The Buddhist Monastery at Fo Guang Shan
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Port
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$89.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born more than 2,500 years ago in what is now Southern Nepal. Today, there are 300 million Buddhists worldwide, with five million followers in Taiwan alone. Discover the history of this age-old religion with a walk through the countryside just outside of Kaohsiung.
Your journey begins with a relaxing 60-minute panoramic drive north to the Fo Guang Shan Monastery -- Buddha’s Light Mountain. Resting in a bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain, the monastery is home to a complex of structures devoted to the practice of humanistic Buddhism, which applies Buddha’s core principles to daily life. Giant Buddha statues welcome you to the largest Buddhist monastery (1967) in Taiwan.
Continue to the Buddha Memorial Center, covering more than 247 acres. The design is inspired by both an Indian stupa and the Mahabodhi Temple inside the Bodhgaya religious site in India. Above it sits the world’s tallest bronze sitting Buddha statue. In front of the statue is the Way to Buddhahood path flanked by Eight Pagodas on either side. The center opened in 2011 to promote cultural and religious education. The Cultural Museum here is Taiwan’s only museum specializing in Buddhist artifacts. The Buddha Memorial Center houses a relic said to be Buddha’s tooth -- one of only three in the entire world -- as well as many Buddhist artifacts donated by various countries. The art gallery displays an array of historical and cultural treasures, including poetry, calligraphy, religious instruments, and antiques.
Return to your transport for the scenic trip back to the pier with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Buddhism.
Notes:
Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. Visiting a Buddhist temple requires observing specific rules -- do not point at Buddha statues, monks or nuns, and please keep your voice low because people may be meditating even if they are walking. The Buddha Memorial Center is closed on Tuesdays; a visit to Sutra Calligraphy at the Monastery will be substituted.