India, he is also remembered as the “Patron Saint” of India’s civil servants for establishing modern all-India services. Patel was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise in India.
When to visit the Statue of Unity: The Best Months to Visit
I recommend that you visit the statue during colder months, November to February. When I was there in June, the temperature was 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F). The heat was unbearable, especially that I had to walk around to take photos. Visiting the statue entails a lot of walking, often with no overhead shade. If you cannot avoid visiting on hot summer months, give yourself a favor by wearing a hat or bringing an umbrella. Do not forget to bring bottles of water as well.
Visiting hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is closed for maintenance.
Tips before your visit
- Do not bring with you large or heavy bags. Items like fire crackers, inflammable items, pets, intoxicant items are not allowed.
- Weekdays are best for a visit. Weekends are crowded days.
- Bring food if you can. Although there is a cafeteria within the facility, the food choices are limited. When I was there, there was only an ice cream store, a small food stall, a vegetarian subway, and a refreshment area.
Very important: Based on my experience, the Statue of Unity hasn’t been very friendly to me. It still has to improve their service to foreign tourists by providing staff that could at least understand the English language.
For example, I went to the information counter inside the museum to ask for the bus that would bring me to other sights around the statue. The two ladies at the counter did not understand anything I said. So they called someone (it was the manager) and let me wait for 15 minutes!
In another instance, when I was ready to go back to the parking lot, I asked those at the bus stop — drivers and tour guides — about what bus to take. Sadly, no one understood me. So, I had to ask other visitors for help.
Other points of interest nearby
- The Sardar Sarovar Dam
- Valley of Flowers
Statue of Unity Address
Sardar Sarovar Dam, Kevadia, Gujarat, India 393155
For GPS directions, follow this link to Google Map.
Check this video for the complete tour:
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