14 Biggest Buddhas in Thailand

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Based on its cheery smile, Pattaya's Big Buddha seemingly enjoys its prime position on Pratumnak Hill – the highest point in the city. It's known as the biggest Buddha on Thailand’s eastern seaboard.

Built in the 1940s, the sculpture has a great view down the long flight of stairs (around 170 small steps) lined with impressive 7-headed naga (serpent) images, which you will have to climb up to get to the statue. Suffice it to say, it is not one of Pattaya’s most wheelchair-friendly attractions.

Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain) is relatively less-visited, due to its many more famous neighbours. The temple, which lies about 10 km from Chiang Mai's city centre, is believed to have been built in 687 AD.

The Buddha statue in the bhumisparsha mudra pose (right fingertips touching the ground) has been very well looked after over the years. The white and gold sculpture is easily the biggest Buddha in Chiang Mai, demonstrating the traditional Lanna style the area is known for.

Phra Si Sakkaya Thotsaphonlayan Prathan Phutthamonthon Suthat is one of the world’s tallest 'walking Buddhas'. Built in 1981 as the centrepiece of a park, it's also the tallest freestanding Buddha statue in the world. Unlike other standing Buddhas in Thailand, it's not supported by extra structures. The statue is around 30 km west of downtown Bangkok.

Samui’s Big Buddha is one of the most popular attractions on the island. Seated on a pedestal at the heart of Wat Phra Yai (Temple of the Big Buddha), you can find a Dharma wheel and a replica of the Royal Barge Suphannahong behind the gilded figure. 

The sculpture was built in 1972, depicting Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra (seated with his right hand downwards to touch the ground). It's such a significant attraction that surrounding coastline is called Big Buddha Beach.