The Statue of Unity stands proudly in Gujarat. This statue has been erected to honour one of India’s great leaders Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This leader often called the Iron Man of India has played a considerable role in bringing together the princely Indian states after Indian independence. The statue stands as proof of his indomitable spirit and contributions to the country. Since its erection in 2018, the statue has gained popularity not only across India but also across the world. It is seen as a symbol of an architectural marvel. When you are in Gujarat, you should not miss out on visiting this statue. Read on to gain more insights about the Statue of Unity.
Historical Importance
As mentioned earlier, this statue belongs to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He played a crucial role in shaping modern India. His statue was erected in Gujarat even though he was a national-level leader. The reason for this installation is that he was born in a small town called Nadiad in Gujarat. The date of his birth is 31st October 1875.
Read my post on Gujarat itinerary
Even though Patel played a crucial role in Indian independence, he played a very important role post-independence. He grew up and became one of the crucial people in politics. After coming out of the British Role, India faced a lot of challenges in bringing together 560 princely states into one nation. This effort then was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the first Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of India after independence. His astute political knowledge and strategic diplomacy earned him the title of “Iron Man of India”.
Patel had an unwavering commitment towards the unity of India. He played a very key role in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the nation. To value his contributions to the nation, the Statue of Unity was unveiled by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi.
The Purpose Behind the Statue and Its Conception
The idea of erecting a huge statue for Patel was proposed by Mr Narendra Modi, who is presently the Prime Minister of India. Not only to honour Mr. Patel, the statue was unveiled to stand as a symbol of resilience, strength and unity of India.
Here are a few purposes served by the Statue of Unity:
To Promote Development
The statue was constructed to help achieve economic development in the local region. This becomes possible as it attracts tourists from across India and even abroad. Due to the increase in tourist visits, the local traders in this region and surrounding areas achieve better financial stability.
Educational Resource
There is a museum in the complex of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue. Even, the complex houses an exhibition hall that is dedicated to educating visitors about the achievements and life of Patel. Also, you can learn about its contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
Tourist Attraction
The Statue of Unity aims to attract visitors from across the world. In turn, it enables tourism in the region. Through Gujarat tourism, this region generates a lot of revenue.
Tribute to National Unity
The statue honours the efforts made by Patel to bring India together after the British left the nation.
You will be surprised by the Statue of Unity height. The Sardar Patel Statue is 597 feet or 182 metres.
Statue Unveiling and Global Recognition
The inauguration of the Statue of Unity happened on the 31st of October 2018. This day was chosen to celebrate the 143rd Birth Anniversary of Sardar Patel. Sri Narendra Modi unveiled the statue in front of many international leaders and dignitaries. Immediately after its unveiling, the statue gained international recognition for its height by overtaking the Spring Temple Buddha at 153 metres height and the Statue of Liberty at 93 metres height.
The project was completed within a record 33-month period. This quick construction also stands as an example of India’s expertise in handling large-scale infrastructure projects. The statue now stands as a symbol of India’s pride.
How to Reach the Statue of Unity?
Location
Before knowing how to reach the Statue of Unity, you should know where is Statue of Unity first. The location of the statue is on the Sadhu Best Island near the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. The nearest city to this statue is Kevadiya in Gujarat, which is just 3.5 km away from the statue. It is approximately located at a distance of about 25 km from a small town. The name of this town is Kevadiya. The distance from the nearest city Rajpipla is 25 km and from Vadodara, it is 90 km away. Surat and Ahmedabad are other popular cities in Gujarat. From these cities, the statue is located around 150 km and 200 km respectively.
From Ahmedabad
Car
If you are travelling from Ahmedabad, you can travel by car to reach the Statue of Unity. As the Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity distance is around 200 km, you can self-drive with ease.
- The distance by road is 197.9 km via the NE1 route
- If you take the NE1 and NH56 route, the distance is 242.5 km
If you are not coming by your car, you can hire a taxi as well.
Bus
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation runs regular buses from Ahmedabad. You can take direct buses from Ahmedabad to Kevadiya, where the statue is located. For bus timings, availability and other details, you can check the GSRTC website.
Train
There is no direct Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity train. So, if you prefer a train journey, you can travel from Ahmedabad to Vadodara. Then, you can take a connecting train from Vadodara to Kevadiya. Otherwise, you can travel by bus from Vadodara to reach the Statue of Unity.
In short, the Statue of Unity distance from Ahmedabad is 200 km. You can choose one of these modes to travel from Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity. The Statue of Unity’s distance from Ahmedabad is easily covered by self-driving from Ahmedabad if you are staying in this city.
From Vadodara
By Car
If you are travelling from Vadodara to explore the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, you can travel by car. Vadodara to Statue of Unity distance is around 90.2 km via Gujarat State Highway 11 and 63. When you take the Gujarat State Highway 11 alone, you can reach the statue in around 102.7 km drive.
By Bus
You can find state-run buses from Vadodara to Kevadiya. This is the most affordable and convenient mode of transportation as well. The travel will be around 2 to 3 hours. Buses connect these two places frequently. Based on the type of bus you choose, the ticket price might differ from INR 150 to 200 per person. So, if you are a budget traveller, you can try reaching the Statue of Unity by bus from Vadodara.
