In today’s blog post, I will answer frequently asked questions about the Statue of Unity.

Are you planning to visit the Statue of Unity but don’t know where to begin? No worries. Here’s my Statue of Unity travel guide. Discover travel tips, ticket bookings, timings, and more.

Without further ado, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the Statue of Unity.

WHAT IS THE STATUE OF UNITY?

The Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest statue, at 182m (579 ft). It is a statue of the prominent Indian independence leader and first deputy prime minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

WHOSE STATUE IS AT THE STATUE OF UNITY?

The statue is of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He was a prominent Indian Independence leader and the first Deputy Prime Minister. He played a vital role in unifying 562 princely states to form the current geographical borders of India.

WHERE IS THE STATUE OF UNITY?

The Statue of Unity is on a river island on the banks of the Narmada River near Kevadia, Gujarat.

WHO BUILT THE STATUE OF UNITY?

In 2010, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the construction of the Statue of Unity to mark his tenth year as Chief Minister. L&T company undertook the construction of the statue in 2013. Ram V Sutar, a famous Indian sculptor, designed the Statue of Unity.

WHEN DID THE STATUE OF UNITY OPEN TO PUBLIC?

The construction of the Statue of Unity began in 2013 and took five years to complete. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity on 31st October 2018 to mark the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

WHEN IS THE STATUE OF UNITY OPEN? / STATUE OF UNITY TIMINGS

The Statue of Unity is closed on Monday and open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, the ticket counter closes at 5 p.m.

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS TO THE STATUE OF UNITY?

You can book the tickets online or at the Swagat Sthal / Shresht Bharat Bhavan ticket counter.

The ticket counters at Swagat Sthal / Shresht Bharat Bhavan are 5.5 km from the statue.

CAN YOU PAY VIA UPI AT THE STATUE OF UNITY TICKET COUNTER?

Payment at the Statue of Unity ticket counter is available only via credit or debit card. Cash and UPI payments are not accepted.

HOW MUCH DOES A TICKET TO THE STATUE OF UNITY COST?

For foreigners, a single ticket to the Statue of Unity costs Rs. 1,530 for adults and Rs. 830 for children. The ticket includes the entry fee and a visit to the viewing gallery.

Unlike foreigners, Indians have two options: entry or viewing gallery tickets.

A single entry ticket costs Rs. 150 for adults and Rs. 90 for children. The ticket includes entry to the museum, the platform at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s foot, and an audio-visual exhibition.

A single viewing gallery ticket costs Rs. 380 for adults and Rs. 230 for children. The viewing gallery ticket allows visitors access to the museum, audio-visual exhibition, the platform at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s foot and a viewing gallery at 153 m.

Another option is an express ticket, which allows priority access to the Statue of Unity and the viewing gallery. A single ticket costs Rs. 1030 for both adults and children.

CAN I VISIT THE STATUE OF UNITY VIEWING GALLERY ANYTIME?

The Statue of Unity viewing gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the tickets to the viewing gallery have specific time slots. That means you visit the viewing gallery within the given time slot.

The queues for the viewing gallery are long, so visit that first.

IS THE STATUE OF UNITY’S VIEWING GALLERY WORTH VISITING?

People have high expectations when visiting the viewing gallery at the Statue of Unity. They expect unhindered and sprawling views of the Narmada River and dam. However, that’s not always possible.

The views of the Narmada River vary according to the seasons.

I visited the Statue of Unity towards the end of May. The river was dried up, and only the rocky river bed was visible. But, if you visit in September, the river will be overflowing.

So, whether the viewing gallery at the Statue of Unity is worth visiting? The answer is yes. It is worth visiting at least once. You don’t want to regret missing out if it’s your first visit.

WHAT TIME IS THE PROJECT MAPPING SHOW, AND HOW MUCH IS THE TICKET?

The project mapping show begins daily at 7:45 p.m. and lasts 30 minutes.

Since its commencement, the project mapping show has been free for all. You can watch the show from the drop-off point or the deck at the Wall of Unity.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay to watch the show, but I’ve heard raving reviews about it. My sister saw it on her previous visit. She highly recommends it.

ARE PRIVATE VEHICLES ALLOWED AT THE STATUE OF UNITY?

Unfortunately, no. Private vehicles, taxis, and mini-buses cannot go to the Statue of Unity.

Parking facilities are available near the Swagat Sthal ticket counter, 5 km from the statue. From here, a free bus service is available to transfer tourists to and from the statue.

