How the world’s tallest statue appears once completed

Kingdom in the clouds preserves Buddhism

The Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan is one of the world's most isolated nations. Yet its ancient Buddhist culture and mountain scenery make it one of most attractive countries in Asia.

In 2008 Bhutan will have perhaps the largest and the tallest statue of Buddha ever to be built in the world. The 169-feet bronze statue of Buddha, seated on lotus, will be erected at Kuensel Phodrang in Changbangdu, overlooking the capital Thimpu valley.

The groundwork has already been completed and the work on the statue begun in August last year. Approved by His Majesty the King and the government, the project is being initiated to commemorate the hundred years of monarchy in 2007.

Within the gigantic bronze structure including the lotus there will be enough space to house 17 storeys of different lhakhangs. (Lhakhangs are Bhutanese temples or the home of the gods and are found in every valley, village and also on almost every mountain in the country.)

The structure includes three storeys within the lotus, two each inside the lotus, waist, chest, face and shoulder and one each in the legs, neck and head. In the first two storeys inside the lotus, which are both 15 feet high there will be 25,000 images of 12-inch Buddha statues. Made of copper and gilded in gold they will be displayed around the walls of the meditation hall inside the lotus. The site where the statue is located. Arrows show how land is prepared and the construction of road leading to statue site

The first storey, which surrounds the centre, will house eight 10-feet standing bodhisattvas. The second storey surrounding the centre pillar will have eight more 10-feet sitting Buddhas.

The third storey inside the lotus seat will house six-feet high 16 arahats, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Sutra Holder and the four direction kings. In the centre chamber will be seated the main Buddha Shakyamuni.

The site where the statue is located. Arrows show how land is prepared and the construction of road leading to statue site

The rooms from the third storey up to the top will accommodate 100,000 statues of eight-inch Buddha statues made of copper and gilded in gold placed in multi-layered grid-boxes.

The project will also have public galleries, restaurants, dharamsalas, monk's quarters and camping grounds. The statue is expected to be a major pilgrimage centre and a focal point for Buddhists all over the world to converge, practice, meditate and retreat.

It is also meant to fulfil the prophecy of bestowing blessings, universal peace and happiness to the world as a whole. According to the Bhutanese age-old literature there was a prophecy by Lam Sonam Zangpo, a renowned yogi, who said that construction of a statue of Buddha in this region would bring stability, peace and prosperity in the country.