Statue of Unity garners more tourists than Statue of Liberty in US

Kevadia (Gujarat): Gujarat's Kevadia, where Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity has been drawing more tourists than the Statue of Liberty in the United States, has emerged as a family holiday destination of international standard with a children nutrition park, Arogya Van, and camping and river rafting facilities.

PM of India, Narendra Modi, has called it a 'must-visit' spot, the town is nestled amid Satpura and Vindhayachal ranges along the banks of the Narmada river, has a number of small and big tourist spots.

Gujarat's Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Gupta was associated with the project since its beginning. He said that it was PM Modi's vision to develop the place as a model tourist destination for the entire family.

"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the town has been developed as a tourist destination for the entire family while preserving its ecology and local heritage," Gupta said.

He said that the Statue of Unity is the main attraction of the town which attracts more tourists than the Statue of Liberty in the United States.

Before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic around 13,000 tourists used to visit the statue daily, while around 10,000 tourists visited the Statue of Liberty last month.

Development in the town generated direct employment for 3,000 tribal boys and girls, and indirect employment to 10,000 more, provided, it opened up new avenues of micro-entrepreneurship for women.

Gujarat's Tourism Secretary Mamta Verma said that there is a variety of everything in Kevadia for every member of the family.

"If there is Arogya Van for elders, there is a child nutrition park for kids, then there are options for camping and river rafting for youngsters," she said.

For people who love nature, Verma said there is Sardar Patel Zoological Park and Geodesic Aviary Dome, which is home to more than 1,000 birds and animals and five lakh variety of plants.

Under the guidance of PM Modi, the place had developed with least commercialisation to keep its natural beauty intact.

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