India is now home to the biggest statue in the world, at a towering height of 182 metres (or nearly 600 feet) – a towering steel and bronze figure of India’s first deputy PM, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Christened the “Statue of Unity” – the figure stands as a dedication to the role Sardar Patel played in uniting the various states and provinces of the country under one rule, post-independence.
Located on the island of Sadhu Bet near Rajpipla in Gujarat, about 3.2 kilometres from the Narmada Dam, the statue and its surrounding area occupy over 20,000 square metres, enclosed by a 12 square km artificial lake. Construction of the monumental figure took a record 33 months, with people contributing over 135 metric tonnes of iron from across the country.
High-speed lifts have been installed to take tourists up to the viewing gallery, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. And a museum at the base offers a glimpse into the life of Sardar Patel.
Other attractions have also been added nearby for sight-seeing, including two tent cities along the backwater lakes of the Narmada dam reservoir for tourists who want to stay in the area.