The reclining Buddha is a Buddhist temple symbol. The sculpture depicts the Buddha's final illness and entry into nirvana.

The Buddha's most spiritual posture is when he is lying down, and the direction symbolizes different meanings. "Going north means that you will reach nirvana. Moving south shows that you're taking a break. If you go east, it means that you are spreading your knowledge," Nang Hla May, a Burmese guide, told Kompas.

Myanmar, China, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong all have their own reclining Buddha statues (which are also popular tourist attractions). However, you don't have to travel to other nations if you wish to see one because reclining Buddha statues can be seen in numerous cities throughout Indonesia. Here's some of them:

Bali's Dharma Giri Vihara

Bali has a giant reclining Buddha statue. You can find it in Vihara Dharma Giri in the Tabanan area. A giant white statue of the Buddha lies on a wooden platform in this monastery. The figure stands out from the backdrop of stunning natural scenery. It's no surprise that this statue became a tourist magnet in Tabanan.

In this monastery, there's also another reclining Buddha statue with an umbrella and seven cobra heads on top of it, like the one in the picture above. There is also a building that looks like a three-story pagoda.

Vihara Buddha Dharma 8 Pho Sat, Bogor

The sleeping Buddha statue at Vihara Buddha Dharma 8 Pho Sat, Bogor, is 18 meters long and 3.75 feet tall. The figure, located in a large pavilion with a painting of rice fields and hills in the background, depicts Buddha in a golden robe with a Swastika on his breast, representing peace.

A glass cabinet near the reclining Buddha statue holds about 1,300 miniature Buddhas in a golden sitting position. They were gifted from those who had given money to the monastery.

The statue of the sleeping Buddha was created in 2011, according to Andrean Halim, manager of Vihara Buddha Dharma 8 Pho Sat. He explained that he was meditating rather than sleeping.

Dhammadipa Arama Vihara, Batu

Another sleeping Buddha statue can be found at Vihara Dhammadipa Arama in Batu, Malang. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful gold and white pagoda structure — a replica of Myanmar's iconic Shwedagon Pagoda — there. 

The Buddha statue in this monastery is eight meters tall. There is a garden and decorative fish pond with lotus blossoms not far from where the figure is displayed.

Maha Vihara Mojopahit, Mojokerto

Maha Vihara Mojopahit is a Majapahit Kingdom historical site in Trowulan. There are statues of the sleeping Buddha that are 22 meters long, six meters wide, and up to 4.5 meters tall.

As said by MURI, the Buddha statue in this temple is the third-largest in the world, following Thailand and Nepal. The figure was made of brick firstly, then coated with brass to give it a more impressive appearance. The statue is built above a fish pond, representing the Buddha's attainment of nirvana or death.

Around this monastery, there are two Dwarapala sculptures that appear to guard the main building's entrance and reliefs that chronicle Buddha's life.

Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong, Semarang

A Semarang monastery also has the reclining Buddha statue. This sanctuary, which covers an area of 2.25 hectares, consists of five main buildings and two additional buildings.

There is also a bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) that comes from Bodh Gaya in India, which is believed to be the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Visitors can see not only Buddha statues but also the Metakaruna Pagoda (Pagoda Avalokitesvara), which symbolizes love. The structure was inspired by Kwan Im, whose statue can also be found within. With seven floors and a height of 45 meters, the construction claims to be the highest pagoda in Indonesia.