An evening at the feet of Sardar - Statue of Unity

Following is my answer to the question -
Did-the-Statue-of-Unity-in-India-fail?

On Quora.com, I had planned to write a separate blog post, but it's not complete yet. Until then, this will serve as a part of the memoir of my amazing trip.

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I visited the place on a Friday in February 2019, traveling from Baroda around 5 PM. There were two types of tickets available. The first type allowed you to visit the facility and go up to the statue's feet, while the second type granted access to the observation deck. With the latter ticket, one could take the elevator and reach the statue's chest where the viewing gallery is located. The gallery ticket cost Rs. 350, as opposed to the regular Rs. 120.

Guess what? They were sold out on weekdays. I was informed that only a limited number of tickets are sold for the viewing gallery, approximately 7,000 per day or so. Go figure! The Statue of Unity (SoU) is a massive success. Don't be swayed by the words of naysayers. They find problems for every solution.

I once watched a video where the king of naysayers explained that it took Rs. 3,000 crore to build SoU. If SoU could only generate a profit of 80 crores in a year, it would take 40 years to break even. He suggested that if the Government of India had "fixed deposited" the amount, it would have earned over Rs. 200 crore as interest. What a logic! By that logic, the GoI should abandon all projects and stash the money in fixed deposits in some undisclosed bank.

The Statue of Unity is not just a mere statue. It is supported by an infrastructure that must have created tens and thousands of jobs and new opportunities within a radius of at least 100 kilometers around the statue. From bus drivers to ticket vendors, hoteliers to engineers and project managers, it has benefited various sectors. The administration and maintenance of SoU are carried out splendidly. It is a project designed to last for centuries, surpassing its initial investment multiple times over that period.

I forgot to mention the incredible experience of being there, although it doesn't matter much to the naysayers. It was absolutely fabulous. Even though I couldn't visit the observation deck at chest height, the statue's pedestal provided a breathtaking view of the valley. The statue itself is one of the largest structures I have ever seen. The history gallery imparts valuable knowledge about the founding fathers of India, and the evening light show is simply captivating. I spent over 3 hours around the facility, and there wasn't a single dull moment.

I was eager to visit the Statue of Unity, and in the process, I also explored many other beautiful places such as Sabarmati Ashram, the Vintage Car Museum in Ahmedabad, Swaminarayan Temple, Adalaj Ki Vav near Gandhinagar, and the Laxmi Vilas Palace of the Gaikwads in Baroda. This statue is undoubtedly benefiting tourism in the entire region.

The Statue of Unity stands as a resounding success.

Statue of Unity