World’s tallest idol Statue of Unity has entered prestigious World Architecture News Awards 2019 in the mixed use category. On its website, World Architecture News said that the statue is built to withstand extremely high-speed winds and can also endure an Earthquake of 6.8 at the richter scale. Towering over every other structure in its category at 182 meters, the statue is dedicated to India’s first deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It commemorates his contribution in India’s freedom struggle and inspire visitors with the ideas of Sardar Patel viz., patriotism, unity, good governance and inclusive growth.
The website further adds that the Statue of Unity depicts Sardar Patel in a “naturalistic” way. The statue stands on a star-shaped platform over Sadhu Bet islet surrounded by Narmada river. Constructed by Larsen & Toubro Limited, the Statue of Unity has a steel frame which is covered with around 6,500 bronze panels supported by vertical cores.
At the Statue’s chest level, there is a viewing gallery for the visitors which offers a stunning view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the surrounding environment including Vindhya and Satpura hills and Narmada valley. Situated at the height of 135 meter, the viewing gallery can accommodate around 200 visitors at a time. With over 1.5 million visitors in just five months, the statue is a success story of its kind.