Phutthamonthon
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Phuttamonthon_Buddha_statue.jpg
Phutthamonthon (Thai พุทธมณฑล, also often called Buddha Monthon) is a Buddhist park in the Nakhon Pathom province of Thailand, west of Bangkok. It is highlighted by a 15.87 m (52 foot) high Buddha statue, which is considered to be the highest free-standing Buddha statue of the world.
Phutthamonthon is also the name of the district (Amphoe) in which the park is located. The district covers an area of 53.2 km² and has a population of 22,048 according to the 2000 census.
The park was created in 1957 (which was the year 2500 in the Thai Buddhist Era) on the basis of an idea of Thailand's prime minister, Phibul Songkhram. The park covers an area of about 40 hectares, which in traditional Thai units is 2500 rai. Construction started on July 29 1955, and the park was inaugurated on the Vaisakh Bucha day (May 13) in 1957.
After a long pause construction on the park resumed in 1976; notably, the main Buddha statue was built after that time. Already designed in 1955 by art professor Silpa Bhirasri, the statue was cast in 1981. Given the name Phra Si Sakaya Dasabalayan Prathan Buddhamonthon Sudassana by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, it is located at the center of the park. Around the statue are sites memorializing the four main stations in the life of Buddha: his birth symolized by seven lotus flowers, his Enlightment under the Bodhi tree, his first sermon and his death. Another important building is the marble viharn, which contains the entire buddhist canon engraved in 1418 marble stelas.
Administration
The district of Phutthamonthon is subdivided into 3 communes (tambon).
- Sala Ya
- Khlong Yong
- Maha Sawat