Monument · Thimphu, Bhutan
Buddha Dordenma
A gigantic gilded Shakyamuni Buddha statue overlooking Thimphu, one of the largest in the world. Built 2015.
Photo: Jyotishkardey via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Thimphu, Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Type | Monument |
| Built | 2015 |
| Height | Height: 54 m |
| Coordinates | 27.4435° N, 89.6454° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Buddha Dordenma is known for
A gigantic gilded Shakyamuni Buddha statue overlooking Thimphu, one of the largest in the world.
About Buddha Dordenma
Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. The Great Buddha Dordenma is sited amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuk, the thirteenth Druk Desi, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
History
Construction began in 2006 and was planned to finish in October 2010, however construction did not conclude until 25 September 2015. The statue was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The completed work is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, at 54 m tall, and contains 100,000 eight-inch-tall and 25,000 twelve-inch-tall gilded bronze Buddhas.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Buddha Dordenma website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Thimphu |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Paro Airport (PBH) |
| Distance from the airport | 14.0 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark's coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Paro International Airport (PBH) · Paro, Bhutan · 13.8 miles away
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB) · Siliguri, India · 96.6 miles away
- Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base (RKZ) · Xigazê (Samzhubzê), China · 133.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Bhutan
More monuments
Frequently asked questions
What is Buddha Dordenma?
A gigantic gilded Shakyamuni Buddha statue overlooking Thimphu, one of the largest in the world.
Where is Buddha Dordenma located?
Buddha Dordenma is in Thimphu, Bhutan. Its coordinates are 27.4435° N, 89.6454° E.
How do I get to Buddha Dordenma?
The nearest town is Thimphu, and the nearest airport is Paro Airport (PBH), about 14.0 miles away (straight line).
When was Buddha Dordenma built?
Buddha Dordenma was built 2015.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Dordenma_statue — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4097986 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.buddhadordenma.org/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.