Located about two hours from Vadodara airport, Kevadia was almost a nondescript town in Gujarat until a few years ago. With the Statue of Unity, however, it is now a sought-after destination that has elevated the town into an important tourist place in the state.
The drive from the airport is scenic, and the cotton fields are interspersed with several water bodies and birds that ensure there is never a dull moment. Entering Kevadia, the Narmada is seen in all its glory. I drive past a canal where the water currents are strong, courtesy of the recent monsoon, as I head to my destination, Statue of Unity Tent City-1 by Evoke Experiences. Surrounded by water, the retreat is ensconced in nature, and the comfortable cottages are perfect even as you are serenaded with birdsong.
Being the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first deputy prime minister of the country known by the moniker ‘Iron Man of India’, I first head to the monument built in his honour. There are different kinds of tickets – regular and express (which is more expensive but saves time) – that you need to book in advance.
After security screening, I hop onto a buggy and reach the base of the statue, where I meet my guide. The site of the statue was earlier Sadhu Hill that has been meticulously built in a record period of 46 months and has a three-storey base. The world-class space is spread over five zones, three of which are accessible to the public and include a memorial garden, museum, exhibition area, and viewing gallery.
Take a lift and head to the 45th level to reach the height of 153 metres, where there is a stunning viewing gallery that is the place which is the heart of the statue. This is where you can see a spectacular view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges. “This was Sardarji’s dream, and that is why we have the gallery here, as this dam is what he wanted,” my guide Mehul explains.
Exiting the viewing platform, I head to the foot of the statue, and the scale of this structural steel structure is mind-boggling. The height of the statue from this place is something that is unimaginable. An escalator that takes you one level higher offers stunning views of the dams and the hills, with the statue framing the stunning landscape. “Eventually the metal will react with the atmosphere and turn green like the Statue of Liberty,” says Mehul. But that does seem at least 100 years away, he adds.
For scale, you feel like a tiny speck in front of the statue, and naturally this is also a popular photo-op space. Head back to the museum below, and you can understand the vision of the visionary, seen in several photographs, and how he was an integral part of the freedom movement as well as his role in unifying the country post-independence. With interactive models, the museum itself is a world-class facility that gives guests many insights into the progressive mind of Vallabhbhai Patel. Every evening, there is a laser show that has light and sound illuminating the statue that takes viewers on a 30-minute-long journey into his eventful life.
As I head back to Statue of Unity Tent City-1, I tuck into a traditional Gujarati meal of Khichdi, Kadhi, Thepla, and Kathiyawadi Dal by Executive Chef Vijay Kumar, who explains that the flavours of the cuisine have an interesting balance of textures. Later that evening, I speak to Chetan Verma, operation head, who tells me that Kevadia has transformed once the statue has been installed. “This place was hardly known by anyone. After the dam was enlarged and the statue was built and other attractions came up, we have seen an influx of tourists. This is also a wedding destination now. The local community now have been trained in different skills, and hospitality is also playing a role in ensuring that they and their families have a better life.” And it strikes me that perhaps this is exactly what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel also wanted for Indians.
