Located on the Narmada River in the Kevadiya neighborhood of Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, the 600-foot-tall ‘Statue of Unity’, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2018, honors Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Indian freedom hero known as the “Iron Man of India.”
Being among the founding fathers of the Republic of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel dedicated his entire life to fighting for India’s independence. The SOU, a symbol of patriotism and a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy, attracts tourists and hosts significant national and international events.
The movement’s founder, politician and activist Medha Patkar, first claimed that nothing could be done to advance the building of the Narmada dam and its surrounding areas. Economist Swaminathan criticized Medha Patkar for her “incorrect” estimation of the Narmada project after years of observation.
In his capacity as then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi pledged to show how this industry might bring in a substantial amount of money for the state. This was demonstrated by his successful completion of the “Statue of Unity” project, which resulted in the largest statue in the world and is generating billions of rupees for the nation’s tourism industry.
Five million individuals visited the SOU in 2023. This is what we call “the Modi guarantee.” In everything he does, Modi keeps his word and completes tasks on schedule.
Tourists flow
Tourists traffic at Statue of Unity since its inception
| Year | No. of Visitors |
| 2018 | 4.5 lacs |
| 2019 | 27.45 lacs |
| 2020 | 12.81 lacs |
| 2021 | 34.34 lacs |
| 2022 | 46.0 lacs |
| 2023 | 50.0 lacs |
From November 2018 to the end of 2023, there was an increase in tourist traffic of over 11 times. The COVID-19 pandemic caused only 12.81 lac people to visit the Statue of Unity in 2020; however, since then, the number of visitors has increased annually, reaching 50 lac by the end of 2023. According to official data, over 1.75 crore visitors have been registered with the SOU in the last five years. As of October 2023, revenue generated by ticket sales of the 182-meter-tall statue exceeded Rs 400 crore.
Remarkably, in terms of average daily views, the website eclipsed the Statue of Liberty in the United States by 2019 alone. Ten thousand people visit the Statue of Liberty per day, whereas 15,036 people visited the Statue of Unity every day as of December 2019 (https://www.livemint.com/news/india/statue-of-unity-surpasses-daily-average-footfall-at-usa-s-statue-of-liberty-11575640942758.html). Furthermore, on December 24, 2023, the statue honoring “Iron Man” and visionary freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the Narmada River reached its highest-ever single-day visitor count of 80,000 (https://deshgujarat.com/2024/01/01/over-50-lakh-tourists-flock-to-sou-in-2023-breaking-all-previous-yearly-records).
Prominent attractions to visit and see
- The Statue of togetherness: This demonstrates of India’s diversity and togetherness serves as both a memorial to Sardar Patel and a symbol of his legacy. It includes a viewing gallery, star attractions, engineering marvels, dynamic lighting, breathtaking scenery, inspirational walkways, a commitment to unity, international recognition, eco-friendly efforts, and a top-notch tourism destination, among other things.
- Sardar Sarovar Dam, one of the largest dam in the world.
- Light and Sound Show is a mesmerizing experience that takes place every evening after sunset.
- River Rafting at Khalwani is one of the popular adventure activities in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity.
- The Cactus Garden is very colourful and the newest and most vibrant addition to the area’s tourist attractions. It features more than 500 species of cacti and succulents spread across a large area, showcasing the diverse and intriguing world of these plants.
- The Ekta Cruise is a boat ride on the Narmada River that offers scenic views of the Statue of Unity and the surrounding landscape.
- Jungle Safari situated in the picturesque hills close to the world’s tallest statue, this state-of-the-art zoological park boasts a unique collection of native and exotic animals and birds from various biogeographic regions. It has a variety of collections of more than 100 fauna and flora.
- Adventure Sports Activities like boating, cycling , etc.
- Valley of Flowers (Bharat Van) initially in 2016 had 48,000 plants, but the number reached 2.2 million by 2021 (https://statueofunityonline.com/attractions-near-statue-of-unity/).
- Children Nutrition Park, which is a fun-filled park and it includes a short train journey that will stop at nine different stations, and each station will have its theme. Furthermore, this park has an adult play zone and a 5D movie theatre.
- Glow Garden highlights and illustrates Gujarat’s growing culture in the dark.
- Arogya Van (Harbal Garden) exhibits a wide range of medicinal plants and health-related landscapes developed near Statue of Unity.
- Ecotourism Bus comprises attractions including the Dino Trail, Ekta Nursery, Zarvani Waterfall, Cactus & Butterfly Garden, and Khalwani Eco-Tourism Campsite.
Eco-friendly tourism
Most people who come to see the SOU want to explore the nearby natural areas and ecotourism spots. The two ecotourism locations near the Statue of Unity are the Khalvani and Zarvani ecotourism sectors. Nature and wildlife, wilderness hiking, therapeutic experiences, adventure, and outings are all included in eco-tourism.
There are many of lodging alternatives for visitors close to the SOU. The Unity Village Resort is home to Tent Cities 1 and 2. Traveling close to the SOU fits and enhances the experience of tourists with happiness, adventure, and possibly excellent hospitality.
E-rickshaw, development and women empowerment
Furthermore, Statue of Unity is India’s first zone exclusively designated for electric vehicles. This helps to lessen noise and air pollution while enhancing the allure of this unusual tourist spot. Since only native tribal women drivers operate E-rickshaws, this programme also supports the growth and empowerment of women. There are 120 of them at the moment.
