The Statue of Unity, Gujrat

The Statue of Unity surpassed the Spring Temple Buddha as the highest statue in the world in 2013. It is the 597-foot-tall statue of India's first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is notable for unifying India's 562 princely kingdoms after the British departed the subcontinent. Vallabhbhai, dressed in traditional Indian costume, stands by the Narmada River in Gujarat.

For Indians, the statue is a source of national pride. The Indian government spent more than a hundred million dollars and a large crew to complete this statue in less than four years. This massive statue's construction and dedication were overseen by around 300 engineers. Over the concrete core, tons of structural and reinforced steel further covers a façade made of bronze plates and bronze cladding.