A giant golden Thai Buddha that will be visible across Bangkok is nearly complete, chief monks said today.

The 230ft-tall golden statue named Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thepmongkhon started construction in 2017 but its completion date was pushed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The copper structure was painted in bright yellow gold so that it glistens in the tropical sunlight while towering as high as a 20-storey building.

Temple spokesman Pisan Sangkapinij said he was pleased with the progress. He said: ‘The statue is already attracting more visitors to the temple and we are expecting many more once Thailand’s borders are reopened to tourists after the pandemic.’

The Buddha was constructed using 16 million dollars worth of donations in honor of Buddhism and as a tribute to their former monk Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro who helped develop the temple as a renowned centre for meditation.

Buddhism is the official religion being practiced by more than 95 percent of the population in Thailand as well as neighbouring countries such as Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.