The Magnificent Great Buddha Dordenma: Framed by Bhutan's Prayer Flags

As I strolled down towards Thimphu, I couldn't believe the stunning sight I had just witnessed - the Great Buddha Dordenma. This massive Shakyamuni Buddha statue sits atop a hill at Kuensel Phodrang, gazing down at the southern entrance of Thimphu. Although the lighting wasn't perfect, I just had to snap a picture of this breathtaking statue. And as I looked closer, I noticed the colorful prayer flags that lined the hiking trail I was walking, framing the Buddha perfectly for my photo. The statue itself is a true masterpiece, made from bronze and coated in gold. It took almost ten years to construct and was erected to honor the 60th anniversary of the fourth king of Bhutan. The Great Buddha Dordenma stands at a towering 52 meters tall and is encircled by 100,000 smaller Buddha statues. Rinchen Peter Teo, a Singaporean businessman, generously funded the project through the Aerosun Corporation of Nanjing, China. And the cost? A jaw-dropping US$100 million, making it one of the most expensive religious monuments in the world – Thimphu, Bhutan.