Statue of Unity gets 2.62-km eco-trail; PM to open it October 31

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a 2.62-km forest walking trail, named the Trail of United India, at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district on Saturday, October 31, 2026, which is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day). The eco-trail has been developed in Limdi village, near the Statue of Unity, by the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority, and is laid out in five themed zones meant to promote nature-based tourism around the monument.

Ekta Nagar, earlier known as Kevadia, has been built up over the past several years into a tourism hub around the Statue of Unity, the 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the Narmada river that opened in 2018. Most visitors come for the statue and its viewing gallery and leave the same day. The authority that manages the area has been adding attractions so that tourists stay longer, and the new trail is part of that effort. A forest walk with exhibits, a watchtower and rest points gives families, school groups and nature lovers a reason to spend extra hours in the area.

The trail also fits a wider shift in Indian tourism towards experiential and nature-based travel, where visitors look for walks, wildlife and learning rather than only sightseeing from a vehicle. Officials have said the trail is meant to raise awareness about the environment and biodiversity. Its five zones mix nature with social themes, such as youth and women's empowerment, which is in keeping with the unity theme of the day on which it opens.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is marked every year on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, who led the integration of the princely states into India after independence. Ekta Nagar is the centre of the national observance each year, and new projects in the area are often opened on that day. For travellers, this means the area is busiest around the anniversary, and new facilities usually become available from then on.

Details such as ticket prices, opening hours and whether advance booking will be needed had not been announced as of October 30. Visitors planning a trip should check the Statue of Unity authority's official channels before travelling, since such rules are usually announced after the inauguration.

Short-term: Visitors to Ekta Nagar around Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and in the winter season will have a new outdoor attraction near the Statue of Unity. The inauguration day itself is likely to see heavy security and crowd controls in the area, so tourists may find access restricted on October 31.

Long-term: If the trail draws visitors, it could help lengthen the average stay at Ekta Nagar, which would support local guides, homestays, eateries and transport operators in Narmada district. It may also become a model for other low-impact walking trails at major monuments.

Who is affected: Tourists and school groups visiting the Statue of Unity, residents of Limdi and nearby villages, local tourism businesses, and the authority that manages the Ekta Nagar area.

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