By Train
You can travel by train from Vadodara to Ekta Nagar Railway Station in Kevadiya. The Statue of Unity nearest railway station is Ekta Nagar Railway Station. The following trains connect these two railway stations:
- Jan Shatabdi Express starts from Vadodara at 9.18 am daily and reaches Ekta Nagar by 10.40 am. So, within around one and a half hours, you can reach Ekta Nagar Railway Station by this train.
- DDR EKNR SF Express starts at 5.45 am in Vadodara and reaches Ekta Nagar Railway Station by 7.24 am on all days from Monday to Sunday. By this train, you can reach Ekta Nagar within around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
From Ekta Nagar, the Statue of Unity is located at a distance of 7.7 km. You can hire an auto or taxi to cover this distance. You can choose one of these modes to travel from Vadodara to the Statue of Unity.
From Surat
By Car
From Surat, the Statue of Unity is located at around 160 km. Now, you know the Surat to Statue of Unity distance. So, you can easily cover this distance by car. If you have your vehicle, you can choose one of these routes to reach the Statue of Unity:
- The distance is 159.9 km when you choose the National Highway 48 and Gujarat State Highway 64 route.
- You will have to ride for 157.2 km if you choose to travel by NH 48. GJ SH 64 and National Highway 56.
By Train
If you prefer a train trip from Surat to Ekta Nagar, you can choose one of these trains to travel from Surat to Ekta Nagar Railway Station:
- DDR EKNR SF Express runs on all days. It starts from Surat at 3.40 am and reaches Ekta Nagar by 7.25 am. The travel time is three hours and 45 minutes.
- MAS EKNR SF Express runs on Mondays. This train starts at 11.22 pm in Surat and reaches Ekta Nagar Railway Station by 2.40 am on Tuesdays. The travel time is around three hours and 18 minutes.
- EKNR Mahamana Express runs on Fridays. This train starts from Surat at 5.18 am and reaches Ekta Nagar Railway Station by 9 am. The travel time is around three hours and 42 minutes. This train runs on Sundays as well. On Sundays, the train starts in Surat at 1.55 pm to reaches Ekta Nagar by 5.40 pm with a travel time of three hours and 45 minutes.
By Bus
Many private operates run buses from Vadodara to the Statue of Unity. If you prefer, you can choose to book a bus. Even, one-day trips are operated between Surat and the statue.
Key Attractions and Things To Do At the Statue of Unity
A visit to the Statue of Unity is undoubtedly a historical experience. More than the huge structure, you will marvel at a lot of things to do and key attractions around this statue. Particularly, the complex around the statue has been designed to provide an entertaining, educational and rich experience to tourists. Here are a few attractions you should not miss out on:
- Museum and exhibition hall
- Viewing Gallery
- Valley of flowers
- Sardar Sarovar Dam and River Cruise
- Laser light and sound show
So, more than just the Statue of Unity, you have a lot of entertainment aspects around the statue to feel immersed making your visit worthwhile.
Read my post on things to do in Gujarat
Best Time and Season to Visit the Statue of Unity
The best time or season to visit the Statue of Unity is between October and February. The reason is that the weather during this season will be pleasant. You can comfortably spend hours outdoors and buy Statue of Unity photos.
Duration to See the Statue of Unity
The time you can spend at the Statue of Unity depends on how many other sites you wish to explore.
- One Day: A day trip is sufficient if you wish to visit the statue alone
- Two to Three Days: If you wish to explore other nearby attractions, you will need at least 2 to 3 days.
- Longer: To cover all activities and points, some even spend more than three days during their trip to the Statue of Unity.
Best Restaurants and Cafes Near the Statue of Unity
Here are a few cafes and restaurants near Sardar Patel Statue:
- Pramukh Food Way
- Pizzawala’s Sou
- Saffron Restaurant
- Sankalp
- Ekta Food Court
- Satkar Restaurant And Cafe
- Maa Narmada Restaurant And Cafe
- Pizzawala’s
Entry Fee and Ticket Prices
The entry fee for the Statue of Unity is INR 150 for Indian adults. The Statue of Unity tickets for children is INR 90 for kids between 3 and 15 years. Children below three years are permitted to enter for free. This ticket cost includes access to the Valley of Flowers, the Audiovisual gallery, the observation deck, the memorial and the Museum. You also have the option to pay an additional fee to access the observatory point. For foreigners, the entry fee is INR 225 for adults and INR 150 for kids.
FAQ
Which is the Best Resort Near the Statue of Unity?
Ramada Statue of Unity is a popular resort near Statue of Unity. Even, you can find other resorts like:
- Karbhari Resort
- Maharaja Tent Resort
- Unity Holiday Resort
- Vrundavan Homestay and Village Resort
- Statue of Unity Eco Camp
- Unity Tent Resort
- The Royal Heritage Tent Resort
- Statue of Unity Tent City 1
- Nirvana Resort and Restaurant
- The Fern Sardar Sarovar Resort
- River View Tent Resort
- Tent City Narmada
Is the Statue of Unity Open On All Days?
No, the entry to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue is restricted on Mondays. You can visit on all other days.
Is it Possible to Reach the Statue of Unity by Flight?
Yes, you can travel from your city to Vadodara by flight. From Vadodara, you can travel to the statue either by road or by train.
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