-- Last Updated on June 22, 2022 by Jonesy

Thailand is a well-known destination for Buddhist images, whether by way of its temples, statues, or various other monuments and culture influenced largely by the Theravada tradition of Buddhism.

The ‘version’ of Buddhism practiced here—‘Thai Buddhism’ if you like—does not strictly observe or embrace Theravada entirely though, and it encompasses various other aspects from both Hindu and Khmer traditions along with a few folklore traits, traditions, and beliefs more in line with Animism and Spirit Worship.

Undoubtedly this is reflected in many of the ‘styles’ of the Buddhist images on display in Thailand in their various forms, which can often be influenced by or representative of the times they were produced in.

Certainly, Thailand has a wide variety of amazing and sometimes huge statues of the Buddha and other figures worthy of a visit. These can be by way of ancient relics, gold-plated, or even rustic items—from relatively small pieces to huge, solid gold images!

How to Know One Buddha from Another

But each Buddha statue or image bears its own significance in some particular way or other, even though sometimes in very subtle ways.

It’s no secret that many of the big Buddha statues across the whole nation of Thailand are important cultural exhibits as well as popular landmarks. The Thai capital of Bangkok is not without its own significant additions to these representations of the Buddha and various other related characters.

It’s fair to say that the majority of tourists in Bangkok, or at least first-timers–will probably take some time out to see some of the impressive Buddhist temples (wats), maybe even doing the obligatory ‘temple tour’. Some of these temples date back to the 15^th century or beyond, although there are also a good few more recent additions that are well worth a visit and many in between.

And the temples all have their own particular sets of statues, relics, and other artifacts that bear some significance in one way or another. Of course, it can be difficult to know which temples, let alone Buddha images to shoot for if you are not familiar with the city or haven’t done the relevant homework.

Follow the Buddhas

However–one way to decide which temples to visit is to follow the Buddhas–and vice versa if you are looking for Buddha images. Whether they are big or small Buddhas, Reclining Buddhas, Emerald Buddhas, Golden Buddhas, or just downright huge, gigantic Buddhas–you’ll find them all here!

But to get the most out of the whole Thailand cultural experience, especially if you have leanings toward uncovering a bit more of the ‘Thai Buddhism’ mystery it’s well worth delving into what some of the differences between these images might tend to mean—age, style, colour, facial expression, size, materials etc., all form a part of what these amazing relics and images are about.

The capital city is one place to start, and there are at least three really famous ancient Buddha statues in Bangkok. There is also another, recently completed addition to Bangkok’s Buddha statues which is now the biggest in the city, and is something completely new.

This one takes things to a whole different level, with a Buddha image cutting an imposing figure across the landscape of the city near the Chao Phraya River from Wat Paknam, with a backdrop of grey-looking sky-scrapers, this has already begun to represent the modern chapter of Bangkok and Buddhism.

You might want to simply hit the major spots in Bangkok and tick off all the ancient and legendary temples and statues that you think you are obliged to see–or investigate some of the lesser known aspects of Thai-style Buddhist culture via the beautiful Buddha images across the country.

There’s no denying that these images are an iconic and familiar sight across the landscape of both the city and the country in Thailand. Many people might eventually make the mistake of taking them for granted as part of the scenery after a while. But it pays to know one Buddha image from another even if it holds the slightest interest.

So read on to find out where you can find some of the most impressive Buddha statues in Thailand in the event that you decide to check out these beautiful monuments to Buddhism and Thai culture on your next visit.

1. The Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho, Bangkok)

It stands to reason that some of the oldest, the biggest and the best—not to mention the most valuable Buddha images–would have made their way to Bangkok once it had been established as the new capital after Ayutthaya.

This huge, gold-leaf-covered, brick and plaster Buddha representation dates back to 1832 and is one of the most famous Buddha images in Bangkok. The full name of the figure is Phra Buddhasaiyas, and it is significant in that the reclining image is representative of the Buddha in the last moments of his life.

