Buddha Statue of Hyderabad

Buddha Statue of Hyderabad
Standing Buddha in Abhaya Mudra
Location	Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Coordinates	17°24′56″N 78°28′30″E
Height	58 feet (18 meters)
Dedicated	1 December 1992; 32 years ago (1 December 1992)
Founded	N. T. Rama Rao
Sculptor	S.M.Ganapathi Sthapathi
Governing body	Buddha Purnima Project Authority, HMDA
Location of Buddha Statue in Hussain Sagar

The Buddha Statue of Hyderabad is a monolith located in India. It is the world's tallest monolith of Gautama Buddha, erected on Gibraltar Rock in the middle of Hussain Sagar.

History

Hyderabad is the capital of the state of Telangana (separated from Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014). Between 1983 and 1989, N. T. Rama Rao served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. During his tenure, he spent large sums to erect several statues of people from the region's political and religious history. During his visit to New York, he saw the Statue of Liberty and was inspired by the efforts to restore it. He said, "I wanted something like that great place to visit... That would have been my contribution to society."^[1]

Rama Rao chose to depict Gautama Buddha because "he was a humanitarian who told the whole truth to the people. It is our pride."^[1] After a long search, he found a solid white granite rock near Raigiri, Bhuvanagiri (Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district) on a mountainside 46 km outside Hyderabad. In October 1985 Rama Rao inaugurated work on structure. For over a year, hundreds of labourers helped the temple architect and builder S.M.Ganapathi Sthapati create the statue. After five years and the expenditure of US$3 million,^[1] the statue stood at 58 feet (18 m) and weighed 350 tons, making it the world's tallest monolithic statue of the Buddha.^[2] A concrete platform measuring 15 feet (4.6 m), now referred to as the "Rock of Gibraltar,"^[3] was constructed in the middle of Hussain Sagar to aid in erecting the statue. The roads of the city were also widened for this purpose.^[1]

This statue is located at Lumbini Park in the Hussain Sagar Island can be reached by boat in 15 minutes.^[4] The statue is near to Lakdi-Ka-Pul, Khairatabad and Assembly Hyderabad metro stations.

The accident

Then government of Andhra Pradesh led by N. T. Rama Rao was ousted in 1989. By the next year, the statue was ready for erection. ABC Limited, a local company, was given the responsibility of transferring the statue onto the concrete platform. Using a trailer vehicle, the statue was brought to the shore of Hussain Sagar. On 10 March 1990, company workers shifted the statue on top of a barge. After traveling only 100 yards (91 m), the statue tipped and fell into the lake.^[1][5] The accident killed 10 people.^[6]

After a two-year salvage operation, the statue was pulled out of the lake.^[2] On 1 December 1992, the statue was installed on the platform successfully. In 2006, the Dalai Lama consecrated the statue after performing a ritual.^[7]

Visitor Experience and Tourism

The Buddha statue at Hussain Sagar Lake is not only a significant spiritual landmark but also a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across India and around the world. Every day, large numbers of people visit the site, seeking the serene atmosphere and spiritual solace that the statue offers. Visitors typically reach the statue by boat, with several ferries operating regularly from the lakeside to the small island where the statue stands. The journey across the calm waters of Hussain Sagar adds to the overall experience, making the visit a peaceful and reflective one. The statue's impressive height and the intricate craftsmanship make it a popular spot for photography, and it serves as a symbol of peace and tranquility for those who visit. International tourists also frequent this site, contributing to its status as a key attraction in Hyderabad’s cultural and spiritual landscape.

See also

• Statue of Ahimsa
• List of tallest statues

Gallery

• 
  Standing Buddha in abhya mudra
• 
  Closeup view
• 
  Sunset on Buddha Statue, Hussain Sagar
• 
  Evening View
• 
  Night View on a moon day
• 
  A sculpture on the basement of Buddha statue.
• 
  Buddha statue at Hussain sagar

References

1. Coll, Steve (9 April 1990). "Buddha of the Lake Bottom". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
2. "Up from the bottom". The Boston Globe. Boston, MA. 19 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
3. Raje, Abhishek (23 January 2012). "Ram Charan Teja shoots at iconic Buddha statue". The Times of India. Hyderabad. Times News Network. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
4. Goldberg, Kory., Décary, Michelle.(2012), "The South: Hydrabad", Along the Path: The Meditator's Companion to the Buddha's Land, Pariyatti Publisher, p.372. ISBN 1938754034, 9781938754036
5. "10 drown as the statue of Buddha takes a dip". New Straits Times. New Delhi. 11 March 1990. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
6. "Buddha Statue Sinks Barge, Drowning 10". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. New Delhi. Associated Press. 11 March 1990. pp. 13A.
7. "Buddha statue consecrated". The Hindu. Hyderabad. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2012.

• Shifting Stones, Shaping the Past: Sculpture from the Buddhist Stupas of Andhra Pradesh - Book