Kailashnath Mahadev Statue

Kailashnath Mahadev
कैलाशनाथ महादेव
Kailashnath Mahadev Statue
Location in Nepal
Coordinates 27°38′46″N 85°28′29″E / 27.646017°N 85.474774°E / 27.646017; 85.474774Coordinates: 27°38′46″N 85°28′29″E / 27.646017°N 85.474774°E / 27.646017; 85.474774
Location Chitapol VDC, Sanga, Bhaktapur District, Nepal
Builder Kamal Jain, CEO of Hilltake Group of Companies
Type Statue
Material Steel bars, concrete, zinc and copper
Height 143 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 (Nepali: कैलाशनाथ महादेव) is the world's tallest Shiva statue.[1][2] It is situated in Sanga, on the border of the Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchwok districts in Nepal, about 20 km from Kathmandu.

The statue is 143 feet (43.5 m) in height, and was 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 after the Statue of Liberty.

Design and construction

Designed to resemble images of the Hindu god, Lord Shiva, and seen as a marvel of Nepalese engineering, the statue's construction began in 2003 and was completed in 2010. It was constructed mainly by Kamal Jain and "Hilltake", a company Jain established in Nepal in 1992 which deals with products such as water tanks. Nepalese engineers were involved in the construction along with one experienced Indian engineer specializing in the design and construction of large structures.

The statue's foundation is about 100 feet deep, which was necessary to anchor the structure into the ridge. Due to the threat of potential landslides, structures were also built for ground stabilization.

Tourism

About 5,000 visitors come to the statue on a weekday, and a significantly larger number visit on weekends, national holidays, and Hindu festivals.

Due to the number of visitors the statue has contributed to the religious tourism in Nepal, both locally and internationally, raised the economic activity of the local community, and has made an impact in the development of nearby villages.

References

  1. "Nepal President to inaugurate 'world's tallest' Shiva statue". Zee News Website. 2010-06-12. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  2. "World's 'tallest' Shiva statue ready". Ekantipur Website. 2010-06-13. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
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