Great Buddha Statue
The Great Buddha Statue is a tall sandstone and granite sculpture in Bodhgaya standing about 25 meters high and showing Buddha in seated meditation pose. The sculpture is surrounded by statues of Buddha's ten main disciples, while inside the figure a spiral staircase leads past over 16,000 tiny bronze Buddha images lining the walls.
The statue was started in 1982 and completed in 1989 when it was consecrated and opened by the 14th Dalai Lama. It was the first large Buddha monument built in India, requiring thousands of workers to construct this ambitious project over seven years.
The statue depicts Buddha in meditation pose seated on a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and enlightenment in Buddhist tradition. Visitors gather here to meditate, offer flowers, and reflect in a space of quiet reverence and spiritual connection.
The site is easily accessible by local transport such as auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws and is located near the Mahabodhi Temple. Visitors should dress modestly, keep voices low, and be mindful of the site's sacred nature when exploring the grounds.
Inside the statue, a spiral staircase leads through hollow chambers lined with over 16,000 tiny bronze Buddha images covering the walls. This creates a surprising experience where visitors see not only the outer scale but also encounter the abundance of Buddhist symbolism on an intimate level.
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