The in-depth study of Buddhism has motivated the world of art to contribute and fabricate some of the world’s most striking statues known as Buddharupa that enhance Buddhist temples avidly. Some of these Buddha statues are among the largest on the planet. So large that you can actually feel that the deity is present in front of your eyes in physical form. Whichever Buddha statue you visit, today, they are all stunning tourist spots that effectively require an entire day to explore.
Here’s a list of some of the world’s most prestigious and awe-inspiring Buddha statues, that you can visit while on a tour to the countries they rest in. In no particular order, here you go–
- Hussain Sagar Statue, Hyderabad, India
Standing majestically in the middle of the famous artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad is one of India’s most well known Buddha statues. This figure stands at 56 feet and weighs 320 tons. The single biggest solid statue in all of India, it was etched by an army of artisans from a solitary bit of stone. Appallingly, during the construction of the statue in 1992, the giant figure tipped over and fell into the lake, killing eight laborers. The legislature recuperated the statue and reestablished it to its full tallness and stature, the way it stands today. So if you are looking at the various Bangalore to Hyderabad flights, then make sure that whatever purpose you are visiting the city for, you take a good look at this giant masterpiece.
- Tokyo Wan Kannon of Futtsu, Chiba, Japan
Futtsu is a town in Japan’s southwestern Chiba Prefecture, and is home the Tokyo Wan Kannon, a 184 feet tall Buddha statue. Kannon in Japanese is the term used for a bodhisattva, connected with sympathy as worshipped by the East Asian Buddhists, as a female structure. The one in Futtsu came into being in 1961 and is actually appalling!
- Monywa Buddha, Myanmar
Towards the east of the city of Myanmar is the Po Khaung Taung, a range of hill slopes where you can easily spot the world’s largest leaning Buddha, the Monywa Buddha. This huge figure measures 300 feet long. The Monywa Buddha was built in 1991 and is hollow from inside, permitting guests to stroll along from the entire stretch of Buddha’s body. Inside the statue are 9,000, one-foot-high metal pictures of the Buddha and his pupils, delineating different representations of critical occasions in Buddha’s life.
- Leshan Giant Buddha, China
The Leshan Giant Buddha was cut out of the face of the cliff overlooking the conjunction of the rivers Dadu, Minjiang and Qingyi in China’s Sichuan area. The statue portrays a sitting Maitreya Buddha, with his hands laying on his knees. The statue is so tall that a man can very comfortably perch even on his littlest toenail. It took 90 years to complete this statue, a demonstration of antiquated building strategies and expertise back in the olden times.
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok
The Wat Phra Kaew Buddhist Temple in Bangkok, is also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses one of the oldest and largest Buddha statues in the world. A jade statue decorated in gold attire, the Emerald Buddha was, made in India in 43 BC in the city of Pataliputra, where it stayed for a long time. In the fourth century AD it was taken away to Sri Lanka by Buddhist ministers to protect it from the destruction of war. Finally, the statue advanced towards Thailand and was moved to the Wat Phra Kaew Temple in 1779.
Looking at these giant and ethereal status of Buddha can make anyone go speechless. Not only is the engineering and designing of these statues commendable, but the aura that they have around them can literally cast a spell on you. Calm and peace, all the way!