Although there are literally thousands of reclining Buddha images to be found in Thailand, this particular example housed at Wat Pho in Bangkok, is one of the most, if not the most revered statue of the Reclining Buddha in the country.

This is partly due to the sheer size and grandiosity of the image, which is a total length of 160 feet (49 meters). Then there are the giant, mother-of-pearl feet which are one of the statue’s main features. The significance also has something to do with the fact that the temple the image is housed in is one of the oldest and largest of Bangkok’s Buddhist temple constructs.

The temple in fact covers an area of 80,000 square metres and contains over 1,000 images of the Buddha. Wat Pho is also remarkable for being a temple that played a big part in the development of traditional Thai massage. Today the compound still contains a school for learning the art of traditional massage, and this is made accessible to both locals and foreign visitors.

2. The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok)

In terms of size, this Bangkok Buddha image is one of the smallest famous ones around, measuring in at a mere 66cm. As it turns out though, the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot) is one of the most well-known and revered Buddha images in Thailand, as well as being one of the oldest. 

Although you might be forgiven for assuming that this majestic little image of the Buddha is made from emerald, it is, in fact, crafted from natural jade, and gets its name more from the deep, green colour rather than the actual materials involved.

The statue reportedly found its way to Wat Phra Kaew towards the latter-half of the 18^th-century, and although its origins are thought to have been somewhere in the regions of India, about 500 years after the death of the Buddha, it is almost certain that the image actually came from Cambodia prior to finding its way into Thailand.

The Emerald Buddha resides in a shrine in the Grand Palace, resplendent in golden robes, and it is seated high above ground level on a tall altar-like structure. The statue plays a part in many ceremonies every year in Bangkok, including a garment-changing ceremony in which the golden robes are changed by the Thai king.

3. The Golden Buddha–Phra Phuttha Maha Suwana Patimakon (Wat Traimit, Bangkok) 

Three of the most well-known Buddha images in Thailand reside in Bangkok by way of the Reclining Buddha, the Emerald Buddha, and of course—the Golden Buddha. Wat Traimit is home to another iconic and significant Thai cultural image, this time located in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

The Golden Buddha is impressive on a number of counts. To begin with, it is actually the largest golden Buddha image in the world, standing at 15 feet, nine inches (4.8 metres) from top to bottom. 

And to top all other ‘golden’ Buddhas the world over–especially those not really made from gold—this one most certainly is. In fact it is the most valuable, weighing in at a staggering 5.5 tons of pure gold, with an estimated value somewhere in the region of $250,000,000!

Like many of the older and more valuable statues in Thailand, this one’s exact point of origin is somewhat sketchy to say the least. It is believed to have been cast over 700 years ago though, throughout the Sukhothai period of Thai history.

 And there is also an amazing story attached to this one, as there should be.

Amazingly, the entire statue was at one point covered entirely with plaster. Of course no-one really has evidence as to how, why, or when this may have happened, but one generally accepted theory holds that it would most likely have been in order to conceal its value during times of tyranny, invasion and marauding—usually by way of Thailand’s neighbouring enemies.

It wasn’t until the Golden Buddha had found its way to Bangkok that the true glory of the Golden Buddha became apparent. As luck would have it the image was apparently dropped in an attempted move during some renovations in the temple. This was in 1955, and the rough plaster coating broke off in some areas, exposing the value that lay underneath an otherwise unremarkable Buddha image. This turned out to be quite a discovery in terms of historic images of Buddhism in Bangkok.

4. Big Buddha — Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri (Phuket)

Phuket is a great example of how even a small island can have a Big Buddha image up on a hill as one of its significant and revered landmarks.

The huge, white, Chinese-style Buddhist image sits serenely on top of the Nakkerd Hills in Karon, between Chalong Bay and Kata Beach in Phuket. The statue is 45 metres tall and is visible from far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach—that’s quite a bit out of spitting distance if you’re not familiar with Phuket.

The site of this huge statue also happens to have some of the best panoramic, 360-degree views of the island featuring sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Karon, Kata, Chalong Bay, and a few others. The landmark Buddha image is accessible via a winding 4-mile road off from another main road.