Contributions to economy
A significant rise in visitor visits, the construction of better roads and housing facilities, as well as the proximity of entertainment and dining options, are all contributing to the unexpected cash generation. Thousands of new jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors are being created for locals through entrepreneurship and start-ups, which is helping construction-related businesses.
An example of Indian engineering design and proficiency demonstrates the possibilities. By introducing travelers from all over the world to India’s rich culture, customs, and values, SOU brings in a sizable amount of foreign exchange. A rise in tourism generates greater revenue for the nation. SOU impacts not just the locals but also the Indian economy, ecology, society, and culture as a well-liked tourism destination for visitors from overseas. final destination.
It promotes international cooperation in a number of fields and is a knowledge base and center that bridges generational divides by teaching outsiders, kids, and young people about India. It also fosters the development of an environmentally friendly environment. India’s economic well-being is emphasized as a symbol of national pride and solidarity, showcasing the nation’s potential on the global arena.
The opposition initially smearged the Modi government’s tourist initiative, SOU, for squandering taxpayer money. Modi dedicated the project to the country in 2018 after initiating it in 2013. SOU aims to promote quality, cultural-based, and eco-friendly tourism, prohibiting drone cameras, weapons, inflammable materials, wires, tripods, food, drink, alcohol, umbrellas, cigarettes, or tobacco. Pan and Gutkha are also prohibited near the Statue of Unity property due to security concerns.
Some observations and suggestions
- Lighting on Vindhanchal hills is needed to enhance the region’s beauty and attract more tourists. Ekta Nagar currently lacks five-star hotels, but construction is feasible. Currently, only a few three-star and one four-star hotels exist, but more are on the way.
- Following numerous conversations with passengers as well as taxi and bus drivers, a complaint was made stating that there were no accommodations for the drivers to spend the night, that their pay was inadequate, and that the location was too costly for them to afford. The majority of respondents suggested that the state government build a cheap “Dormitory Inn” for these individuals so that they can feel comfortable as well. For them, there is a need to be an affordable canteen as well.
- The place has one Ekta Mall that reflects the harmony and variety that characterize Indian culture. Handlooms, handicrafts, and traditional textile stores from all across India have gathered at Ekta Mall to promote Indian handicrafts in a setting that symbolizes harmony and national cohesion. The mall occupies an area of 35,000 square feet. Currently, the region is lagging behind in developing a local brand for the market, which should highlight regional products that embody the local way of life. Ekta Nagar has a strong ambition to create a big local street market, similar to the one in Ahmedabad, with a brand of clothing from the area as well as other well-known products like gems, clothes from the famous Law Garden market, Dhlgarwad cloth market, etc.
- There isn’t a medical store at the Ekta Mall right now. Travelers and us both have trouble finding medications, and they must obtain them from distant locations. To help with this, the mall ought to contain a medical store where customers can get the majority of medications at reasonable costs.
- In order to generate more business and job prospects for the middle-class and lower-class inhabitants who live close to the Statue of Unity, more infrastructure and other amenities need to be created. It seems that the fact that the SOU is the tallest statue in the world is not as well known to outsiders.
- Speaking with two foreign guests, one from Malaysia and the other from the Philippines, they revealed that foreigners still think China is the country with the biggest statue in the world. They suggested stepping up SOU’s social media and international marketing.
- The city is the perfect location for holding international conferences, seminars, events, and fashion exhibits, all of which will draw more tourists and generate more income. This needs to be publicly publicized.
- Unlike for senior citizens, wheel chairs are provided, for strollers should also be facilitated for the kids. This will be a good friendly gesture to
- There is currently no airport at SOU in Ekta Nagar. When engaging with the locals, it appears that this is done on purpose because Ahmedabad, the main city with both national and international airports, is the preferred gateway for visitors from Gujarat. This allows tourists to shop for well-known and branded goods, which in turn helps the city’s economy. Media reports show that in order to improve connectivity for the tourists and on public demand, the state government has proposed to build a quality airport and it has identified land in Kherkuva, Bhadarva and Sureva villages in Narmada district in which it will build a runway of 3,000 m in length in near future (https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/land-identified-for-proposed-ekta-nagar-airport-govt-9149800/) .However, SOU offers helicopter joyrides as a service. The larger SOU region is constantly expanding, with new tourist attractions introduced on a regular basis.
- Lastly, but just as importantly, the government ought to have funded school and college student tour packages on the eve of the country’s 75th anniversary of independence in order to foster a sense of pride in Indianism and national unity through the delivery of lectures and the display of the diversity of nature.
Concluding remarks
The successful completion of the Statue of Unity is a wonderful testament to Sardar Patel’s acumen, knowledge, and intelligence. This incredible accomplishment makes every Indian and person of Indian descent in the world extremely proud. In addition to housing the statue of freedom activist Vallabhbhai Patel, this location is a symbol of inspiration, tranquility, faith, and harmony.
For us, it was an amazing experience to attend SOU. Statue of Unity is unique since it is located in the Narmada Valley of Kevadia, deep in the heart of nature. The amazing view from the top of the statue was the highlight of our trip. The people there are kind, collected, and ready to answer any inquiries. Although the SOU is open year-round, October through February are the finest months to visit.
Views and suggestions expressed in this piece are author’s personal views.
