Today’s blog post, Statue of Unity Travel Guide, uncovers information for planning a visit to the world’s tallest statue.

Before divulging all the info, here’s a summary of what the Statue of Unity Travel Guide entails.

• About the Statue of Unity
• Timings and Tickets
• Bus service for Statue of Unity
• Exploring the Statue of Unity
• How to travel to the Statue of Unity?
• Where to stay?
• The best time to visit
• Travel tips

During my last visit to Gujarat, I had to drop the Statue of Unity from the itinerary. So, this time, I took a slight detour to include the monument in the itinerary.

Since its inauguration in 2018, the Statue of Unity has been on my bucket list. Due to its location, away from the major highways, I had to forgo visiting the statue.

Recently, I finally got the chance to cross it off my list.

My sister had visited the Statue of Unity a few years back. She said that the monument is visible from the highway. As we drew near, I plastered my face close to the window while my eyes wildly scanned the blurred scenery. Finally, through a gap in the tree line, I saw the back of the statue.

That first glimpse skyrocketed my excitement.

From the highway, the back of the statue is visible. First, the back is visible, then a side profile and finally, the front profile. It keeps the visitor’s interest peaked till the end. It is because the statue is sideways, facing the Narmada Dam.

I’m sure, after reading that, you want to know more. But before diving into the details, here’s a brief note about the Statue of Unity.

ABOUT THE STATUE OF UNITY

So, what is the Statue of Unity? Well, the Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest statue.

Rising to 182 m (579 ft), the Statue of Unity stands tall on the banks of the Narmada River in Kevadia, Gujarat.

The statue is of the renowned Indian Independence leader and India’s first deputy prime minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Under the leadership and guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 562 princely states were united to form independent India. Therefore, the Statue of Unity is a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his contribution to the freedom struggle.

TIMINGS AND TICKETS

The Statue of Unity is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Monday.

NOTE:- The ticket counter closes at 5 p.m.

TRAVEL TIP:- You need at least 2 hours to explore the Statue of Unity. So, plan accordingly.

You can buy tickets online or at the ticket counter in Kevadia.

TICKETS FOR INDIANS

For Indians, there are two types of tickets- the entrance ticket and the viewing gallery ticket.

Both are different.

If you want to see the Statue of Unity and not go up to the viewing gallery, then the entrance ticket is the one for you.

A single entrance ticket costs Rs.150 for adults and Rs.90 for children. This ticket doesn’t include the viewing gallery.

For those taking the elevator to the viewing gallery, buy a ticket for the gallery. This ticket includes the entrance fee, so you don’t need a separate entry ticket.

The viewing gallery is at 153 m. From there, you have views of the Narmada River and dam. But is it worth it?

The viewing gallery is ok. How is the view from the gallery? The view is beautiful. But the protective mesh wall obscures the view. You need only 5-10 minutes at the viewing gallery.

Would I go again? Probably not. However, if it’s your first time visiting the Statue of Unity, I recommend the viewing gallery.

A single ticket to the viewing gallery costs Rs.380 for adults and Rs.230 for children.

There is an express ticket that allows you quick access to the view gallery. It is a good option during weekends and peak season.

A single express ticket costs Rs.1030 for adults and children.

Tickets are available only at the ticket counter 5 km from the statue. Later, if you decide to go to the viewing gallery, you will have to exit the complex (which means you can no longer use the previous ticket to reenter) and go to the ticket counter to buy new tickets. It is time-consuming and pricey.

TICKETS FOR FOREIGNERS

There is a single ticket for foreigners. It includes the entry fee and a visit to the viewing gallery.

A single ticket costs Rs.1530 for adults and Rs.830 for children.

NOTE:- The ticket counter accepts payment by card only. Debit and Credits are valid. Payment by cash and UPI is unavailable.

TRAVEL TIP:- Tickets become invalid once you exit the complex.

Tickets for the other attractions are available only at this ticket counter.

Now you know the ticket prices and timings. But getting to the statue is a bit of work.

Since private vehicles are not allowed to go to the statue, you board the government buses to get there.

BUSE SERVICE TO THE STATUE OF UNITY

I was unaware that private vehicles weren’t allowed near the statue. So, as we were following Google Maps, the police stopped our car. They informed us to head to the parking lot a few km away.

TRAVEL TIP:- Search for “Statue of Unity ticket counter” on Google Maps. The car park is next to it.

Find a parking spot (Rs.50 for cars and jeeps), buy tickets (if you haven’t), and head to the free bus service on the left of the ticket counter.

