When traveling, I have often found that places and objects of spiritual reverence are some of the most impressive. From cathedrals to temples, I love them all – but I have a special place in my heart for the giant buddhas. If you’ve never gazed up at an outsized buddha, you don’t know what you’re missing. Here are six larger-than-life buddhas for you to check out:
1. Leshan Giant Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha is the one that started my love affair with giant buddhas. It was my first, and it remains my favorite. Carved into the cliff face near Leshan in China’s Sichuan province, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mount Emei Scenic Area. At 71 meters (233 feet) tall, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone buddha in the world.
2. Tian Tan Buddha
The Tian Tan Buddha, located near the Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong, is an enormous bronze buddha enthroned on a lotus and surrounded by six smaller statues presenting offerings. When I visited in 2007, I was told that the Tian Tan Buddha was the largest seated buddha in the world.
3. The Great Buddha of Kamakura
The Great Buddha of Kamakura is another huge bronze buddha, this one located at the KÅtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan. Standing just over 13 meters (nearly 44 feet) tall, this giant buddha weighs 121 tons and is believed to date back to 1252.
4. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
If bronze buddhas aren’t your thing and you’re in the mood for something shinier, allow me to present the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand. This giant buddha stretches an impressive 46 meters (151 feet) and is gilded in gold. It lounges indoors at Wat Pho, a temple complex which houses the largest collection of buddha images in Thailand.
5. Monywa Buddhas
The Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung monastery in Myanmar is home to the Laykyun Setkyar Buddha, the second largest standing buddha statue in the world. The Reclining Buddha that joins it is 101 meters (333 feet) long.
6. The Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
The Grand Buddha at Ling Shan is the the tallest standing buddha in the world. Completed in 1998, the buddha stands an impressive 88 meters (289 feet) tall and weighs more than 700 tons. It is located in the Longshan Mountains, in the Jiangsu Province of China.
Image credits: (1) The Great Buddha of Kamakura by Yoshikazu TAKADA; (2) Monywa Buddhas by McKay Savage; (3) The Grand Buddha at Ling Shan by tenzinmullin; (4) all others author’s own