Statue of Unity is one of the most popular destinations in recent times and a lot of information is available about it online, so I will not get into how it was built or who Sardar Patel was. Here I will provide you tips for planning the trip.

For details on the itinerary click here

Bookings:

SOU has an excellent site for all the information and bookings. They also have an application which can be downloaded to get acquainted with the place. There is something for everyone and all age groups. You can pick the places of your interest.

You can check all the details here

Tickets info for statue of unity

Tips:

  1. First select all the places that interest you and spread them comfortably to decide on the number of days you want to take to cover them.
  2. No need to book all the tickets in advance, in case you are not travelling in peak season or public holidays and long weekends. You can book the viewing gallery in advance as it has limited availability.
  3. Express pass will help you cut queues at Statue of Unity entrance and viewing gallery, but comes with an extra cost.
  4. While booking, check which all attractions are covered under the same ticket. As some attractions are clubbed, example: Cactus garden and butterfly garden.
  5. All the booking are done online. There are counters on the spot, for some attractions, but the availability is subjective.
  6. Sometimes some attractions will be closed, like Ekta cruise was closed during our visit in September due to raised water levels in Narmada.
  7. Avoid booking Jungle Safari and Statue of Unity visit on the same day as both require lot of walking.
  8. Be prepared to walk as the venues are spread out and requires a lot of walking. Remember to wear comfortable shoes.
Step counters

Travel:

Tips

  • Check the travel options available from your destination. Sites like Rome2Rio provide multiple options as per cost and time. You can choose what best suits you.
  • We found travelling by car convenient, specially for the transfer from the hotel to the bus terminal. But the road conditions near Vapi were very bad. Also beware while using Google maps, as it takes you through the internal roads which are not in good conditions currently.
  • Some hotels provide drops to the parking/bus facility. Check with the hotel before booking.

Hotel bookings:

Tips

  • Note that SOU is a political meeting hub and many times all the resorts, hotels get booked together and fast during such events. Make sure to book at least 1 month in advance for the prime properties.
  • Preferably book only from the list of “Stay and Accommodations” mentioned on the SOU Tickets site. These have the most convenient transportations.
  • Don’t book too far from the Statue of unity as it becomes inconvenient to travel late specially after laser show or dinner cruise.

Parking and Bus service.

  • Shreshtha Bharat bhavan is the main parking in the campus. Vehicles are not allowed inside the campus. Parking charges here are 50 Rs.
  • One can park here and avail the free buses plying between Shreshtha Bharat bhavan and SOU bus terminal.
  • SOU bus terminal then has multiple buses in circular route and hop-on hop-off bases to various destinations. While returning one can avail the buses from the attraction to bus terminal at SOU and then the free bus back to Shreshtha Bharat bhavan.
  • Circular bus route : This bus takes you around all the popular attractions on the campus, dam views, canal, lakes. You cannot board down the bus, but use this to get acquainted with all that SOU has to offer. The current ticket price was Rs 50 per head.
  • Hop-on Hop-off : This bus gives you flexibility to get down at the place of your choice, wander and then board the next bus to your next destination. The current ticket price was Rs 250 per head.
  • For those who want to opt for something more private and convenient can make use of the pink electric rickshaws, driven only by women, which ply between the destinations.
  • Check the ticket details, mostly the bus service is included in the ticket price.
  • While visiting Cactus garden and butterfly garden you can take your own vehicle.
  • While visiting Zarwani eco tourism center, you can take your own car after taking a permit of Rs 500 at the checkpost.
Bus service at status of unity

Food:

There are some food options and Starbucks inside the SOU campus, near statue. These can be availed while visiting the statue and laser show, as the entry is restricted by ticket.

There is Amul foodland at Shreshtha Bharat bhavan and Saffron restaurant by Ramada is also just behind Shreshtha Bharat bhavan.

There are Amul stores at multiple venues.

Food court is also available in Jungle Safari Campus.

There is option for Tribal food at Ekta nursery/Arogya van.

For some reason, during our visit the Ekta Food court was closed. There is also a McDonald joint next to The Fern hotel, opposite railway station.

Best season:

Best season to visit would be winters or post rains when the Narmada dam has ample water and the surroundings are nice and green. The day temperatures are very hot even during our visit in September. Make sure to carry caps and sun protection. Keep yourself hydrated.

For details on the itinerary click here