5 Biggest Statues in the World: Spring Temple Buddha & More

On road trips when I was a kid, we always passed signs advertising for “The world’s largest” or “The very first” – and ever since then, I’ve been kind of hooked on seeing them for myself. For today’s post, let’s take a look at five of the five biggest statues in the world, all of which are located in Asia.

1: Statue of Unity: 182 meters

Statue of Unity – Photo by Vivek Trivedi on Unsplash

Construction on this colossal statue in Gujarat, India started in 2013, and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi five years later, in 2018. The statue depicts Vallabhbhai Patel, a statesman who was integral to unifying India. It stands 182 meters, or 597 feet.

2: Spring Temple Buddha: 128 meters

Spring Temple Buddha towers in the background – Photo by 山丁SOOK on Unsplash

Located in China, the Spring Temple Buddha stands at 420 feet tall, or 502 feet including its pedestal. It’s the largest statue in the world, and took 11 years to build. The pedestal houses a monastery, and the statue itself is made up of copper, gold, and steel.

3: Laykyun Sekkya: 116 meters

Image by Anne97432 on Wikimedia Commons

Myanmar’s Laykyun Sekkya stands 116 meters, or 381 feet tall. A depiction of Gautama Buddha, this amazing statue’s construction started in 1996, and was completed in 2008. This statue stands atop a temple, and is surrounded by Bodhi Trees, which are sacred to Buddhism.

4: Vishwas Swaroopam: 112 meters

Photo by WikiAnchor10 on Wikimedia Commons

Also known as the Statue of Belief, the Vishwas Swaroopam is located in Rajasthan, India and is 112 meters tall. It’s the largest depiction of the god Shiva, and was unveiled in 2022. The interior is home to an exhibit hall and an elevator with stops to view from different heights. There are also gardens, shops, and a pond on the grounds.

5: Ushiku Daibutsu: 100 meters

Ushiku Daibutsu – via Pixabay

Fourth on the list of the biggest statues in the world, Ushiku Daibutsu towers at 360 feet (120 meters). Located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, this amazing statue actually held the record as the tallest in the world from 1993 to 2008. Made of bronze and depicting Amitabha Buddha, the Ushiku Daibutsu has an elevator inside, which will take you to an observation floor.

About the Author

As the editor in chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me at sarah@frayedpassport.com!

Featured image by Gary Todd on Wikimedia Commons.