During peak season and holidays, finding a parking spot is difficult. I drove in circles for 15 minutes before finding a vacancy.

You can also cycle or hire an e-auto for a small fee.

The fare list for e-auto is available on the official website.

WHAT FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY?

The Statue of Unity is wheelchair accessible. You can request a wheelchair at the entry. The pathway to the statue is flat and also has an escalator. Golf carts are available for transferring elderly and people with disability to the statue.

It is a 10-minute walk from the bus drop-off point to the statue. So, golf carts are convenient for elderly folks and people with disability. Also, you can reach the statue within minutes, thus allowing you to arrive before hundreds of people.

NOTE:- Golf cart service for a full day is available for a fee. It is beneficial for families and large groups.

HOW TO TRAVEL TO THE STATUE OF UNITY?

You can travel to the Statue of Unity via road, train or flight.

The Statue of Unity is 85 km from Vadodara and 95 km from Bharuch.

Major state and national highways join the Statue of Unity to other Indian cities.

The closest train station is Ekta Nagar station. Board a train to Vadodara from your hometown. Then, change trains to reach Ekta Nagar station.

Taxis and e-autos are available at Ekta Nagar station.

Vadodara airport, 85 km away, is the closest to the Statue of Unity. You can then rent a taxi or take the train to the Statue of Unity.

WHERE TO STAY AT THE STATUE OF UNITY?

There are numerous luxury, budget and tent accommodation choices near the Statue of Unity. However, due to the statue’s popularity, hotels fill up rapidly. So, book your stay in advance.

LUXURY HOTELS

• Ramada Encore by Wyndham Statue of Unity
• Fortune Statue of Unity, Kevadia
• The Fern Sardar Sarovar Resort

BUDGET STAYS

• Comfort Inn
• Hotel The Stature Inn
• The Petals Unity Inn

TENTS

• Unity Holiday Resort
• Praveg Tent City Narmada
• Maharaja Tent Resort

NOTE:- You cannot book tents at the site because you need to show your reservations at the check post before passing through.

WHAT OTHER ATTRACTIONS ARE THERE NEAR THE STATUE OF UNITY?

Apart from the Statue of Unity, there are several other attractions. They are:

• Nauka Vihar (boating)
• Jungle Safari
• Pet zone
• Valley of flowers
• Cactus Garden
• Butterfly Garden
• River rafting
• Ekta river cruise
• Unity Glow garden
• Narmada Aarti
• Dino Trail

You can buy tickets for each attraction online or at the Shreshtha Bharat Bhavan / Swagat Sthal ticket counter.

NOTE:- To avoid crowding tickets, have a time slot. Therefore, plan your activities before booking the tickets.

You need at least 2-3 days to participate in and explore all the activities and attractions.

TRAVEL TIP:- River cruises, boating and river rafting are closed during summer when the water levels are low.

I travelled to the statue during the summer. Upon inquiring, they informed me that the water activities were closed due to low water levels.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE STATUE OF UNITY?

The Statue of Unity is beautiful in any season. However, the best time to enjoy all the activities and attractions is from November to February.

It is also the peak season, so expect crowds, long queues and sky-high prices for accommodation.

However, due to the Statue of Unity’s booming popularity, always expect crowds, especially on weekends and holidays.

I visited the Statue of Unity towards the end of May. It was 42°C at 4 p.m. Despite the high temperatures, there were hundreds of people.

HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED TO EXPLORE THE STATUE OF UNITY?

If you want to visit only the Statue of Unity, you need 2-3 hours to explore the various zones (viewing gallery, museum, audio-visual exhibition, platform at the statue’s foot).

I visited the Statue of Unity en route to Jodhpur. I reached the parking lot near the ticket counter at 4 p.m. Then, spent the next couple of hours exploring the world’s tallest statue. By 6 p.m., I was heading back to the car.

Since I had a 2-hour drive to Vadodara (where I would stay the night), I didn’t wait for the light mapping show starting at 7:45 p.m.

If you’re staying the night in Kevadia, I highly recommend watching the light mapping show. I’ve heard raving reviews about it.

CONCLUSION

That brings us to the end of the frequently asked questions about the Statue of Unity.

I have tried to think of all the possible questions one might have about the world’s tallest statue.

I hope this blog post was helpful. If you have any queries, let me know in the comments. I’ll try to answer them to the best of my ability and knowledge.

Also, I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.

albert Einstein