V3Cars Goes Road Tripping – Mumbai To Statue Of Unity

Inaugurated on October 31, 2018, the Statue Of Unity was built as a mark of respect and to honor the contributions of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Also known as the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was not only India’s first Home Minister but also played a key role in bringing together 562 princely states to form the seventh-largest country in the world! The best bit is that you too can drive down to pay your respects to this legendary Indian!

How To Get To The Statue Of Unity?

The Statue of Unity is located near Kevadia in the state of Gujarat and stands tall over the river Narmada basin overlooking the Sardar Sarovar Dam. According to Google Maps, it was around 430km from our start location in Mumbai city and it took us around 10 hours to get there. If you plan to do a Mumbai to Delhi road trip, then we recommend that you include the Statue Of Unity in your itinerary.

We recommended an early start from Mumbai since it took us around 10 hours to reach Kevadia. In the early morning hours, traffic is usually sparse, allowing you to cover ground more easily and achieve better fuel efficiency. There are plenty of restaurants and fuel stations to choose from on NH 48. However, once you get off the National Highway there are very limited options. Hence, plan your food breaks and fuel stop overs accordingly.

There are plenty of accommodation options around the Statue Of Unity to suit every traveler’s budget! The accommodation options get costlier as you get closer to the Statue Of Unity and the options dwindle down as well.

How Are The Roads From Mumbai To Statue Of Unity?

Starting from Mumbai, you join the NH 48 from Thane which leads you to Palsana, post which you need to turn right toward Bardoli. After reaching Jakat Naka, you will need to turn right to reach the Statue of Unity. The National Highway 48 from Thane to Palsan is a wide three-lane highway that is well-paved for the most part. Another good bit is that there are plenty of food options and fuel stations along the way.

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The only bothersome bit is the RTO check post at the Maharashtra-Gujarat border where trucks need to pass through the toll booth located on the service lane. Ideally, there should be signboards informing truckers about the same. However, there are none and that ends up creating a bottleneck and a traffic snarl that takes more than a couple of minutes to clear. Other than this bit, there’s nothing much that will bother you.

Once you exit NH 48 and turn right towards Bardoli, the roads narrow down to a two-lane highway. You need to drive cautiously on this stretch since it passes through multiple small villages where road etiquettes and awareness aren’t among the best. Additionally, the road surface isn’t always flawless and some nasty potholes could catch you off guard.  

Post Jakat Naka till the Statue of Unity, the roads are well-paved and well-marked. One can’t drive right up to the Statue Of Unity as vehicle entry is prohibited. All cars have to be parked at the designated parking lots and post purchasing tickets, government buses will take you to the entry gate. 

What’s There To Do At The Statue Of Unity? 

We had assumed that apart from the statue of Sardar Vallbhai Patel that towers over everything else, there would be nothing else to see! But, there are plenty of things around to see and do!

River Rafting 

This highly thrilling activity is possible owing to the Sarsar Sarovar Dam which regularly releases 600 cusec flow of water. The official Statue Of Unity website says that there are 6 rapids through the Narmada channel. This is Gujarat state's first river rafting spot which was opened to the public in 2019 and is located in Ekta Nagar. 

Boat Rides 

Visitors can enjoy the sight of the pristine waters of the Narmada river from close quarters by taking boat rides. A ride lasts for around 45 minutes and takes you to the gorgeous Panchmuli Lake which is surrounded by lush green forests. 

Valley of Flowers

This is spread over 24 acres of land and claims to host over 22 lakh varieties of plants. Additionally, one can see over 300 varieties of flowers which makes it a sight see. Seeing such a large area of green cover is a special feeling.     

Cactus Garden 

As the name suggests, this is a botanical garden that houses 6 lakh plants of 450 species! Don't forget to see them from a distance because they are all Cactus! This garden is spread across an area of 25 acres and aims to showcase the typical desert ecosystem but in a place that has no dearth of water. 

Dino Trail  

The Narmada Valley was home to the Rajasaurus Narmadensis, an endemic species of dinosaur during the Cretaceous period. A replica of the dinosaur has been created and is on display for visitors. 

Jungle Safari 

There's a zoo that is home to multiple indigenous animals and birds from across the globe. Spread over 375 acres, it is home to big cats such as Asiatic Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger and Leopard.

Butterfly Garden 

Spread over a 10 acre area, it is home to over 70 butterfly species. There are plenty of flowers in this garden to ensure that the butterflies get to feed on fresh juice. Additionally, one can learn about the entire life cycle of butterflies. 

Sardar Sarovar Dam 

This is India's second-largest dam and it supplies water and electricity to four different states. It is 1.2kms in length, with a height of 163 metres, and 30 radial gates with each one weighing about 450 tonnes! 

Laser Light Show

Except Monday, a laser show happens everyday with laser beams being projected on the Statue Of Unity. During the show, one gets to know the life of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and his contribution to the making of our great nation.

What Makes The Statue of Unity Special? 

Standing tall at 182-metres, the Statue Of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. Needless to say, building this statue was super expensive and around Rs 3,000 crores was spent by the government. Designed by Ram V Sutar, a Padma Bhushan recipient, the Statue Of Unity is earthquake resistant and can withstand wind speeds of up to 100 kmph/sec. The Statue Of Unity is currently bronze in color which will change to green in around a 100 years due to the natural ageing process. 

There's a special viewing gallery located inside the statue at a height of 153 metres from its base which offers a splendid bird's eye view of the area. You will need a separate ticket to get access to the viewing gallery. Considering these numbers and the fact that it looks majestic on ground, the Statue Of Unity is expected to become a new major tourist attraction in India. 

The Statue Of Unity is spread over a vast area and there are plenty of moving walkways or travelators and escalators to allow easy access for everyone. Do wear a comfortable pair of shoes as there is a good amount of walking that needs to be done. There’s a food mall located at the base of the statue which has stalls of major food brands to cater to your taste buds. 

Ticket Prices

The basic Statue Of Unity entry ticket costs Rs 150 for adults and Rs 90 for children. The ticket for accessing the Viewing Gallery will cost Rs 380 for adults and Rs 230 for children. 

Here’s a picture of the ticket rates for the different activities.

What Is The Ideal Time To Visit The Statue Of Unity?

Given the location of the statue and its towering height, visiting it is best avoided during the scorching summer months. The ideal time to visit will be from October to February when the temperatures are relatively lower. The Statue Of Unity opens at 8am and we recommend getting in early to avoid getting sunburnt. This is a popular tourist spot and is usually crowded with visitors. It closes at 6pm and the laser show starts at 7.30pm. The Statue Of Unity remains closed for visitors on Mondays. 

Clearly, apart from getting awed by the majestic Statue Of Unity, there are plenty of activities that one can explore around it. In order to experience everything that the location has to offer at a relaxed pace, we recommend spending at least 2 nights here. So, if you are a Mumbaiker looking for a different long weekend gateway, then do drive here & explore this. 

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