India has begun constructing a monument to independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that will dwarf all other statues around the world, including the current record holder, the gigantic Spring Temple Buddha in China, when it is completed later this year. The Statue of Unity is so tall that after completion, it will be roughly twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. America's monument stands about 305 feet (93 m) if you measure it from the bottom of its base to the tip of its torch. The Statue of Unity, currently being built in India's westernmost state of Gujarat, will touch the skies at 597 feet (182 m) -- but actually closer to 790 feet (240 m) including its base. The statue of Patel, India's first prime deputy minister, is expected to cost the nation approximately $500 million (USD).
Tall, taller, tallest:
- The Statue of Liberty wears a crown with seven points, each measuring nine feet (2.7 m) in length. They represent the world's seven continents.
- Completed in 2008, the Spring Temple Buddha in Lushan County, Henan, China, depicts the Vairocana Buddha and stands 420 feet (128 m) high.
- The Statue of Unity may not hold the world record for long, if plans for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial go ahead. The statue honoring the founder of the Maratha Empire would stand in the Arabian Sea facing the city of Mumbai, reaching a height of 690 feet (210 m), or 886 feet (270 m) when including its base.