The statue was salvaged from the lake floor after a barge capsized during its initial transport in 1990, resulting in the loss of 10 lives.
Over 200 sculptors worked for two years to carve the statue from the single granite block.
The statue was installed under the supervision of the then-Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N.T. Rama Rao.
The base of the statue features a lotus-shaped pedestal.
The statue is officially known as the 'Buddha Purnima' project statue.
The Buddha Statue is an 18-meter-tall monolithic granite sculpture situated on Gibraltar Rock in the center of Hussain Sagar lake. Weighing 350 tonnes, it was carved from a single block of white granite sourced from Raigiri. The project was initiated in 1985 as part of the Buddha Purnima Project to improve Hyderabad's cultural landscape. After an initial failed attempt to transport the statue in 1990 led to it sinking into the lake, it was salvaged and successfully installed in 1992. The statue serves as a centerpiece for the surrounding lakefront area, which connects Secunderabad and Hyderabad. Access to the island is exclusively via ferry services from the Lumbini Park jetty. The figure depicts a standing Buddha in a meditative pose. It stands as one of the tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha in India.
The ferry deck while approaching the island provides the most unobstructed frontal view of the statue.
Check the wind conditions, as ferry services are suspended if the lake water becomes too choppy.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as there is minimal shade once you disembark on the island.
Keep your ferry ticket throughout the trip, as it is required for the return journey.
Avoid visiting during the peak heat of summer afternoons, as the granite reflects significant heat.
Ferry services may be cancelled during heavy monsoon rains or high-wind advisories.
Maintain a respectful demeanor; refrain from climbing on the statue's base or pedestals.
