Buddha Dordenma

Towering in at a height of 169 ft (51.5m), this is one big Shakyamuni Buddha statue that is being built. Made of bronze and gilded in gold, it will house 100,000 8-inch-tall and 25,000 12-inch-tall statues of Buddha also made of bronze and gilded in gold. Situated on the side of a mountain, the Buddha overlooks the southern approach into Thimphu.

The views looking down into the valley are splendid, and like most Buddhist temples and monuments, you can feel you've escaped from the hustle and bustle of the city. Not that, Thimphu is exactly a vast metropolitan area offering anonymity to the countless souls going about their daily business, but it's still an escape to a grand viewpoint with a touch of serenity.

Elevation: 8,831 ft.

The giant Buddha Dordenma statue in the Land of the Thunderdragon.