Standing at 182 metres (597 feet) and located near Kevadia in the state of Gujarat, India, the Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world.
The statue is dedicated to Indian statesman and independence activist Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), who was the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India and an adherent of Mahatma Gandhi.
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950)
Patel was highly respected for his leadership in uniting the 562 princely states of India to form the single Union of India.
The Statue of Unity is located in Gujarat on the Narmada River in the Kevadiya colony, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of the city of Vadodara.
After studying statues of Patel across the country, a team of historians, artists, and academics chose a design submitted by the Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar.
The materials and processes used in constructing the statue include Steel framing, bronze cladding, and was reinforced by concrete and brass coating.
It took roughly 57 months to complete the construction which was supervised by a consortium comprising Turner Construction, Michael Graves and Associates, and the Meinhardt Group and awarded by the Indian government at a cost of 420 million USD.
The construction of the statue of unity commenced on October 31, 2013, and was completed on October 30, 2018. The statue was unveiled in Gujarat on October 31, 2018, which was Patel’s 143rd birthday.
Since its opening ceremony, the Statue of Unity has attracted over 2.8 million tourists from far and wide.
