IN BRONZE, ON A HILL, BY THE SEA, OR EVEN HIDDEN FROM VIEW, SHRINES HONOURING BUDDHA TAKE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. DISCOVER SOME OF THE MOST STUNNING BUDDHAS ON THE ROUTE MAP IN THIS SERIES OF IMAGES

TIAN TAN BUDDHA, HONG KONG
Seated at the top of Lantau Island, this is the world’s largest outdoor Buddha. The bronze statue lording over the island that now houses Disneyland sits on a lotus leaf with one palm raised in blessing.
PICTURE: IMAGE BANK

WAT SI CHUM, SUKHOTHAI
While other statues in Sukhothai Historical Park are visible for miles, the Buddha at Wat Si Chum is surrounded by a small spire building or mondop, and hidden from view. Once inside the mondop, the atmosphere is unmistakably serene; the smiling, 15m-tall Buddha stirs much awe and reverence. Many devotees who enter kneel in worship and reach out to touch the gold leaf-covered hand of Buddha.
PICTURE: LESTER LEDESMA

WAT PHO, BANGKOK
At almost 50m long and 15m tall, the Reclining Buddha lies gracefully on its side, propping its head up with its hand. Thais consider the feet the most unclean part of the body, but not so here – the feet of this colossal gold-covered statue are encrusted with a mother-of-pearl inlay.

DOI SUTHEP, CHIANG MAI
Buddhists place gold-leaf squares onto this statue in Doi Suthep as an act of goodwill or sacrifice to accompany their prayers. Each square is pounded flat by hand to 1/10,000 of a millimetre using wooden mallets and paper sheets.
PICTURE: EWEN BELL

SHWEDAGON PAGODA, YANGON
While Buddha are depicted differently in every country, one of the signatures of the Burmese Buddha is a sweet, gently smiling expression – as seen here in the white faces of these statues in Yangon’s sacred Shwedagon. One of the country’s most revered sites, it is the Mecca of Myanmar – every Burmese hopes to visit here at least once in their lifetime.
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

MONJU SENJI TEMPLE, KURISAKI
Archaeological findings suggest that Kyushu was the earliest inhabited area of Japan and the entry point through which Buddhism arrived in the country. Located on the Kurisaki Peninsula, 100km from Fukuoka, worshippers have been coming to this temple for 1,000 years. Countless stone statues of Buddha and bodhisattva (an enlightened person who instead of achieving nirvana opts to stay on earth and help others find the right path) are carved into the temple’s surrounding cliffs and hills, and are now covered in moss.
PICTURE: JOHN LANDER

BIG BUDDHA, KOH SAMUI
One of Koh Samui’s most famous landmarks, the 12m-tall Big Buddha towers high on a platform above the beach that takes its name. Sitting within the Phra Yai Temple complex, the structure was erected in 1972 and took over two years to build.
PICTURE: SCOTT WOODWARD

PAK OU CAVES, LUANG PRABANG
The Pak Ou Caves are several hours away from Luang Prabang by boat. Perched high above the meandering Mekong River, the caves shelter thousands of Buddhist figurines, teetering on ledges, lining staircases and tucked into limestone crevices. Ardent worshippers have added more statues of Buddha to the collection as a tribute, so the caves boast both old and new representations.
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

WAT MAHATHAT, SUKHOTHAI
This 13th-century ruin sits in stately fashion, in what is considered the birthplace of the Thai language. Sukhothai was the ancient capital of the kingdom and even has its own distinctive depiction of Buddha – broad, square shoulders with a narrow feminine waist. Local schoolchildren, tourists and monks come from across the country to visit this ancient cradle of Thai culture.
PICTURE: LESTER LEDESMA

BUDDHA’S DAY
Known as Visakha Puja or Vesak Day, Buddha’s birth, death and nirvana is observed by Buddhists all over the world. Although exact dates differ slightly, it is generally on the 15th day, or the first full moon of the fourth lunar month. This year, it falls on 19 May.

On this day over 2,500 years ago, believers say that Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment while sitting under a boddhi tree in northern India.

In Thailand, prayers and celebrations go on for days before and after the festival. During this time, devotees head to temples for prayers, offerings, to hear a public sermon and sometimes to hold a candle-lit procession.

In many places, it is also common for followers to eat only vegetarian meals on this special day.