All buses take the visitors to the drop-off point near the statue. Also, the buses are AC, which is heavenly when exploring in the summer.

NOTE:- There are buses every 15 minutes.

It is a 5-minute drive to the drop-off point.

TRAVEL TIP:- I saw many people walking to the statue from the ticket counter. Don’t do that. It is a 5.4 km walk to the Statue of Unity.

From the drop-off point, it is a 10-15 minute walk to the statue.

Several vendors selling hats, caps, souvenirs, chaat and snacks line the area. I recommend scheduling shopping for after seeing the statue.

After scanning your ticket, head for the security check. Beyond the security check is a covered walkway to the statue.

TRAVEL TIP:- The pathway to the statue is plain and wheelchair accessible. Also, golf carts are available to take visitors to the statue. I think they charge a small fee.

The drop-off point doubles as the pickup point. After visiting the statue, return here to catch the return bus.

If you don’t want to travel on a bus, you can opt for the private e-autos operated by women drivers. This service, however, is not free, and they charge a small fee.

EXPLORING THE STATUE OF UNITY

The Statue of Unity is the main attraction. But there are three areas you should visit when there- the viewing gallery, the museum and the platform at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s foot.

The queues for the viewing gallery are long, so head there first.

Only those who have tickets for the viewing gallery can go up there.

TRAVEL TIP:- Entry to the viewing gallery closes at 5:30 p.m.

Scan your tickets and join the queue for the elevator. Two elevators, each carrying 10-12 persons, take visitors to the viewing gallery at 153 m.

When I visited the Statue of Unity, I had to wait 5-10 minutes for my turn.

After enjoying the view from the gallery at 153 m, it’s time to explore the museum and exhibition. Audio-visuals and enormous boards display Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution, the construction process of the Statue of Unity, and other snippets.

Then, exit the museum and take the escalator for an up-close view of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s feet.

You need 2-3 hours to explore the Statue of Unity, purchase tickets, the bus ride to and from the statue. So, plan accordingly.

Now you know everything about visiting the Statue of Unity. But how to get there?

HOW TO TRAVEL TO THE STATUE OF UNITY?

The Statue of Unity is in the small town of Kevadia, Gujarat. It is 85 km from Vadodara and 95 km from Bharuch.

Roads, trains and planes are the three ways to reach the Statue of Unity.

ROAD

I travelled to the Statue of Unity by road from Pune. The distance from Pune to Kevadia is 546 km and takes 11 hours.

Eleven hours might seem like a long drive, but the quiet roads and good scenery make time pass quickly.

I left my house at 4 a.m. and was in Kevadia, Gujarat, by 4 p.m.

The entire stretch of the road consists of national and state highways. Apart from the two-lane ghat road near Saputara, the route is plain.

There are two routes to the Statue of Unity from Pune: via Mumbai and Nashik.

Both routes take the same time, and the distance varies by 10 km.

TRAVEL TIP:- The Mumbai – Pune highway gets extremely busy on weekends. So, avoid this route if travelling during the weekend.

Also, the highway passing through Surat is always busy and congested due to long queues of slow-moving trucks. It quickly tires out the driver.

I recommend the Nashik route for a pleasant drive and less busy roads.

The only disadvantage of this route is the lack of good, family-friendly restaurants. Either stop at Saputara or Mandvi for food.

TRAIN

There are no direct trains to Kevadia, Gujarat. Ekta Nagar train station, 7.7km away, is the closest to the Statue of Unity.

Vadodara, 85 km away, is well-connected by rail to other Indian cities. There are direct trains to Vadodara from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, etc.

Upon arriving at Vadodara, you have two options: train or taxi.

You can board another train to Ekta Nagar train station or rent a taxi to the Statue of Unity.

Daily trains run to and from Vadodara to Ekta Nagar train station.

However, renting a taxi is costlier than taking the train. Kevadia has buses and e-autos for taking guests to and from the Statue of Unity and other attractions. So, don’t worry about internal transport.

PLANE

There are no direct flights to the Statue of Unity.

Vadodara airport, 85 km away, is the closest airfield to the Statue of Unity.

Direct flights fly between Vadodara and other Indian cities.

Upon arriving at Vadodara, you can take the train to Ekta Nagar or rent a taxi to the Statue of Unity.

As I always say, the best way to explore India is by road. However, driving is not everyone’s cup of tea. That leaves us with trains and flights.

Trains are the best choice for those on a budget and who have time. Depending on your hometown, the train journey to Vadodara might take long hours. Also, you need 2-3 days to explore the region. So, ensure you have ample time.

