The Big Buddha statues in Thailand are very popular landmarks, and there are hundreds of huge representations of the Lord Buddha dotted all around the country. Every popular resort town has at least 1, which, for the sake of simplicity, is often dubbed as the local ‘Big Buddha’. This is usually one of the town’s star attractions, and it’s easy to see why. Gleaming in the sun, generally wearing an expression of blissful peace or contemplation on a vast face, these sculptures are wonderful cultural highlights.
Our list below shows the biggest Big Buddhas in Thailand, ranked by size. We decided to measure the statues by the size of the figure, not just the height of the statue, which means several ‘reclining Buddha’ statues also make the list. (Read More)
The Buddha Statues, for the most of people are the main subject of curiosity as they have different hand gestures, poses and style of presentation. Although Buddha statues may differ artistically between cultures, some features and meanings remain the same. Common characteristics among Buddha statues include the Buddha standing, sitting or lying down; hands held in various gestures have particular significance to an event in the life of the Buddha.
Wat Muang
Ang Thong Province (92 metres tall)
The towering Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin of Wat Muang is one of the tallest statues in the world. It’s also deservedly known as the ‘Great Buddha of Thailand’.
The big statue is around 140 km north of Bangkok, in Ang Thong Province. The gold-painted statue took 18 years to build and was completed in 2008. Being sat in the Bhumisparsha mudra pose, its knees span a staggering 63 metres. The nearby Hell Park is also worth a visit, with its gruesome (and much smaller) statues depicting the fate of sinners.
Location: 19 Hua Taphan, Wiset Chai Chan, Ang Thong 14110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5am to 7pm
Phone: +66 (0)35 631 556
Wat Bhurapha Piram
Roi Et Province (59.2 metres tall)
Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhon Mahamuni at Wat Bhurapha Piram (also known as Luangpho Yai) is built from gold-covered reinforced concrete. The statue is depicted is in varada mudra pose (right palm facing up with fingers pointing downwards).
There is a viewing platform at the back, which gives you a good view across the city but, reaching only about halfway up the huge figure, your view won’t be as good as his.
Location: 559/1 Padungpanict Rd, Nai Mueang, Roi Et 45000, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)43 511 374
Wat Pho
Bangkok (46 metres long)
Wat Pho’s famous Reclining Buddha – properly known as Phra Buddhasaiyas – would not ordinarily be very high on the list of biggest Buddhas in Thailand. But if you’re measuring the height of the figure rather than of the statue, the gold-leaf-covered brick and plaster representation is indeed huge.
Built in 1832, the sculpture’s giant mother-of-pearl feet are perhaps the most striking feature. At 3 metres high and 4.5 metres long and covered in auspicious symbols, it is one of a very few exceptions to the rule that it is rude to point the soles of your feet at people in Thailand.
Location: Maharat Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8.30am to 6.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 226 0335
Phuket Big Buddha
Phuket (45 metres tall)
Phuket’s Big Buddha (Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri) is around 25 metres across at the base. The entire body is constructed from reinforced concrete covered with beautiful Burmese white jade marble. The sculpture is seated on one of the island’s tallest hills in bhumisparsha mudra pose (seated with the right hand over the right knee, reaching toward the ground with the palm facing inward).
The Phuket Big Buddha has an enviable view across Chalong, towards the east of the island. It’s so big that you can see it from across much of the southern part of Phuket.
Location: Soi Yot Sane 1, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Open: Daily from 6am to 7pm
Phone: +66 (0)81 891 3827
Wat Lokayasutharam
Ayutthaya (37 metres long)
Found in the northwest of the island which represents the historical heart of Ayutthaya, the Phra Noon reclining Buddha is a statue without a temple, with Wat Lokayasutharam itself having been all but flattened.
Constructed from bricks and cement and covered with a very large saffron-coloured robe, it has a rather more rugged appearance than its big brother in Bangkok. There is a miniature scale model in front of it, which is adorned in gold leaf applied by devotees.
Location: Uthong Rd, Pratuchai, Phra Nakhon, Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8am to 4.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)35 246 076
Wat Intharawihan
Phra Nakhon, Bangkok (32 metres tall)
Phra Si Ariyamettrai (also known as Luang Pho To) in Bangkok shows Buddha carrying a begging bowl. Made of brick and stucco and gilded with 24-carat gold, the sculpture is a full 10 metres across the middle. It took around 60 years to construct and was completed in 1927.
The pointy Ushnisha (topknot of the hair) contains a Buddhist relic that was gifted by the government of Sri Lanka. It is easy to get to, being just 1 km north of Khao San Road.
Location: 144 Wisutkasat Road, Bang Khun Phrom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Open: Daily from 6am to 6pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 282 3173
Wat Thipsukhontharam
Kanchanaburi (32 metres tall)
Phra Buddha Metta Pracha Thai Trailokanath Gandhararath Anusorn is Thailand’s tallest bronze standing Buddha statue. It’s quite a feat of engineering, given how soft bronze is.
Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, the statue stands in the abhaya mudra pose, with his right hand raised, palm facing outwards and the fingers upwards. It’s located in a modern and huge 512,000-square-metre temple/educational facility/park in Don Saeb Village, about 60 km northeast of Kanchanaburi.
Location: Don Saeb Village, Moo 13, Krachao, Kanchanaburi 71170, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)34 510 993
Wat Srisoonthorn
Phuket (29 metres long)
Phuket’s reclining Buddha is a golden statue on the roof of Wat Srisoonthorn’s main building. Surrounded by hills and tall trees, it can be hard to spot even though one of the main roads on the island is a very short distance away. It’s worth stopping to see as the representation has a remarkable look, with large ears and a very relaxed expression.
Location: 20/4 Thepkrasatree Rd, Si Sunthon, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 7am to 5.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)98 017 8044
Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj
Hat Yai (19.9 metres tall)
Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj is one of the tallest standing Buddha statues in Southern Thailand. Despite exhibiting quite a trim physique, it is no lightweight at 200 tonnes. It towers over the city of Hat Yai from its hilltop position, with a pedestal giving it an even higher elevation.
The centrepiece of a municipal park, Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj enjoys a spectacular view across the city. There’s a cable car leading up the hill if you prefer a leisurely way of getting to the sculpture.
Location: Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 5pm
Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan
Ayutthaya (19 metres tall)
Said to be Thailand’s oldest big Buddha, Phra Phanan Choeng is among the very few upright big Buddhas in Thailand to be housed indoors. It’s said to have been built in 1324 (though no proper records remain of its construction) from bricks covered with stucco and gold. It was originally out in the open, with Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan built around it.
Wearing a saffron-coloured robe and quite a grim expression, the statue is seated in the bhumisparsha mudra pose (right hand touching the ground). It’s located at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers. With age comes legends – locals claim that the statue shed tears when Burmese invaders captured Ayutthaya in 1767.
Location: 2 Moo 12 Phra Nakhon, Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 7am to 6pm