15 Colossal Statues Around The World You've Never Seen Before

8. The Laykyun Setkyar – Myanmar’s Colossal Reclining and Standing Buddhas

Myanmar’s Laykyun Setkyar is a hidden giant, an enormous 116-meter-tall standing Buddha that towers over the rural landscape of Monywa. Even more astonishing, the statue is accompanied by a massive reclining Buddha lying at its base, stretching an incredible 90 meters in length. Unlike many colossal statues that are meant to be admired from afar, visitors can actually step inside the Laykyun Setkyar, exploring intricate murals that illustrate the Buddhist path to enlightenment and cautionary depictions of the afterlife. The sheer scale of the reclining Buddha is jaw-dropping, and standing beneath the immense golden folds of the standing figure is a humbling experience. Though lesser-known outside Myanmar, the Laykyun Setkyar complex is one of the largest and most dramatic religious statues in the world, yet it remains an underappreciated wonder due to Myanmar’s limited tourism exposure. For those who make the journey, the experience is nothing short of extraordinary.