Behind the wheel & Contributor

Vinod Kumar...know more about me

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Delhi to Statue of Unity in 64 hrs

Route Delhi to SOU... 21 hrs drive...Del..Palanpur..Ahmd..Baroda..Kewadia
Kewadia to Delhi... 20hrs.. SOU..Godhra..Udaipur..Delhi

No of days 3

Distance - 1072 kms (one way)

Stay - Ramada Encore

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/E2Mkfrznq4wYSwG1A

The Ghumite SOU team


The drive
Start at 4:30pm, drive the entire night to reach Ramada Encore at 12:30pm. The drive was uneventful, roads were good, except for a few patches. Once we check in take rest. A part of the statue is visible from the hotel, the hotel is much above our expectations, Narmada river facing, walking distance from the bus pick up point. Overall its a good option for stay. Food was also worth mentioning...

About our booking of Statue of Unity tickets

To see - Viewing Gallery, Valley of Flowers, Museum & Audio Visual Gallery, Sardar Sarovar Dam

Tickets - Express entry (queueless ) Rs 1000/- per person, Normal entry ticket Rs 350/- . booked online....timing 5-6

Open - 9 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday sou is closed rest all is open.

Ticket rates


Entry timings


Ramada Encore


View from the room


The bus starts just a short walk away, since it was a Sunday rush was there, its better to book tickets online, otherwise the ticket queue could scare you. Just 10 mins bus ride to the complex, well manicured gardens, and walkspace as well as good points to click pictures. Its a good walk to the museum from the entry point, tickets as well as your bags are checked.

The bus ride


Museum entry


The dam view


The statue view


Statue of unity entry is through a museum, one can learn more about the life of the Iron Man of India at the museum and audio-visual gallery. The viewing gallery is at the chest of the statue which is reached by a lift.

Map of the museum


Make a pledge


Message


In the museum






Evening projection laser light and sound show from 7-8pm. There is a food court and souvenier shop also here. Avoid on a public holiday as the rush is too much, though the number of tickets sold on a daily basis is limited to 1500 for the viewing gallery. The waiting period for the lifts to the viewing gallery took us more than an hour.

The lifts


The Viewing gallery


The wait of an hour to reach this viewing galley was a dissapointment. The height was not much appreciable for the view. There were no good photographic or viewing points to have a look around. Another wait of 30 mins to come down, here those who have a Rs 1000/- ticket have the liberty to bypass the queue.

The view of the dam from the top


Zoom in for a view


we then take the elevator to the feet of the statue. The view from here was also quite awesome. Took a pic here....


The light and sound show was to begin at 7, after seeing that we return back to hotel


The next morning after breakfast we start to see the Shulpaneshwar temple, The Narmada dam viewpoint. Though its Monday except for the statue of Unity rest all are open. We take our vehicles inside, at the checkpoint the cars are throughly checked. Some pictures

The dragon park being built


SOU entry


Narmada dam Viewpoint


Boating


Way to Shulpaneshwar temple


Shulpaneshwar temple


Ekta nursery is also nearby, its being developed in a beautiful way.Some pics






And that brings an end to the trip. Our drive back took 20 hours which we did non stop to touch down Delhi around 7 early morning....