Flights are costly but a time-saver. You can travel to Vadodara from your hometown within a few hours. It is ideal if you have limited time to explore.

WHERE TO STAY?

Earlier, there were no accommodations near the Statue of Unity.

My sister had travelled to the statue in early 2019. She recalled that apart from the Statue of Unity, there was nothing. On our recent trip, she was pleasantly surprised to see all the development and new attractions.

During her 2019 visit, she visited the Statue of Unity on a day trip from Vadodara. Fortunately, the situation has improved.

Several budget and a few luxury hotels have popped up in Kevadia.

All the hotels are 5 km or more from the Statue of Unity. But that’s the case for all accommodations in the area. When booking your stay, check the distance from the hotel to the “Statue of Unity ticket counter” or “Swagat Sthal”.

I didn’t stay in Kevadia but in Vadodara. That’s because I was en route to Rajasthan and had taken a detour to see the Statue of Unity. But, here’s a list of tent stays, budget and luxury hotels.

LUXURY HOTELS

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

TENT STAYS

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

BUDGET HOTELS

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

TRAVEL TIP:- If you don’t have a vehicle, book a hotel near the ticket counter. That’s because e-autos and buses are not available everywhere.

I visited the Statue of Unity in late May, and that too at 4 p.m.. The place was crowded even at the late hour. So, you can imagine how busy it will get during long weekends, summer holidays and peak season. Therefore, always book your stays in advance.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE STATUE OF UNITY

Apart from the Statue of Unity, there are several other attractions in Kevadia, Gujarat. A few are water activities, such as river cruises, rafting, etc.

If you want to enjoy all the activities, the best time to visit is winter, from November to February. During this time, the temperature is moderate, the weather is pleasant, and all activities are operational.

However, it is also the peak season. Schools and offices have holidays for Diwali, Christmas and New Year. So, expect long queues, pricey accommodations and long waiting periods.

Lots of families prefer travelling during the summer holidays from March to May.

During the summer, temperatures are high, and the weather is hot. I travelled to the Statue of Unity towards the end of May. It was sweltering and it was 42°C at 4 p.m.

Due to the summer holidays, families are travelling. So, expect crowds, long queues and slightly pricey accommodations.

June to September are the monsoon months. It is the best time for cheap accommodations and avoiding crowds.

The Statue of Unity is near the Narmada River and dam. That means due to heavy rains, the river’s water levels rise. For safety reasons, river cruises and other water activities close.

To summarise, the best time to visit the Statue of Unity is mid-January, early February, March, early April, late May, early June, late September, early October, November, and early December.

TRAVEL TIPS

Throughout the Statue of Unity travel guide, you can find travel tips.

Here are a few more travel tips to make your visit to the Statue of Unity worry-free.

• Summer and winter months are the busiest months. So, book your tickets online and accommodations in advance.
• Tickets for the viewing gallery are time-coded. So, you have to visit the viewing gallery within that time slot, or your ticket becomes invalid.
• If you aren’t travelling in your vehicle or a taxi, don’t worry. There are e-autos to transfer visitors to and from the Statue of Unity and other attractions.
• Carry a printout of the tickets if you’ve booked them online.
• To avoid crowds, plan your visit for before or after festivals and major holidays.
• The Statue of Unity is closed on Monday.
• The ticket counter at the Statue of Unity accepts only payment via debit or credit cards. Cash and UPI payments are unavailable.
• There are other attractions in Kevadia other than the Statue of Unity. The entry tickets for all these activities are available only at the ticket counter at Swagat Sthal or online.
• River cruises are operational only when there is enough water in the Narmada River. Visit after September to indulge in boating or river cruises on the Narmada River.
• If you want to explore Kevadia, plan to stay for two days. Otherwise, 2-3 hours is ample time to marvel at the Statue of Unity.
• During summers, carry lots of water, apply sunscreen, and wear hats and caps to avoid the blistering heat.

CONCLUSION

That brings us to the end of the Statue of Unity travel guide.

To summarise, the Statue of Unity travel guide, covers the following topics.

• About Statue of Unity
• Timings and tickets
• Exploring the statue
• Bus service for the Statue of Unity
• How to travel to the Statue?
• Where to stay?
• The best time to visit
• Travel tips

I hope the Statue of Unity travel guide was helpful. If you still have questions or queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope the Statue of Unity travel guide, ignites your wanderlust because

A nomad I will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places.

Isabelle ebarhardt