Todaiji Temple

For the sheer grandiosity and scale that it exudes―Todaiji Temple is a must-visit if you are a visitor to Nara. Ensconced in peaceful lush green meadows all around, the temple leaves you in awe at first sight itself with its imposing structure renowned as the largest wooden structure in the world. What’s amazing is the fact that this impressive structure is still a scaled down version of the original one founded as early as the 8th century which was apparently 1.5 times bigger.
The most striking feature of the temple hall is the massive life-like Vairocana statue, popularly known as Daibutsu or the Great Buddha in bronze and gold. For the moments when you stand in the shadow of the Great Image of the Buddha beneath His large webbed hands stretched out in a peaceful blessing, it’s easier to transcend your mortal identity to an idyllic world. You can see and appreciate more of the Buddhist sculpts and historic relics while circumambulating the path around the Great Buddha but what you shouldn’t absolutely miss is the ‘pillar with the hole’. Popular legend among locals goes that whoever passes through this hole is certain of enlightenment. You surely wouldn’t want to miss that chance, would you?