Hong Kong – Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Hong Kong is not an actual monastery and the Hong Kong Tourism Board does not promote the place as a tourist destination. So, the official literature will not have this monastery listed. While I was researching for my travel to Hong Kong, this place kept coming up here and there and I had made a note of it. It was on the bottom of the list but it did exist.Exploring something that not’s promoted and talked much on famous travel sites is always exciting.

Built in 1949, the Ten Thousands Buddhas Monastery is located in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. What adds to this monastery located on a hill is the path that leads to the place. With over 430 steps to climb up to the monastery, on both the sides of the path are 500 life-size Arhan statues. Each different from the other. With stern faces, fishes and animals beneath their feet and unique hand gestures they catch attention and invite you to look beyond what’s visible.

430 steps are hard but with the scene around and if you get lucky with the weather like us, it is fun to climb up to the monastery. These steps lead to the main temple  – Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall. The walls of this main temple are lined with approximately 13,000 miniature statues of Buddha. So grand is the interior that it will make you forget the many steps you took to climb up.

The way up..
The way up..
Closer to the top
Closer to the top
Heading to the main temple..
Heading to the main temple..
A view of the main hall and the Goddess
A view of the main hall and the Goddess
The nine storey Pagoda
The nine storey Pagoda
View at the top
View at the top
The Gods on the top.
The Gods on the top.
More Buddhas on the rocks near the hill..
More Buddhas on the rocks near the hill..
The descend..
The descend..

When I saw people pray in this monastery the thought that struck me was that we don’t need an actual place to practice faith. It’s the belief and it may or may not be a recognized place of worship but it sure makes people bow their heads.

If you like to see something that’s not as explored and you are ready for the climb, the Ten Thousand Buddhas monastery is a recommend from my side on your trip to Hong Kong.


For Day 7 of NaBloPoMo and NoMo, I am sharing another travel tale from my recent trip to Hong Kong. Also tagging this to the Daily Prompt’s Weekly Photo Challenge – Ornate

 


25 thoughts on “Hong Kong – Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

  1. What a fascinating place with all those Buddhas leading up the stairs! Love the photos. You make Hong Kong sound so exciting and interesting. I must admit I didn’t know much about it before. Thanks for sharing about it.

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  2. What an amazing place! Thank you so much for the tour. I doubt I shall get there myself to explore so that was a treat. 🙂

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  3. That brought back memories of 1957 when I went to HK as a new bride. I didn’t go to this monastery, but to Shatin, on the China border; I will write about that adventure one of these blogs.
    Choi keen

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