India aims to build the world's tallest statue
India's leading opposition candidate Narendra Modi has launched the construction of the world's tallest statue to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India's first interior minister.
Statue of Unity
Construction for the Statue of Unity started on October 31, 2013, on a river island in the western Indian state of Gujarat in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India's first interior minister. When completed, in around four years' time, it will be twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Spring Temple Buddha, China
The Spring Temple Buddha is a statue depicting Vairocana Buddha and is located in Lushan county of Henan province, China. The 153-meter tall structure was built in 2002 and is currently the tallest statue in the world.
Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar
Myanmar's Laykyun Setkyar is currently the second-tallest statue in the world at 116 metres. This statue of Gautama Buddha stands on a 13.5-meter throne. After the completion of its construction in 2008, it became one of the country's main tourist attractions.
Guanyin of the South Sea of Sanya, China
The Guanyin of the South Sea of Sanya is a 108-meter statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. It is located in China's Hainan province. The construction of the statue took six years and was completed in 2005. It is the fourth tallest in the world.
Emperors Yan and Huang, China
The statues Yan and Huang, located in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, depict two of the earliest Chinese emperors, Yan Di and Huang Di. Their construction took 20 years and was completed in 2007. They are currently the fifth tallest statues in the world at 106 meters.
Peter the Great Statue, Russia
The Peter the Great Statue is a monument honoring seventeenth century Russian Tsar Peter the Great. The structure, which was erected in 1997, is located in Moscow and is the world's eighth tallest statue.
Waste of public money?
The construction of India's Statue of Unity is financed by the Gujarat government and public donations. It has been widely criticized as being unnecessary in a nation where a third of the 1.2 billion people live in poverty. Gujarat's government, however, denies it is a waste of funds and maintains it will attract tourism.