The Great Buddha Statue is a 25-metre (80-foot) sandstone figure of the seated Buddha in meditation, located just west of the Mahabodhi Temple. It was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 1989 and remains one of the largest Buddha statues in India. The figure sits on a lotus pedestal and is flanked by ten smaller statues — a serene and photogenic ensemble that draws pilgrims and visitors equally.
The surrounding garden is well-maintained and offers a relatively peaceful retreat from the busier temple precinct. A small museum in the complex displays objects related to the statue's construction. The site is particularly atmospheric in the early morning, when light falls across the stone and a handful of monks or nuns are often seated in meditation below.