However it is rather unfortunate that India, historically known to be as the birthplace of Buddhism and one of the great religions of the world, does not figure anywhere in this list.
Continuing our series on the “Buddhist Circuit in India” that appeared on May 18, Pravasi Samwad brings you another riveting article on the ten most famous sites around the world that attract millions of tourists every year.
However it is rather unfortunate that India historically known to be as the birthplace of Buddhism, one of the great religions of the world, does not figure anywhere in this list.
China tops the list with three world heritage Buddhist sites, while Japan follows with two. The other five sites are located in Burma, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand.
There are numerous places where you can see a Buddha statue. They’re most often found inside Buddhist temples. Temples in Buddhism are said to be representations of a pure environment and are designed to help cultivate both inner and outer peace.
Temple architecture varies from region to region due to cultural intermixing and other factors.
Buddhist temple design evokes the five elements of nature: earth, air, fire, water, and wisdom. The following guide will help introduce you to 10 amazing places around the world where you can see a magnificent Buddha statue.
1. Giant Buddha, Leshan, China
The Giant Buddha of Leshan is a statue carved out of the face of a cliff at the confluence of Min and Dadu rivers.
This 71-meter tall statue was built between the period of 713 AD to 803 AD and sits in Leshan city of the Sichuan province with utmost grace.
This Buddha statue is a depiction of Maitreya, who is a Bodhisattva (someone who is able to reach Nirvana but gets delayed as he is trying to alleviate the sufferings of others first).
The Maitreya Buddha is shown as a stout monk wearing a charming broad smile, sitting with his naked chest exposed. This statue is considered to be one of the most scenic spots of the city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
The Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest stone-carved Buddha statue in the world, with its length being 71 meters and width being 24 meters.
2. Lingshan Giant Buddha, Mashan, Chin
The Lingshan Giant Buddha is a yet another majestic Buddha statue which is 88 meters tall located in the southwestern part of in China.
The entire Mount Lingshan is considered to be a Buddhist wonderland that attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over the world throughout the year.
To reach the Great Buddha, you have to first climb about 216 stairs, which stand for 108 troubles and 108 wishes. These stairs are divided among sets of 7 rising platforms which are a representation of different levels of the 7-storey stupa.
3. Guan Yin of Nanshan Temple, Sanya, China
The Guan Yin of the Nanshan Temple in Sanya, China is a 108 meter tall Buddha statue situated on the southern coast of China. The statue has 3 faces, one of which faces inland. The other two faces of Guan Yin look towards the South China Sea.
The Buddha depicted in the statue is a Bodhisattva who holds a peaceful and calm posture, one who alleviates the humankind of its sufferings.
The height of 108 meters is a planned effort and not a mere accident, as the number 108 holds a special place in the Buddhist culture.
4. Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan
The Ushiku Daibutsu is located near the city of Tsukuba in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan.
This bronze Buddha statue held the Guinness World Record for being the tallest Buddha statue in the world from 1993 to 2008. Its total height is 120 meters (38 storeys) and holds a place in the top 5 tallest statues in the world today. This total height is inclusive of a base of 10-meter height and a lotus platform which is also 10 meters high.
5. The Daibutsu of Kamakura, Japan
The Daibutsu of Kamakura is a huge Buddha statue that dates back to the mid 13th century (around 1252) and is considered to be among the most fascinating historical landmarks in the country of Japan.
The name of this temple is Kotuku-in, located in the city of Kamakura which is a part of the Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Great Buddha representation is made up of bronze and depicts the Amida form of Buddha. The statue was originally gold plated and after all these years in the open, it still retains some gold leaf traces around its ears.
This Buddha statue is the second largest in Japan and has a weight of about 121 tons.
6. The Great Buddhas of Monywa, Myanmar
The Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung in the Monywa Township of Myanmar has literally thousands of statues of Buddha.
The monastery is known for its two big Buddha images, the Reclining Buddha and the Giant Standing Buddha. The monastery is on the top of the hill and these images can be seen from far off places too. There is a large ground at the foothills where thousands of statues are seated under Bodhi trees.
The Reclining Buddha statue is 90 meters long and 20 meters high. This big Buddha is dressed in a golden robe, and the image is a representation of the eve of Buddha’s death.
The interior of this statue is hollow, and you can walk inside it. There are about 9000 small statues on display in the interior. The standing Buddha statue is 116 meters high high and you can enter into its interior also
7. Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimpu, Bhutan
This is a Buddha temple in Bhutan in the form of a gilded meditation hall with a giant statue on the top of it.
The Buddha Dordenma statue is a depiction of the Shakyamuni Buddha in a sitting posture and has a height of 54 meters. This big Buddha has a brilliant golden appearance (is made of bronze) and sits on the top of a hill in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan.
This might look like any other Buddha statue, but this monument does hold an interesting secret. There are 125,000 miniature versions of Buddha inside this giant statue which many people don’t know about. The sizes of these miniatures range from 8 inches to 12 inches.
Funnily enough, the population of Thimpu is 100,000 and so there are more Buddhas in the city than there are humans.
8. Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
The Gal Vihara is a Buddhist temple situated at Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. It is a World Heritage Site and is considered to be a perfect specimen- Buddha statue carved out of stone in the 12th century under the reign of Raja Parakrabahu.
The temple is in the form of a cave complex that has a length of 27 meters and a height of 10 meters. The shrine is dedicated to the Theravada sect of Buddhism and the temple is said to be influenced by Mahayana Buddhism mainly.
9. Laughing Buddha, Vinh Trang Pagoda, Vietnam
The Vinh Trang Pagoda which is located in the Mekong Delta Region of Veitnam is a place which ought not to be missed. This temple has more than 2 acres of beautiful gardens that even have fruit orchards.
The rather popular Laughing Buddha of the pagoda sits on a pedestal and smiles at the pilgrims and visitors. This Buddha statue is completely white in colour and looks like it is made of perfectly gilded marble. The pagoda has also been considered a national and historic relic by the Vietnamese government.
10. Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand
The Buddha statue of Wat Pho temple in Bangkok is known around the world as the reclining Buddha of Thailand.
This Buddha statue is the largest in Thailand and is of magnificent golden colour.
The temple also houses a Bodhi tree which is supposed to have been grown from a part of the original Bodhi tree of Bodh Gaya where the Buddha received enlightenment.
The reclining form of Buddha is symbolic of his last days on earth when he was ill before he died.
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