Great Stupa of Universal Compassion

Victoria


In Myers Flat, just beyond Bendigo's city limits, this Buddhist stupa was blessed by the Dalai Lama in 2007 and promises to be the largest stupa in the Western world: it's 50m high with a 50m base. Inside sits a 2.5m jade Buddha statue, the world's largest that's carved out of the precious stone, weighing a hefty 4 tonnes. Grab a self-guided-tour handout and stroll the gardens, with Bodhi tree, Buddhist sculptures and Tibetan prayer wheels lining the stupa.

There's a cafe serving vegetarian and vegan dishes from $6.50.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Victoria attractions

1. Balgownie Estate Winery Retreat

1.05 MILES

You'll soon find yourself in the bush as you head to this popular estate, 10km west of the city centre, that produces seven varieties of shiraz. All are…

2. Victoria Hills Historic Mining Site

4.63 MILES

Back in the day this sprawling site was the world's deepest gold mine. Today you can wander past its relics and open-cut mines that date to the 1850s, and…

3. Villa Fortuna

4.86 MILES

Of all Bendigo's beautiful heritage buildings, none is more extravagant than Villa Fortuna. Set on a 7.5-hectare property, this opulent Victorian-era…

4. Central Deborah Gold Mine

5.42 MILES

Don your hard hat and get ready to descend with a geologist into this 412m-deep mine. Operating in 1939–54, the mine has been worked on 17 levels and has…

5. Bendigo Talking Tram

5.43 MILES

For an interesting city tour, hop aboard a restored ‘talking’ tram. The hop-on, hop-off trip runs from the Central Deborah Gold Mine to the Tramways Depot…

6. Sacred Heart Cathedral

5.43 MILES

You can’t miss the soaring steeple of this magnificent cathedral. Though construction began in the 19th century, it was only completed in 2001, with the…

7. Dudley House

5.44 MILES

One of Bendigo's oldest buildings is the National Trust–listed Dudley House, dating to the 1850s. It's currently used as a gallery for local artists.

8. La Trobe Art Institute

5.46 MILES

Featuring a mix of works by emerging and established contemporary artists, this pint-size gallery always has something of interest. It's directly across…