Statue of unity
The tallest statue in the world – in India
According to topschoolsintheusa, the Statue of Liberty in India is the tallest colossal monument on earth. It was inaugurated on October 31, 2018 and honors the work of the statesman Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel. Patel was a close companion of Mahatma Ghandi, resistance fighter against British colonial rule and politician of the early Indian government. Revered by the population, he was nicknamed “Sadar”.
The statue took five years to plan and build. The farmers all over the country donated 135 tons of iron and thus covered part of the cost of 30 billion rupees (379 million euros). Almost 3,000 workers and 250 engineers were involved in this monumental building, which – as planned – was opened to the public on Patel’s 143rd birthday.
New travel destination in Gujarat
The monument is located in District Narmada of the state of Gujarat. The statue stands around 100 kilometers from the city of Vadodora on a peninsula in the Narmada River. The next settlement is Rajpipla.
A wide bridge leads to the statue. At a height of 153 m inside the bronzed monument there is a viewing platform with viewing niches. Visiting the platform is chargeable.
The monumental statue is intended to stimulate tourism in the westernmost state of Gujarat. Participants on study trips or round trips, who come mainly because of the fantastic nature and wildlife of the district, can find out more about the struggle against colonial rule and the life of Sardar at the statue and also have very nice views of the surrounding mountains and rivers. In addition to the statue, a research station and a three-star hotel were also newly built.
Valley of the Flowers
In the far north of India lies the diverse Valley of the Flowers, which is also known as the Nubra Valley. This very extensive high mountain valley impresses with beautiful landscapes and a calm atmosphere. Thanks to the Nubra River, which flows through the Valley of the Flowers, the region is very fertile and a lush green dominates the terrain, which is characterized by many sea buckthorn plants. The valley can only be reached via the impressive Kardung Pass, which is the highest pass in the world due to its height of 5602 meters. From the pass you have a fantastic view of the Karakoram Mountains and get a very interesting impression of the uniqueness of the area.
Valley of the Flowers – a place beyond the hustle and bustle and mass tourism
Important places in the Valley of the Flowers include the village of Diskit and the former capital of the valley, Hundar. Hundar in particular is very idyllic and offers a picturesque townscape as well as the Chamba Gompa ruins, which are well worth seeing.
Not far from the city you will find sand dunes that are rather untypical for the valley, which invite you to take a trip with one of the camels offered as mounts to explore the unique landscape in a very special way. Of the many monasteries in the region, the Diskit-Gompa monastery in particular is a popular and spectacular excursion destination due to its altitude and gives visitors to the region an insight into the cultural identity of the area.
An impressive nature that inspires
Thanks to their nature, the beautiful landscapes of the Valley of the Flowers are an ideal area for extensive trekking tours through a region full of joie de vivre and charm. Another health-promoting experience that you can have during a stay in the Nubra Valley is a bath in the hot springs of Panamik in the north of the Valley of the Flowers. Many travelers find the encounters with the inhabitants of the valley, who are happy to see tourists, very inspiring.
Ranthambhore National Park
The Ranthambhore National Park is the 40th largest national park in North India with an area of 392 km². The park was established by the government of India in 1955 and declared a tiger reserve in 1973. In 1980, Ranthambhore was finally declared a national park. The Ranthambhore Conservation Area is known for its Bengal tigers and is a popular place in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can even be seen during the day, however the best months for tiger sightings are November and May. But other wild animals such as the Indian leopard, wild boar, striped hyenas and crocodiles also live in this huge area. The vast area is also home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds, and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.
Image: Ranthambore National Park
Those who want to experience the tigers in their natural habitat can take part in one of the safari rides, which are held twice a day at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Each of these trips takes about three hours and the safari vehicles drive to one of the zones into which the nature park area is divided. Visitors often book several tours at the same time, as tiger spotting is rare on the first trip. According to the 2014 tiger census, there were 62 tigers in Ranthambhore National Park at that time. Due to the recent surge in tiger numbers, the park plans to relocate some to other parks such as Sariska and other national parks in India.
