Bangkok's Giant Copper Buddha Stands 69 Meters Tall
Bangkok's largest Buddha statue, standing 69 meters tall at Wat Paknam temple, is made entirely from pure copper—a world first for giant Buddha sculptures completed in 2019.
Rising 69 meters above Bangkok, the Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol is the largest Buddha statue in Bangkok and the third-tallest statue in Thailand. The monumental Buddha statue stands at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in Bangkok and has become one of the temple's most prominent landmarks.
The idea to build the statue was initiated in 2016 by Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangkalachan, the ninth abbot of Wat Paknam, as an offering to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, as well as a royal merit-making dedication to members of the Thai royal family. Construction began on March 4, 2017, and was completed in 2019. The statue was named Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol by Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangkalachan.
Depicting the Buddha in the meditation posture, the statue faces north and measures 69 meters from its base to the top of its head. Its lap spans 40 meters. One of its most remarkable features is its material. The entire statue was cast from 99.99% pure copper, making it the first giant Buddha statue in the world to be constructed entirely from this material, according to the temple.
The statue's immense scale and distinctive copper surface make it particularly striking against Bangkok's urban landscape. Visitors to Wat Paknam can see the Buddha towering above the temple grounds and surrounding neighborhoods. Today, Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol is not only a place of Buddhist devotion but also one of Bangkok's most recognizable monumental works of religious art.
