Statues, be it of religious figures or political icons, have captured the imagination of people all over the world. They symbolize the society’s collective pride and the values they stand for. In fact, some statues are so iconic that they transcend the cultural and national boundaries. Who doesn’t want to take a picture with the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio! Talking of India, some of the iconic statues include statue of Lord Shiva in Murudeshwar (Coastal Karnataka), Thiruvallavur Statue in Kanyakumari, Lord Buddha Statue in Ravangla and Gomateshwar Statue in Shravanabelagola. However, established recently (2018), the Statue of Unity in Gujarat has perhaps become the most popular one already.
Just a couple of hours’ drive away from Vadodara, my hometown, the Statue of Unity has quickly become a must- visit destination in Gujarat and India. Earlier, the nearby Sardar Sarovar Dam site was of some tourist interest, especially in the monsoon season when the dam overflew offering a spectacular view from a distance.
However, since the time the Statue of Unity has come up, the dam has become secondary. Standing at a staggering 182 meters, the Statue of Unity is currently the tallest statue in the world. Hence, apart from the statue’s cultural/ historic value, Indians take great pride in building the tallest statue in the world. Since I belong to Vadodara, I also feel a little proud of it.
{For more destinations in Gujarat, check out: Kutch- Best Places ||| Dwarka Temple}
Statue of Unity, a symbol of Indian integrity
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, one of the prominent leaders of India’s freedom movement, played an important role even after independence. As the first Home Minister, Sardar Patel played a critical role in convincing and integrating different princely states into the Indian federation. He is also the architect of the Indian bureaucratic system and framed the All-India Services. Considering the immense contribution of Sardar Patel towards the unity and integrity of India, his statue is appropriately called the Statue of Unity.
At a height of 182 meters, it became the world’s tallest statue, surpassing the Spring Temple Buddha located in Henan, China. To integrate and unite emotions from all states of India, a movement was initiated to collect used-iron farm-tools from farmers across India. From the collected 135 metric tonnes of iron scrap, about 109 tonnes of iron was extracted for the ststue. Surely, the movement nurtured a sense of national pride among contributing farmers and visitors. For a perspective, here’s a list of the top ten tallest statues in the world.
10 Tallest Statues in the World (net height excluding the base): (as of May 2026)
- Statue of Unity (India): Sardar Patel; 182 mts/ 597 ft.
- Spring Temple Buddha (China): Lord Buddha; 128 mts/ 420 ft
- Laykyun Sekkya (Myanmar): Lord Buddha; 116 mts/ 381 ft.
- Statue of Belief (India): Lord Shiva; 106 mts/ 348 ft.
- Ushiku Daibutsu (Japan): Amitabha Buddha; 100 mts/ 330 ft.
- Sendai Daikannon (Japan): Bodhisattva Kannon (Goddess of Mercy); 100 mts/ 33 ft.
- Guishan Guanyin (China): Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara; 99 mts/ 325 ft.
- Great Buddha (Thailand): Lord Buddha; 92 mts/ 302 ft.
- Dai Kannon (Japan): Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara; 88 mts/ 289 ft.
- The Motherland Calls (Russia): Secular Personification; 85 mts/ 279 ft.
However, if you a big fan of statues, the height really doesn’t matter, craftsmanship does. So, check for the most iconic statues in the world: 11 Famous Statues.
Our Day Trip to Statue of Unity
Though Vadodara is my hometown, I no longer live there. Since the statue came up only recently, (after I left Vadodara), I have visited the statue only once, i.e. in December, 2021. Generally, we visit Vadodara in December every year to celebrate Christmas with my family. On one such occasion, we visited the Statue of Unity with my mom. From Vadodara, it takes not more than 2 hours to reach there. Driving from Vadodara, we reached the place at around 4:45 pm, just before sunset, the best time to visit the picturesque location.
Exploring Statue of Unity area:
In the middle of a little island in Narmada River, the Statue of Unity stands majestically facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam. On either side of the statue lie two mountain ranges- Satpura and Vindhyanchal. (Do you know about another wonderful place by Narmada River? If you want to know, check out: Maheshwar}
The Statue of Unity hub has been developed as a whole package for tourists to explore ecological attractions and adventurous activities. With a number of viewpoints, an information gallery, an exhibition hall/ museum, a food court, etc, the campus is well organized. As we entered the campus, there was a ‘Wall of Unity’, which is constructed using soil collected from across all Indian states to symbolize unity in diversity. After a few minutes’ walk, on the right side of the road leading towards the statue, we saw a nice seating arrangement.
We sat there for some time and enjoyed a beautiful view of the Narmada River along with the statue. You can have some quick eats from the nearby food joints while enjoying the view. Thereafter, we started walking towards the statue.
