Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

This giant reclining Buddha was originally an outdoor seated Buddha, completed in 1953. It is 20 meters long and 5.4 meters high. The Buddha’s eyes are made of glass and were painted by a Chinese artist, giving it a serene and benevolent expression.

The reclining Buddha is not enclosed by walls. Its feet are positioned one in front of the other, with 108 intricate patterns on the soles, representing 108 cycles of rebirth. With its hands resting as a pillow and eyes gazing upon devout worshippers kneeling on the ground, this posture symbolizes the Buddha at rest, not in nirvana. The sole of the Buddha's foot, which is as long as a person, is divided into 108 squares, each depicting a scene from the six realms of existence, with English descriptions explaining each image. The depiction of the wheel of life here signifies that the Buddha is far above the cycle of rebirth.

Transportation

It is very close to the Shwedagon Pagoda and can be easily visited along the way on foot.