Buddha Dordenma

The Buddha Dordenma sits on a ridge at the southern entrance to the Thimphu valley, a bronze figure of Shakyamuni over fifty metres high, gilded and seated on a large meditation hall that forms the throne. Inside the throne are chambers containing more than a hundred thousand smaller Buddha figures, also gilded bronze, arranged in ranks. The statue was completed in 2015 after more than a decade of work, funded largely by donation, and it fulfils a prophecy attributed to Guru Rinpoche and to the terton Pema Lingpa about a Buddha of this kind appearing to bring blessings. The ridge below is being landscaped as a park. The view over Thimphu and the valley from the terrace is wide, and the site is busiest in the evening.

What you actually see

• The gilded figure - a bronze Buddha over fifty metres high.
• The interior hall - ranks of smaller gilded figures inside the throne.
• The valley view - Thimphu and the river from the terrace.
• The surrounding park - landscaped grounds below the ridge.

When to go

March to May and September to November for clear air. Late afternoon and evening give the best light on the gilding and the busiest atmosphere with local visitors. The site is open year round.

Honest expectations

This is a modern construction completed in 2015, not a historic site, which some visitors do not expect. Photography inside the hall is restricted. Shoes come off before entering. The terrace is exposed and cold in winter wind.

Nearby

Thimphu lies north; Simtokha Dzong is on the same side of the valley.