Might of India's Unity

India, a country of over 1.3B people from all castes, religions, race etc. but what holds all the people together is the emotion of unity and patriotism. We Indians, have been united in the worst conditions to the best, right from the Partition to the Covid - 19 pandemic, whenever it was the question of the nation's safety, Indians have always seen its best interest.

India was divided into pieces like a broken glass after the partition, there were hundreds of princely states and 1 foreign colony that had to be integrated together to Union of India after 1947. This tideous task was successfully carried out by the mastermind, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sardar Patel integrated important princely states like Hyderabad and Junagadh to the Union. Had Sardar Patel not been there, today we would've required a visa while travelling in almost all states of the country.

To honor the legacy of this great man, with the initiative of Hon. PM a statue of Sardar was made on the River Narmada which is the biggest statue of the world - that is 'The Statue of Unity'. In this post I will be writing about my experience at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.

A little background about the statue - The Statue of Unity is a 182ft high statue of Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel on the Sadhu Bet in the river Narmada, bounded by the Vidhyanchal and Satpuras on its either side. It is in the Narmada District, 70kms away from Vadodara in Gujarat.

I had visited the statue on 9th November 2021. The statue is easily accessible by road from Ahemdabad and Vadodara, however Vadodara is more convenient. Rail services direct to Kevadia are also available from major cities of Gujarat.

The travel time from Vadodara to Kevadia is around 1.5 to 2hrs, depending on the traffic. As soon as cross Vadodara and its metropolitan are, there are lush green farm fields on either sides of the road, almost throughout. As you proceed and cross Dabhoi, after a few kilometers you will cross River Narmada on a bridge called the Shrirang Setu and enter the Narmada District. After a more 50 mins drive after crossing Rajpipla you will finally reach Kevadia.

Around 5km before the statue, you start seeing it and it gets bigger and bigger as you go near it.

We left Baroda around 9:00 A.M. and Statue of Unity at around 11:15 A.M. after taking a 15-20 min halt en-route. 

After alighting we got our tickets checked and entered the premises, I felt a next level of energy. The statue was in front of me and a wait of visiting it was finally over. Then without delaying for moment we took the elevator and climbed 82 floors to the viewing deck, and my god, the view you see is just mesmerizing. The gigantic Narmada bounded by lush green mountains of Vidhyanchal and Satpura on its either sides with the Aravallis peeking from the front side from far away. The majestic Sardar Sarovar Dam is also visible at a distance.

The viewing deck is situated in the heart of the statue, the purpose behind making it so was that all 1.3B Indians live in the heart of Sardar. As you come back down, there are various interactive screens and exhibits depicting and telling the life of Sardar Patel and also some exhibits telling information about Kevadia and making of the statue. There are various places in the Kevadia, where you can visit like the Arogya Van and the Zoo.

The Arogya Van is one such remarkable place in the campus that I loved. It is made in the shape of a man, who is called the Aushadh Manav and there are the plants planted in specific body parts of this man. These said plants planted in specific body parts are beneficial for that body parts as per ayurveda. For eg. Manjishta is planted in the head region. You enter from the left leg of the aushadh manav, explore it and exit from his left leg.

All in all the experience at Kevadia was memorable and unforgettable, I was filled with patriotism, a new energy and positivity that will remain with me for the rest of life. And now if anyone asks me about the might of India's unity I will say that it is 182m high and is in the heart of all 1.3B Indians.

Jai Hind!!!