Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue: India is now home to the world's tallest statue

It's twice the size of the Statue of Liberty

In a tranquil valley in India's western state of Gujarat, overlooking the Narmada River and rolling green hills, a new statue has been unveiled.

The statue of Indian Independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, nicknamed the 'Statue of Unity', pays homage to the man who helped unite India - and the statue stands at an incredible 182 metres tall.

For perspective, this isn't quite as tall as the Eiffel Tower (300 metres) but is twice the size of the Statue of Liberty (92 metres including her pedestal) without the pedestal the new Indian statue is four to five times the size of Lady Liberty.

India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, unveiled the statue today, calling it a 'beacon of hope' as Indian air force planes showered flower petals over the statue. But Modi has faced criticism over its £300million price tag and local tribe leaders are said to be upset over the destruction of the land.

PERSPECTIVE: Workers on the statue's feet
AFP/Getty Images

Despite this, Modi hopes it will help India through critical times and will be a 'source of inspiration' for the coming years. Sardar ​Vallabhbhai Patel was known as the 'Iron Man of India' for his work integrating over 500 Indian states after British colonialists left in 1947.

Designed by 93-year-old Ram V. Sutar, the monument will house a museum with over 40,000 documents, 2,000 photographs and a research centre dedicated to Patel's legacy.

Before this new monument was opened, the tallest statue in the world was the Spring Temple Buddha in Lushan, China, which reached a height of 128 metres. The Statue of Unity will only hold the title of World's Tallest Statue for a few years as India is planning to open the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in 2021 in the Arabian Sea which will reach a height of 212 metres.

Policemen stand guard near the 'Statue Of Unity'
AFP/Getty Images

To get to the statue from the UK, you can fly to Gujarat on a non-stop flight from London Heathrow to Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport, with flights costing an average of £590 for a return.

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