The 51 meter statue of Buddha Shakyamuni sits atop a hill overlooking the Thimphu valley. Buddha Dordenma statue is one of the most prominent landmarks of Thimphu city. The statue was built to fulfill an ancient prophecy to emanate an aura of happiness and peace around the world. The gigantic structure houses 125,000 gilded Buddha statues, an extensive alter and a meditation hall. Adjacent to the statue is the Kuenselphodrang nature park. The park established to conserve the natural environment around the monumental complex. There is a bicycling trail and hiking trail through the woods for adventure seekers.
( The Buddha Dordenma, a massive statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, located atop a hill in the Kuenselphodrang Nature Park overlooks the southern entrance to the city of Thimphu. It was built in keeping with a prophecy, according to which a statue built in the region would be instrumental in bringing about universal peace and harmony. It was inaugurated to commemorate the 60th Birth Anniversary of the Fourth King of Bhutan. The statue measures at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. The massive three-storied base houses a large chapel, while the body is filled with 1, 25,000 smaller statues of the Buddha.)
