Vivekananda Rock Memorial - Factfile

Trivia

Work on Vivekananda Rock Memorial started on 6 November 1964 and took about six years for completion. The consecration and inauguration of the Memorial was held on 2 September 1970.
Around 30 lakh (3 million) people donated 1 rupee each, minimum, towards the national endeavour.
Total cost of construction at that time was 1 crore and 35 lakh rupees (Rs. 13,500,000).
The Vivekananda statue was prepared by N. L. Sonavadekar, Assistant Lecturer of Sculpture, Sir J. J. School of Arts, Bombay.
The statue was modelled on a portrait of Swami Vivekananda made by S. M. Pandit.
The portrait was given to eight sculptors in the country who had to prepare a full scale model of the statue in clay. Of these, the one by N. L. Sonavadekar was selected for the Rock Memorial, while one by S. S. Arte was installed in Vivekanandapuram.
The Chief Engineer and Architect: S. K. Achari of Devakottai (Tamil Nadu).
The bulk of the stone used in the Memorial is blue granite, procured from a quarry near Ambasamudram (115 km from Kanyakumari). Red granite used for the Shikharams of the Vivekananda Mandapam was procured from a quarry near Tuticorin (150 km from Kanyakumari).
Two helipads are provided on the Rock: one on the north-west (95’ x 45’) and the other on the south-west (114’ x 53’).
Power supply to the Rock is via a 1600 feet long submarine cable in the seabed.
Total length of the curved breakwater wall on the shore side: 580’. Width: 18’.
Maximum depth of the sea between the Rock and the shore: 20’
Distance between Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam: 60’
The Shripada Mandapam, Vivekananda Mandapam, and the statue have been so designed that the vision of Swamiji in the statue is seen directed towards the Shripadam.
Total cft of stones (granite) used: 73155 cft
Total weight of granite used (excluding flooring): 6000 tons
Maximum weight of a pillar (single piece): 13 tons
Maximum length and size of a beam: 17½’ x 2¾’ x 2½’
Maximum weight of a beam: 9 tons
Maximum number of workmen on the project: 900 (average 650)
Total working days: 2081
Total person-days: 783767

Donations by Central and State Governments towards Rock Memorial construction

Government	Amount (in Rs.)
Andhra Pradesh	1,00,000
Arunachal Pradesh	1,25,000
Assam	1,00,000
Bihar	1,00,000
Delhi	1,00,000
Gujarat	1,00,000
Goa, Daman & Diu	1,00,000
Haryana	1,00,000
Himachal Pradesh	1,00,000
Jammu & Kashmir	21,000
Kerala	1,25,000
Karnataka	1,25,000
Madhya Pradesh	1,00,000
Maharashtra	1,00,000
Nagaland	25,000
Orissa	1,00,000
Pondicherry	5,000
Punjab	1,00,000
Rajasthan	1,05,000
Sikkim	25,000
Tamil Nadu	Donation in kind^*
Uttar Pradesh	1,50,000
West Bengal	1,00,000
Central Government	15,00,000
Total	35,06,000

* The Tamil Nadu government put up a break water wall in the sea on the shore side to facilitate construction of jetty platofrms as well as providing a shelter for vessels at the Rock.

Donations by Public Committees towards Rock Memorial construction

State	Amount (in Rs.)
Andhra Pradesh	2,09,637.15
Assam and N.E.F.A.	62,920.40
Bihar	3,11,484.50
Chandigarh	11,152.15
Goa, Daman & Diu	92,380.72
Gujarat	2,89,993.81
Haryana	3,03,042.31
Himachal Pradesh	36,015.01
Jammu & Kashmir	49,995.60
Karnataka	6,37,926.35
Kerala & Lakshadweep	1,45,707.56
Madhya Pradesh	12,72,524.89
Maharashtra	21,48,133.21
Manipur	10,715.33
Meghalaya	8,832.10
New Delhi	3,49,197.20
Nagaland	19,368.80
Orissa	30,043.74
Pondicherry	3,717.20
Punjab	3,24,349.00
Rajasthan	5,63,624.01
Tamil Nadu	4,67,299.81
Tripura	24,203.00
Uttar Pradesh	15,26,209.72
West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar	6,39,757.11
Individuals from abroad	13,606.95
Anonymous	4,214.34
Total	95,56,051.97