Statute of Unity

Tallest Statue

The Statute of Unity is a colossal statute of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950) who was the first Home Minister of independent India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement.

Statue of Unity

Location

• It is located in the state of Gujarat, India. It is the world's tallest statute with a height of 182 meters (597ft).

• It is located on a river island facing Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada in Kevadiya colony,

• 100 meters southeast of the city of Vadodara.

Design and construction

After studying numerous statutes of Patel across the country, a team of historians, artists, and academics chose to proceed with a design submitted by the Indian sculptor, RAM V. SUTAR.

"The head is up, a shawl flung from shoulders and hands are on the side as if he is set to walk".

A consortium comprising Turner Construction, Michael Graves and Associates and the Meinhardt Group supervised the project.

It took 56 months to complete - 15 months for planning, 40 months for construction and two months for handling over by the consortium.

Features

The statute is divided into zones of which only three are accessible to the public. From its base to the level of Patel's shins is the first zone which has three levels and includes an exhibition area, mezzanine and roof.

Zone one contains a memorial garden and a museum. The second zone reaches up to Patel's things , while the third extends up to the viewing gallery at 153 meters.

Zone 4 is the maintenance area while the final zone comprises the head and shoulders of the statute.