Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimphu, Bhutan

The gigantic statue of Lord Buddha begins to unveil itself as you progressively climb the hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park. It's a scene that takes your breath away at first glance. The statue of Lord Buddha, seated against the backdrop of a mountain, casts a benevolent gaze on the surroundings. From afar, all you can see is one massive statue. However, there is a surprise in store for you, and you won't know what it is until you get closer.

The Buddha Dordenma Statue is one of the most stunning views in Bhutan. It stands over 169 feet tall and has 1,25,000 small Buddhas in its bronze chest. These are 8 to 12 inches tall. When you think about it, Thimphu, Bhutan's capital city, has a population of roughly 100,000 people, which is less than the number of Buddhas on this edifice!

These hundreds of miniature Buddhas, like the giant Buddha, are plated and made of bronze, which is why the statue cost about $100 million to build when it was built in 2015 to commemorate the 60th birthday of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan's fourth king.

Everyone is taken aback by the massive statue of Lord Buddha. It is 51.5 meters tall, making it one of the tallest Buddha sculptures in the world. The throne he is sitting on is a big meditation chamber.

This statue, like so many other religious constructions in Bhutan, is linked to two prophecies. The first was made by Yogi Sonam Sangpo, who stated that "a statue would be created in this region to impart blessings, peace, and happiness on the entire world." The second prophecy was given by Guru Padmasambhava in the eighth century (Guru Padmasambhava is usually regarded as the second Buddha by Tibetan Buddhists).

Location: Kuenselphodrang, Thimphu, Bhutan