Carmel, New York: Largest Indoor Buddha in the Western Hemisphere
37 feet tall. In the Great Buddha Hall at the Chuang Yen Monastery. The Great Buddha is surrounded by 10,000 tiny Buddhas, and sits in a giant lotus flower.
Chuang Yen Monastery
- Address:
- 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY
- Directions:
- I-84 exit 16S. Drive south on the Taconic State Pkwy for around five miles, then exit onto Cold Spring Turnpike/Hwy 301. Drive east toward Carmel. The monastery is around 1.5 miles on the left.
- Hours:
- Closed during the winter. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 845-225-1819
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Inside the Great Buddha Hall at the Chuang Yen Monastery sits the 37-foot tall statue of the Buddha Vairocana. This figure is encircled by 10,000 smaller Buddha statuettes arranged on a lotus terrace semi-circle -- a miniature spiritual stadium.
The imposing statue is part of an active temple in the monastery, so they appreciate respect and quiet. Visitors remove their shoes before entering the hall. It is an extremely impressive sight to behold, especially in the woody hills of New York State.
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