Buddha Dhatu Jadi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buddha Dhatu Jadi Bandarban Golden Temple
বুদ্ধ ধাতু জাদি
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism Buddhist Temple
Sect	Theravada Buddhism
District	Bandarban
Region	Chittagong
Deity	Buddha
Festival	Maha Pabbajja
Status	Active
Location
Location	Pulpara, Balaghata, Bandarban
Country	Bangladesh
Location in Bangladesh
Architecture
Founder	U Pannya Jota Mahathera
Date established	December 25, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-12-25)
Completed	February 5, 2000; 25 years ago (2000-02-05)
Height (max)	60 ft (18 m)

The Buddha Dhatu Jadi (Bengali: বুদ্ধ ধাতু জাদি), also known as the Bandarban Golden Temple, is a famous Buddhist temple in Bangladesh. It's located near Balaghata town in Bandarban City. The word Dhatu means the remains of a holy person. In this temple, you'll find relics that belonged to Buddha himself!

This temple is the biggest Theravada Buddhist temple in Bangladesh. It also has the second-largest Buddha statue in the whole country. The Bandarban Golden Temple follows the Theravada Buddhism style, which is practiced by the Marma people. They are a main ethnic group living in Bandarban. The temple was built in 2000, and its design is inspired by Arakanese architecture from South East Asia.

Where is the Golden Temple?

View of lush green Bandarban hills and valley

Locally, this Buddhist temple is called Kyang. It's found in the Bandarban Hill District in southeastern Bangladesh. This area is part of the Chittagong Division and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The temple sits on top of a hill in Bandarban, a town surrounded by rolling hills and thick forests. Two of the highest peaks in the area are Tajingdong and Keokeradong. The Sangu river flows through the town, and there's even a waterfall nearby! The temple itself is built on a hill about 60 meters (200 feet) high. It's about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Balaghat town and 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Bandarban city.

Who built the temple?

Ven. U Pannya Jota Mahathera, founder and chief priest of the temple

Buddha's Dhatu (Relic) donated by The State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee at Yangon, Myanmar in 1994

Bandarban has many Buddhists. While Bangladesh is mostly a Muslim country, Buddhism is the third-largest religion here. Most Buddhists live in the southeastern areas like Chittagong and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They mostly practice Theravada Buddhism.

The Marma are an important group in this region. They are from Arakanese descent and are Buddhists. They are the second-largest local group in the hill districts of Bangladesh.

The founder and main priest of the Buddha Dhatu Jadi temple is Ven. U Pannya Jota Mahathera. He comes from the royal Bohmong family of Bandarban. He became a Theravada monk in 1991. Before that, he worked for the government of Bangladesh as a senior assistant judge for eight years. The special Buddha's dhatu (relic) kept in the temple was a gift to Ven. U Pannya Jota Mahathera in 1994. It was given by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee from Myanmar.

What does the temple look like?

Aerial view of the temple

You reach the temple by walking up an elegant stairway. This impressive temple, built on the hilltop, is decorated with beautiful sculptures. Inside, you'll find the second-biggest statue of the Buddha in Bangladesh. There are also smaller statues and a golden bell shaped like a dragon.

Building the temple started in 1995 and finished in 2000. The dhatu, which are the actual remains of Buddha, are placed under four Buddha statues here. Buddhists believe that having these relics brings peace and happiness. This temple is now part of a special "Buddhist Circuit Tour" that helps promote tourism in the region.

When you visit the temple, remember there's a strict dress code. You should not wear shorts or shoes inside the temple grounds.

Images for kids

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  Buddha Dhatu Jadi

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  Long shot view of Buddha Dhatu Jadi

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  Surrounded by natural beauty

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  Side View of Buddha Dhatu Jadi

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  Night Sky

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  Pillars of Ashoka

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  Buddha Statue

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  Buddha Dhatu Jadi,Bandarban

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  Statue of Buddha 1

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  Statue of Buddha 2

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  Statue of Buddha 3

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  Statue of Shakyamuni

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  Buddha Dhatu Jadi (Golden Temple, Bandarban), seen from Nilachal, photo by Pratyay Hasan

See also

In Spanish: Buddha Dhatu Jadi para niños