The magic that comes with international travel is that you can immerse yourself in a brand new culture. From delicious foods to foreign languages, ancient architecture and history: everyday is a school day when you visit a new country.
Across Asia, there are giant buddha statues sitting atop mountains, hills and even along a river. These structures are unbelievably big in real life. While we aren’t travelling internationally anytime soon, we have rounded up some of the most impressive big buddhas from across Asia.
Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri in Phuket, Thailand
Seated atop the Nakkerd Hill near Chalong, is a massive Maravija Buddha statue. The statue’s official name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri, shortened to Ming Mongkol Buddha and is 45m tall.
Image credit: Instagram/ @bookoftraveler
Tian Tan Buddha, Lantau, Hong Kong
Seated on a hilltop in Ngong Ping on Lantau Island in Hong Kong is a gigantic bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Sitting at 34m, this statue is symbolic of harmony between man, nature, people and faith. It is situated near the Po Lin Monastery.
Image credit: Instagram/ @salty_sandals
Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan province, China
At 71m tall, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the biggest buddha statue on Earth. The stone structure depicts Maitreya and was built between 713 and 803 during the Tang dynasty. The statue was carved from a cliff face of Cretaceous red bed sandstones and is situated at the point where the Min River and Dadu River meet.
Image credit: Instagram/ @jonohia
The Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Phra Chetuphon or the Reclining Buddha is situated in the Wat Pho Buddhist temple complex on Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok. The statue is 15m tall and 46m long, giving the illusion that it has been squeezed into the temple where it is housed. The official name of this statue is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan
Image credit: Instagram/ @brucealvino
Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu, Bhutan
Buddha Dordenma sits on a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park in Bhutan. The statue is 54m high, made of bronze and coated in gold. This structure is steeped in history and was originally build to fulfill an ancient prophecy. The prophecy stated that once a statue was built, peace and happiness would encompass the world, according to Wanderlust Magazine.
Image credit: Instagram/ @arthurchen
Gal Gal Viharaya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Gal Gal Viharaya was carved into the face of a granite boulder and sits at just over 14m tall. This statue is considered one of the most beautiful Buddha statues in the world.
Image credit: Instagram/ @tharakaukwatte
Some other incredible statues include:
Laughing Buddha, Vietnam
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Bongeunsa temple, Seoul, South Korea
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Fo Guang Shan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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The Daibutsu of Kamakura, Japan
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Image credit: Instagram/ @jonohia
