This is a 45 m tall (about the length of a jumbo Boeing 707 plane and precisely 25.86 times taller than me) statue of Guru Rimporche overlooking a small town named Namchi in Southern part of Sikkim, India. Also known as the Second Buddha, he is said to have introduced Tantric Buddhism in ancient Tibet. He has eight reverential forms; the above statue is one of them. This form is referred to as Guru Padmasambhava. The remaining seven forms are: Padmajunne, Padmagyalpo, Dorje Dolo, Nima Yozer, Sakya Sengey, Sengey Dadok and Loten Chogse.
According to a legend he is said to have travelled to ancient Tibet from India through Sikkim and hence there are numerous monasteries, lakes and stupas in Sikkim revering him. He is also the founder of Nyingmapa, the oldest school (tradition) of Tibetan Buddhism. Other schools are Kagyupa, Sakyapa, Gelukpa and Bon.
This statue can be seen from miles away (even from some parts of Darjeeling, my home town) due to its imposing size and shining (due to copper and bronze paints) presence on top of a hill.
