Overlooking the southern entrance of the Thimpu valley, atop a gilded meditation hall, sits an impressive Buddha in a meditative state. Built in 2015 to honor the birth anniversary of Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, it is one of the largest Buddha Statues in the world, and is visible from most parts of the city.
Widely known as the guardian of Thimpu, the statue is made of bronze and is gilded gold. There is more to this sculpture than meets the eye, as it includes over 120,000 smaller Buddha statues enclosed within. This 177 foot long representation of peace and serenity with a panoramic view of the Himalayas sees hundreds of people admiring its beauty each day.