At the Statue:
Of the five zones, only two zones (zone 1 and zone 3) are open for tourists. Zone 2 is a transition zone; Zones 4 and 5 are located above the level of 153 meters (500 ft). So, these zones are not open to public viewing.
First, we went to Zone 1—the base, museum, and exhibition hall—which features pictorial and detailed information about Sardar Patel’s life and his contributions. Adjacent to the museum, there is an audio-visual gallery that provides summarized details of Sardar Patel’s life.
After that, we moved to Zone 3. To go to the gallery in Zone 3, we had to queue up for the elevator. Since the elevator accommodates only 25 people, the management ensures that there are only 200 people in Zone 3 at a time. From 153 meters height, the view of Narmada Valley and the natural landscape is stunning. Subsequently, we came down after spending a good amount of time there.
Sunset at the Statue of Unity:
As said before, an advantage of visiting the statue in the evening is enjoying the sunset. During winter, you get a good amount of time to click beautiful pictures with the sun. We started capturing the sunset from 5:30 pm onwards. In fact, we really enjoyed photographing the sun during the golden hour — the hour before the sun actually sets.
After the sun sets, it’s time for the light and sound show. As mentioned earlier, you may take a seat at the seating area to watch the light and sound show. The show is free for all visitors and starts at around 7:30 PM. However, the time varies a bit in different seasons depending on the timing of sunset.
How to plan your day trip to Statue of Unity from Ahmedabad
Planning the trip:
If you are from outside of Gujarat, most probably, you would come on a day trip from Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad, it takes about 4 hours. So, you can start early in the morning from Ahmedabad and reach the Statue of Unity by midday. Exploring the Statue area and Sardar Sarovar Dam will take about 5-6 hours. And then, easily get back to Ahmedabad in the evening. However, it’s a good idea to stop over for a night in Vadodara to explore the culturally rich city the next day.
How to Reach Statue of Unity:
Nearest Airports: To reach by flight, the nearest airports are in Vadodara (about 87 km away) and Ahmedabad (about 198 km away). From there, you may take a train, bus, or cab.
By train: From Vadodara it takes about 1.5 hours and 4 hours from Ahmedabad by train. For the best experience, take the heritage special train that starts at 6:10 am from Ahmedabad – Kalupur Railway Station and at 8:10 am from Vadodara Railway Station (runs Saturday & Sunday only). Besides, there is also one regular train service, the Jan Shatabdi Express. However, the heritage train will give you an unmatched, tourist-friendly experience with styled seats and Gujarati food with a selfie point.
On the other side, Ektanagar Railway Station is the nearest station, located about 7.5 km from the Statue of Unity. From the station, free shuttle buses, electric autos, and private taxis are available.
By bus: If you couldn’t book a train ticket, a bus would also be a good option. There are private luxury, electric AC, and express buses available. Besides, Government-run Volvo AC and non-AC buses are also available from Ahmedabad and Vadodara bus stations. At the other end, near the Statue of Unity, Ektanagar Bus Stand is about 7 km away. From the bus stand, free shuttle buses, electric autos, and private taxis are available.
For your return journey, you will get an evening train or bus with similar facilities.
And of course, if you want to drive, it’s an easy drive over very good road.
Exploring Statue of Unity Area
If you have time, you may explore other interesting places and activities. I have mentioned a few based on their worth for visiting:
Experiences involving Narmada River:
- Sardar Sarovar Dam: In terms of capacity, it’s the 4th largest dam in India and is located 6.5 km from the Statue of Unity. It includes a garden, entry to the first lock gate, boating in the lake (additional fee), etc. Since we had already visited the dam a couple of times, we skipped it.
- Narmada Aarti: Only 5 km away from the Statue of Unity, Narmada Aarti takes place at ~ 7.30 pm (varies as per season) at the newly built ghat at Shoolpaneshwar Mahadev Temple.
- Khalvani River Rafting: If you are an adventure lover and visiting between October and June, don’t miss out on this.
Experiences involving flora/ fauna:
- Jungle Safari (Kevadia Zoological Park) ~ 3.6 kms: If you have children with you, this 5-acre theme park is a good option. At the park, you can see 170+ animals and birds from Australia, Africa, and South America.
- Valley of Flowers (Garden): Opposite to the jungle safari, this garden spreads across 250 acres of land with about 300 varieties of flowers.
- Khalvani and Zarwani Eco-tourism: Khalvani Eco-tourism is 5.5 km away from the Statue of Unity, and Zarwani Eco-tourism is 13 km away. Khalvani is located on the bank of a perennial stream, and Zarwani is situated in the Satpura mountain range. These are scenic places where you can go for trekking, bird watching, cycling, etc.
