Walk above a canopy of rainforest greenery on a 220-metre glass deck skywalk — that is the centrepiece of the newly inaugurated Rain Forest at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2026, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit, calling it 'a truly refreshing and memorable experience.'

A rainforest spanning three ecosystems, built at Ekta Nagar

Spread across 47,000 square metres and developed at a cost of ₹9.49 crore, the Rain Forest brings together the evergreen flora of three distinct Indian ecological zones — the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — under a single roof. An on-site information centre uses maps, displays, and QR codes to introduce visitors to rainforest ecology and biodiversity. The attraction is designed as much to educate as to enchant.

Ekta Nagar, located in Narmada district, was redeveloped around the Statue of Unity — the world's tallest statue, dedicated in October 2018 as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Rain Forest is the latest addition to an expanding cluster of tourism infrastructure at the site, reinforcing the state's strategy of layering ecological and adventure experiences onto the existing Patel legacy draw.

The 220-metre skywalk above the canopy

The star attraction is the glass deck skywalk, which allows visitors to walk at canopy level above lush greenery. It is the kind of experience more commonly associated with destinations like Meghalaya or Costa Rica — now transplanted to the heartland of Gujarat. CM Patel described the ensemble as 'a perfect blend of nature, adventure and sustainable tourism.'

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and the bigger tourism push

The timing is deliberate. Every 31 October, Ekta Nagar hosts national commemorations marking Sardar Patel's birth anniversary, drawing large crowds and national attention. Inaugurating the Rain Forest on this day ties ecological tourism directly to the national unity narrative that the site was built around. Gujarat has consistently expanded facilities here — valley of flowers, jungle safari, children's nutrition park, riverside tenting — each addition designed to extend visitor dwell time and spend.

With three of India's most biodiverse ecosystems now represented in one walkable space, the Rain Forest is positioned to broaden Ekta Nagar's appeal beyond pilgrimage tourism and into a year-round family and school-excursion destination. The real test will come in the visitor numbers and revenue data from this Rashtriya Ekta Diwas season onward.