Kailashnath Mahadev Statue
| (कैलाशनाथ महादेव) | |
 Kailashnath Mahadev Statue | |
| Coordinates | 27°38′46″N 85°28′29″E / 27.646017°N 85.474774°ECoordinates: 27°38′46″N 85°28′29″E / 27.646017°N 85.474774°E |
|---|---|
| Location | Chitapol VDC, Sanga, Bhaktapur District, Nepal |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Steel bars, concrete, zinc and copper |
| Height | 144 feet (44 m) |
| Beginning date | 2003 |
| Completion date | 2010 |
| Opening date | 21 June 2011 during Teej Festival |
| Dedicated to | Lord Shiva (भगवान शिवजी) |
Kailashnath Mahadev Statue (कैलाशनाथ महादेव) is the world's tallest Shiva statue.[1][2] It is situated in Sanga, the border of Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchwok districts in Nepal which is about 20 km from Kathmandu.
The statue is 144 feet (44 m) high and made using copper, zinc, concrete and steel. According to the List of statues by height, Kailashnath Mahadev is the world's fortieth-tallest statue, four places below the Statue of Liberty.
History
The construction of the statue began in 2004 and was completed in 2011. Kamal Jain and his company was the key contributor for the construction of this structure. Kamal Jain is an entrepreneur who established "Hilltake" in 1992, a company dealing with several products such as Water Tanks, in Nepal. This statue is also promoted as an official marvel of the Hilltake Group as well as Nepalese engineering.
Tourism
About 5,000 visitors come to see this statues on a weekday and significantly larger number of visitors visit on weekends, national holidays and Hindu festivals. It is listed as a must visit place in many magazines, and is recognized by the tourism board of Nepal.
Due to a rise in the number of visitors, this statue has contributed for religious tourism in Nepal, both local and international. This has raised the economic activity of the local community and has brought significant impact in the development of nearby villages.
Design and construction
This statue's design and structure have been adapted to resemble a Hindu god, Lord Shiva.
The construction of this statue started in 2004 and was completed in 2011. The foundation is about 100 feet deep which was necessary to make stable structure in the ridge. Due to potential threat of landslide, structures were also built for ground stabilization. A number of Nepalese engineers were involved in the construction along with one experienced Indian engineer who specializes in construction/designing of large structure such as this.
References
- ↑ "Nepal President to inaugurate 'world's tallest' Shiva statue". Zee News Website. 2010-06-12. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
- ↑ "World’s ‘tallest’ Shiva statute ready". Ekantipur Website. 2010-06-13. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
