The statue of the Buddha is all of 169 feet tall or roughly, as tall as a 15 storey building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not exactly a tourist in Thimpu, Bhutan but one of the things he missed out on was a visit to what could be one of the world's tallest statues of the sitting Buddha that has come up in the capital.
Called the Buddha Dordenma, the statue of the Buddha is all of 169 feet tall or roughly, as tall as a 15 storey building. It towers over Thimpu and though the grounds are still incomplete, is fast becoming a major tourist draw and a pilgrimage for Buddhists.
"It is spectacular, fantastic. I have been watching this grow for the last 4 years. They began construction 4 years ago and it was wonderful to see the progress and to see what it ultimately will become," says Bill Jones, a visitor from UK.
The statue was apparently prophesied by an 8th century Buddhist sage bestowing blessings to the whole world. Seven years ago, a Singapore-based Buddhist billionaire - who is a disciple of a Thimpu monk - donated 47 million dollars for it. A Chinese company built the bronze statue which is gilded with gold.
Inside the hollow statue one lakh 8-inch tall Buddha statues will be places consecrating the Buddha Dordenma as sacred.
"It is spectacular. I was astounded because I think aesthetically it is so beautiful. They have not cluttered the whole area and have left a space. They have made it with considering the natural beauty around and that's what the beauty of the whole place," said an Indian tourist Laleh Busheri.
Ms Busheri was in Thimpu the same time as Mr Modi. "I asked my tour guide if Mr Modi had come. And he said no. And I have been wondering why not. It's a big miss."
Mr Modi spent two days in Thimpu and he couldn't come here. Perhaps that will give him an excuse to visit Bhutan again, when the statue is ready in 2015.