If you have time, there are a few other places to visit and things to do around the Statue of Unity, such as the Dino Trail, Arogya Van, Maze Garden, Unity Glow Garden, Children & Nutrition Park, Butterfly Garden, Pets Zone, Miyawaki Forest, helicopter rides, the Cactus Garden, etc.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara
If you are in Vadodara, do not miss visiting Lakshmi Vilas Palace. With Suvendu, we visited the 135-year-old grand palace in 2014. Spread across 30.5 million square feet, the palace which includes a golf course area, is the world’s largest private residence. It belongs to the Gaekwad family, the present generation of Maratha dynasty. Built in the Indo-Saracenic revivalist architectural style, the palace is a flamboyant masterpiece, ornamented with an excellent blend of Indian culture and European aesthetics.
The visit typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. A part of the palace is converted into a museum, and is called the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Though I don’t clearly remember the exact sequence, we passed through Gaddi Hall, Durbar Hall, and Arms Gallery. Among other things, the museum houses various Indian and European artefacts and sculptures. The large stained-glass windows with Indian Gods and Goddesses, the ceiling designed in the style of the Mughal era, and the decorated floors designed in Venetian mosaic enhance its royal look.
For me, the monumental paintings of the legendary Raja Ravi Varma were the main attraction. Just for your information, Maharaja Sayajirao was a key patron of the legendary Raja Ravi Varma. In fact, his early work for the Maharaja gave him a strong foundation and fame.
On our way out, we spent some time at the front garden and beheld the palace from afar. As mobile phones are not allowed inside, this is the right place to click some pictures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before I wind up, let me answer a few common questions that one might have for planning the trip.
Best time to visit Statue of Unity:
- For a pleasant weather, the best time to visit the Statue is during autumn- winter- spring months of November to February.
- Whereas, in the monsoon season, you will find lush green surroundings with fewer crowds. Plus, the nearby Sardar Sarovar Dam would be full and at its best. Moreover, an overflowing Narmada River would be a great backdrop to the Statue of Unity for photography.
- However, dry summer months of March to June are not good for a visit.
- Whenever you plan, keep it in mind, the Statue of Unity and most other places are closed on Mondays.
Where to Stay:
In recent times, multiple staying options have come up- ranging from branded hotels like Tent City 1 & 2, Fortune, Regenta Resort, and Giger to budget accommodations such as homestays. The accommodations and hotels are located about 5–10 kms away from the Statue of Unity, towards Ektanagar and Garudeshwar.
- River Viet Tent Resort ||| Unity Village Resort ||| Ginger Ektanagar ||| The Grand Unity Rooms/Hotel ||| Unity Green Rooms ||| Hotel Stature In ||| Nirvana Resort and Restaurant ||| Jay Bhole Hotel and Rooms.
In Ahmedabad: Plenteous Inn ||| Lake Point ||| Artilla Inn ||| Pleasant Lake ||| Carrefour ||| Iconic Hotel ||| Elysian Residency ||| Flair Inn ||| Good Night.
In Vadodara: Best Western Alkapuri ||| Royal Orchid Central Vadodara ||| President @ Kalaghoda ||| Effotel by Sayaji Vadodara ||| Best Western Alkapuri ||| Ambassador ||| Harmony.
Where to Eat: Best cafes/ restaurants to visit
In Ahmedabad: For Gujarati Thali: Agashiye ||| Gordhan Thal ||| Rajwadu. Others: Dusk Restaurant ||| Karma Café ||| Aroma Kitchen ||| Patang Re-Evolve.
In Vadodara: Charmant The Heritage Café ||| The Cafe ||| Indian Accent ||| Tulsi Restaurant ||| Café Chai Zaika Sayajigunj.
In Ektanagar: Zarwani Flavours ||| The Dhaba ||| Arogya Café ||| Shree Khodal Kathiyawadi Dhaba ||| AaHA Food Cafe – Statue of Unity ||| Jagdish World Cuisine Restaurant.
Final Thoughts
From a controversial dam site to a popular tourist destination, I have seen the growth of this place close to my hometown. During my younger days, I have visited this region many times over, both for personal and professional reasons. Historically, this region has been much underrated as a travel destination. However, thanks to the Statue of Unity, other places in the region are now getting the attention they deserve.
If you are visiting Statue of Unity, I would suggest, keep one or two more days on hand to explore some more gems in south Gujarat. Yes, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara is a good option. Apart from Vadodara, one should visit Champaner- Pavagadh UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.
I hope this article helps you plan for a day trip the Statue of Unity from Ahmedabad or Vadodara. If you want more practical tips, do write to me.
Jayvanti
Nice memories
stampedmoments
Yesssss! Good times 🙂