5. Phra Si Ariya Mettrai–also known as ‘Luang Pho To’ (Wat Indharaviharn, Bangkok)

‘Luang Pho To’ is basically a statue depicting the Buddha out on an alms trip, complete with a begging bowl. Not necessarily the most beautiful Buddha image you are going to encounter in Thailand, but impressive, distinct, and popular with visitors both local and otherwise to Wat Indharaviharn.

This Buddha image on the wall of one of the temple buildings is a 10-metre wide, brick and stucco structure. It also happens to be impressively gilded with 24-carat gold–which reportedly took around 60 years to put together until its completion in 1927. 

The uppermost top-knot of the Buddha’s hair (ushnisha) apparently contains an important Buddhist relic that was a gift from Sri Lanka. This impressive Bangkok Buddha image is quite close to the famous Khao San Road region of the city, about 1km in a northern direction, and it serves as a landmark of sorts in that area of the Old Town region.

6. Five-Buddha Statue–Wat Phra That Pha Kaew (Phetchabun)

Located in the northern Phetchabun province this temple is renowned for its stunning and modern-looking Buddha image, and it is also a centre for meditation. The gloriously colourful temple is one of the most unique in Thailand, and the impressive, white five-Buddha statue cuts a prominent figure against the natural-looking background.

Founded as a religious site in 2004, Wat Phra That Pha Kaew officially became a temple in 2010, and to see it when the clouds are still hanging around its form is something else. This happens quite often due to the elevation of the statue, giving it an ethereal air. The cross-legged Buddha images decrease in height, with the biggest having a golden head decoration and a few other golden details.

7. Thep Mongkol Buddha Statue (Wat Paknam, Bangkok)

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen is one of Bangkok’s ‘royal’ temples, established way back in 1610. The temple is located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the Phasi Charoen district of the city, and in no uncertain terms, you might say this was a ‘posh’ temple.

And although we’re not entirely here to talk about temples today, it is worth considering how the background information on the temple relates to the Buddha statue.

This particular temple is, unlike the majority in Bangkok, rooted in the Maha Nikaya fraternity of Buddhist tradition and circles and is where the Dhammakaya tradition originated. This is a large and impressive temple that has obviously benefitted massively from the donations of well-heeled temple-goers and supporters, many of whom are prosperous members of the local community.

Wat Paknam is not one of the usual Thai temples found on the tourist trails–or at least it wasn’t until recently–and it is also something of a centre of Buddhist studies. The huge complex surrounding the temple is where hundreds of resident monks, lay workers, and even Thai ‘nuns’ (Mae Chi — are not strictly nuns as such due to the rule that still exists in Thai Buddhism about women being ordained) can be found going about their daily studies and allotted duties.

In 2020, the temple became home to what is now the city’s tallest Buddha figure, a 69-metre-tall Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol Buddha statue with a 40-metre-wide lap.

The image took around 3 years to complete and apparently cost somewhere in the region of 100 million Thai baht (around 3 million dollars).

It is well worth a visit as the temple itself has undergone much restoration in recent years and consists of a 5-story, 80-metre-high, 12-sided stupa which was completed just a decade previously. There is also a glass chedi, a main hall, and a museum, which have all made it one of the most prominent centres of Buddhism in Bangkok in recent times, making it much worth a visit by anyone even remotely interested in either Buddhist philosophy of any slant.

Although the statue and temple are not exactly right next to any transportation system, the MRT subway station at Bang Phai will leave you with just a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute motorcycle ride if you are not too faint-hearted.

8. Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin (Ang Thong Province)

Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin is the largest Buddha statue in Thailand, and numbers among one of the biggest Buddha statues in the entire world. This massive image is made from concrete and painted gold, and it is also known as “The Great Buddha of Thailand.”

The image is located at Wat Muang Monastery in Ang Thong province, and it is possible to see the 92-metre high statue from miles away. The image is also 63 metres wide, and the pose that the Buddha is featured in here is called “Calling the Earth to Witness”.

F.A.Qs about Buddha Statues in Thailand