Big Buddhas

On top of Phnom Kulen sits Preah Ang Thom, a 16th century Buddhist monastery famous for its giant reclining Buddha, one of Cambodia’s largest. The Buddha is carved into the top of the huge sandstone boulder upon which the temple is built. The view from up there is equally magnificent.

When you come to Leshan and see the Giant Buddha, you do not doubt the fact that it is the tallest Buddha in the world. At 71 m tall he sits, carved out of the rock face where the Dadu river meets the Min river. The construction started 713 AD and it took more than 90 years to finish him. So if you come to Chengdu, swing by for a visit, for it is one of those sights that fully live up to their reputation. Just do not come on a holiday, where half of Chengdu seems to be out here.

Being 46 meters long and 15 meters tall not only make the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho an impressive sight, but also the biggest Buddha in Thailand. Though only gold plated, and not solid gold, it is still pretty shinny with mother-of-pearl in the eyes and on the soles on his gigantic feet. The Wat Pho itself is the largest wat in Bangkok and is dating back to late 18-century, though the Buddha was first added in the first part of the 19-century. The Wat Pho complex also contains over a thousand other Buddha images, an active monastery and a massage school for those that are a bit templed-out.