Opened in 2018, the Statue of Unity is 182 meters tall and was a tribute to Sardar Patel, considered the hero of India’s independence (Photo: Prasad Dhage/Wikimedia Commons)
built in honor of Sardar PatelActive worker in freedom struggle in India, Statue of Unity It is considered to be the largest in the world with an impressive height of 182 meters.
The monument was built on the banks of the Narmada River in the westernmost state of Gujarat and cost approximately 29.9 billion Indian rupees – roughly equivalent to 2 billion riyas.
Nearly five times the size of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and almost twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York, the giant Sardar Patel is made of 210 square meters of cement, 25,000 tons of steel and another 1.7. Thousand Tons of Bronze.
signed by the sculptor Ram V. Sutari, the work was designed by contractor Larsen & Toubro, who was also responsible for the engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the work. The project was completed in two years and nine months and opened in October 2018.
Very close to the Statue of Unity, there are botanical gardens, which contribute to the increase in tourism to this place. Also on the banks of river Narmada, Valle das Flores gathers more than 20 thousand plants and has a colorful cover with about 300 types of flowers.
The Statue of Unity has sparked controversy among rural residents, who have been demanding better agricultural conditions in the water-scarce region (Photo: Government of India / Wikimedia Commons)
In another garden at the foot of the statue cactus and succulents are visible in heaps and variations, intended to provide an immersive experience in the environment. Tourists can also buy specimens of the species as souvenirs grown in a nursery near the monumental building.
dispute
However, the construction and inauguration of the statue was not without controversy. A cause of friction between the government and farmers in the region, the work has caused discontent among many residents of the state of Gujarat, who complain about the state’s spending on work amid the many hardships faced by local workers.
Some people were hired to build the statue, but many families suffer from hunger and malnutrition as they seek water for agricultural activities. More than half of the total cost of the work was financed by the state government, while the remainder came from the federal government and donations.
largest in brazil
In Brazil, the famous Christ the Redeemer and its height of 38 meters have already surpassed some other constructions. one of them. is the image of St. Rita de Cassia, is located in the municipality of Santa Cruz in the Rio Grande do Norte. Its impressive 56m height has attracted city loyalists (and idol lovers) since 2010, when it was opened.
The Statue of Santa Rita de Cassia is located in the city of Santa Cruz (RN) and stands 56 meters high (Photo: Greysac / Wikimedia Commons)
