The world's tallest statue was unveiled Wednesday in India.

The nearly 600-foot figure is of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an independence-era leader who became India's first home minister.

Called the Statue of Unity, the homage to Patel is located in the western state of Gujarat and cost $408 million.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, promised the statue "is going to become a worldwide tourist attraction."

"See our height, measure this nation's height. This is what we want."

The monolith is 177 feet higher than China's Spring Temple Buddha in Henan province. That statue is now the world's second tallest.

18 PHOTOS 'Statue of Unity' portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in India See Gallery 'Statue of Unity' portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in India Labourers work at the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. Picture taken October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave A view of the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. Picture taken October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Labourers work at the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Labourers work at the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave A view of the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Policemen walk past the under construction "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia in the western state of Gujarat, India, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Workers are seen at the construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia in the western state of Gujarat, India, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave A view of the construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, is seen during a media tour in Kavadia in the western state of Gujarat, India, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave A view of the construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, is seen during a media tour in Kavadia in the western state of Gujarat, India, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Students sit in formation to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, ahead of the unveiling of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Patel on his birth anniversary, inside a school in Ahmedabad, India, October 30, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Indian workers take a break from building the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers from Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 and is slated to be the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, left, and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel pose for photographs in front of the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers from Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 and is slated to be the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Indian workers build the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers from Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 and is slated to be the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) The under construction statue of unity stands facing Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is slated to be the one of the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) The under construction statue of unity stands facing Sardar Sarovar Dam is seen at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is slated to be the one of the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Gujarat state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, right and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel talks near the under construction statue of unity at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is slated to be the one of the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Indian workers build the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya Colony, about 200 kilometers from Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The Statue of Unity, a 182-meters tall tribute to Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated on Oct. 31 and is slated to be the world's tallest statue. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Indians take selfless in front of a 30 feet high statue of freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary in Gandhinagar, India, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

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