Bhutan’s King, prime minister visit Statue of Unity

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan visited the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam at Ekta Nagar in Narmada district.
The 182-metre tall statue, a memorial built on a small island in the Narmada river near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, honours the country’s first deputy prime minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India.
A state government release stated that Bhutan’s King and PM, along with their delegation, were surprised after seeing such a huge structure. Dressed in traditional Bhutanese attire, the foreign dignitaries were received at the Statue of Unity premises by state protocol minister Jagdish Vishwakarma and senior officials.
At the SoU premises, a guide provided them with details of India’s Independence struggle and the contribution of India’s first home minister Sardar Patel in the struggle and in the unification of the country thereafter. “From the ground floor, the dignitaries reached the viewing gallery, situated at a height of 153 metres inside the statue. From the gallery, the dignitaries had a view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam amid the rain. The guides explained to them the process and background behind the construction of the Statue of Unity,” the release said. In the visitor’s book, King Wangchuk wrote: “Our best wishes to India,” the release added. The delegation also visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam and was informed about how it plays a key role in solving Gujarat’s water scarcity problem, the release said.