Hyderabad will soon be the site of the world’s second tallest statue after the Buddha statue in Thailand.

In a rare tribute to spiritualism and egalitarian social philosophy of Tamil Bhakti, saint Ramanuja’s panchaloha statue is coming up here with an investment of ₹1000 crore.

“The 216-feet statue in a seated posture will be the second tallest in the world after the seated Buddha of Thailand,” SM Balasubrahmanyam, CEO of project Ramanuja Saharsrabdi, told Business Line . The financial closure for ₹250 crore to be spent in the first phase has been almost completed. “The shipment of the giant statue of 700 tonnes has already commenced in parts from China and the construction of the platform is under way,” he said.

China-based Aerosun Corporation has been given the contract of the statue and a team of 60 professionals will commence assembling it at project site in Munchintal village near Shamshabad international airport here. Besides statue, the project also includes 108 Vaishnava divya kshetras in the 34-acre land around the statue. The hunt is on to enlist best known sculptors from across the country.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to make it the best in design and sculpture,” said Prasada Rao, the Chief Sculptor (Sthapathi) who was with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams earlier.

When asked why China was preferred for making the statue, he said: “They are global experts in this field. But the design and all other visual details have been made here. Not that India can’t make it but we did not want to take any chances.”

A Chinese colour fountain with a revolving mini statute of Ramanujacharya, a golden deity of him weighting 120 kgs to symbolise 120 years of his life and achievements are other specialites in the project which will be opened to public by November 2017.

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