spiritual · Thimphu, Bhutan
Buddha Dordenma and the Kuensel Phodrang walk
The Buddha Dordenma sits at Kuensel Phodrang, on a ridge about 15 minutes' drive above the city centre. It is a bronze statue gilded in gold, more than 50 m tall, and one of the largest seated Buddha figures in the world. Construction began in 2006 and finished on 25 September 2015. Inside the throne base is a shrine hall lined with 125,000 smaller gilded Buddhas, 100,000 of them about eight inches tall and 25,000 about twelve inches. The work was funded by foreign donors and built by a company from Nanjing.
The statue faces down the valley over the southern approach to Thimphu, so the view from its forecourt takes in the whole city and the Wang Chhu. Inside the hall, remove your shoes and hats and do not take photographs. Monks and Bhutanese families come to make offerings, especially on auspicious days in the lunar calendar, and you will often hear chanting. The forecourt is broad and paved; seniors can manage it easily because cars drive right up to it.
Leave time for Kuensel Phodrang nature park, a protected forest of about 940 acres around the statue that opened as a park in 2011. Trails lead through blue pine to viewpoints and prayer flags, and a gentle 45-minute loop is enough. Go in the late afternoon when the gold catches the sun and the wind drops. Entry is about Nu 300 for tourists, indicative 2026; the park trails are free.
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How tall is the Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu
The statue is more than 50 m tall; Wikipedia gives 54 m, other sources about 51.5 m depending on whether the throne is counted. It is bronze gilded in gold and was completed in September 2015. Inside are 125,000 smaller gilded Buddha statues. It is one of the largest seated Buddha figures in the world.
What is the entry fee for Buddha Dordenma
Tourists pay about Nu 300 per person, indicative 2026, and the rupee is accepted at par. Children usually pay half. Your guide often handles tickets. Fees for monuments in Bhutan are revised from time to time, so check current status before you travel. Walking the surrounding Kuensel Phodrang park trails is free.
Can I take photos inside the Buddha Dordenma
No. Photography is not allowed inside the shrine hall under the statue, as in almost all temples in Bhutan. You can photograph the statue and the forecourt freely from outside. Remove shoes and hats before going in, keep your voice low and walk clockwise around the shrine.
