Thailand's Tallest Buddha Image
Buddha Mountain, near Pattaya in Thailand, World's Largest Buddha
Mar 4, 2008 Laurence O'Sullivan
Thailand is a land of many Buddha images, with statues and paintings everywhere. Although it does not have a Buddha statue to compare to the 71-meter-high statue, just outside the city of Leshan in southwest China's Sichuan Province, it does have the world’s tallest Buddha image carved into the side of a mountain just outside of Pattaya in south east Thailand.
In stark contrast to the nearby hedonistic Pattaya resort, just a few kilometers away is the beautiful “Phra Phuttha Maha Vachira Utta Mopas Sasada” or “Khao Chee Chan”, now commonly referred to as Buddha Mountain. In this tranquil setting, it is possible to forget the hectic tourist based life of the surrounding area. The park, the image and the mountain showcase the undying Thai devotion to Buddha and their king.
History of Buddha Mountain
The mountain received its cliff like face from heavy mining during the Vietnam War to build the nearby U-Tapao Airfield, then an American base. After the war, mining continued on an illegal basis, until 1976, when His Majesty King Bhumibol put a stop to it. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the king’s accession to the throne the Department of Geological Resources and the Asian Institute of Technology carved a “sitting Buddha” onto the cliff face. The carving is 130 meters high and 70 meters wide. The actual carving took only two days to do, but filling in the grooves with gold leaf took many more months. The surrounding area was turned into a park. The total cost of the project, according to the Dept of Geological Resources was in excess of 3 million U.S. dollars.
The park is beautiful and serene with many walkways and rest areas. Right in front of the cliff is a prayer area, surrounded by water gardens with lotus flowers. The cliff towers over the park area and the Buddha glitters in the sunshine. There is a pathway to a little temple on the top of the cliff, but at over 150 meters high not many people take the opportunity to survey the surrounding area. Food, drink and elephant trekking is available across the road from the park.
Surrounding Pattaya Travel Attractions
Buddha Mountain is right next to the temple compound of Wat Yansangwararam. This compound is under the patronage of King Bhumibol and contains many types of buildings, Buddha statues, temples and verdant gardens and is very well worth a visit. Nearby also is the Viharna Sein, a Chinese type temple or dwelling built to honor the large Chinese ethnic influence on Thailand and its people.
Just two kilometers from Buddha Mountain, on the main Pattaya to Sattahip road, is Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. This is a huge (600 acres) complex devoted not only to tropical gardens, but has butterfly gardens and bird and animal areas as well. There are animal shows and elephant rides to entertain all the family.
Getting to Buddha Mountain
Head south from Pattaya along the Sukhumvit Road in the direction of Sattahip. About three miles after passing the huge Ambassador Hotel (on the right) there is a left turn signed “Khao Chee Chan”. This road leads to the Chines Viharna Sein and Buddha mountain. The mountain can also be reached by turning left off the Sukhumvit Road at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens.
Buddha Mountain
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Chinese House
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