Buddha Dordenma

Buddha Dordenma is a vast statue of Shakyamuni Buddha seated on a ridge at Kuensel Phodrang, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu. Cast in bronze and gilded, it is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world, and was completed in the mid-2010s.

The throne beneath the statue holds a meditation hall filled with thousands of smaller gilded Buddha figures. The open terrace around it gives a wide view over the city, the river and the forested hills, and the surrounding nature park has walking trails.

Visit in the morning for clear views, or in the late afternoon, when the statue glows in the sun. Shoes come off inside the hall, and photography is not allowed there. It is a short drive from central Thimphu and pairs well with the Memorial Chorten and the weekend market.