Where in the world has the world's largest monolithic statue of Buddha been installed, carved from a single piece of rock?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of important world heritage monuments, specifically large statues of the Buddha. The phrase 'monolithic statue' refers to a statue carved from a single block of stone. In India, a very famous example is the giant statue of Gautama Buddha standing on a rock in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. Recognising such landmarks is a standard requirement in general knowledge and competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked about the world's largest monolithic statue of Buddha.
• The key word is 'monolithic', meaning carved out of a single piece of rock.
• Options include Bamiyan, Hyderabad, Kandy and Lhasa.
• We assume accepted records of monumental Buddha statues.

Concept / Approach:
The statue referred to in exam questions of this type is the tall standing Buddha statue located on Gibraltar Rock in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, India. It is carved from a single block of white granite and is widely described in general knowledge sources as the world's tallest monolithic statue of Gautama Buddha. Although the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan were also monumental, they were carved into cliff faces rather than being single freestanding monolithic blocks installed on a pedestal in a lake. Therefore, among the given options, Hyderabad is the correct answer for this specific phrasing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key phrase 'world's largest monolithic statue of Buddha', especially the word 'monolithic'.Step 2: Recall that Hyderabad has a famous tall Buddha statue located on an island in Hussain Sagar Lake, carved from a single piece of granite.Step 3: Distinguish this from the Bamiyan Buddhas, which were monumental rock-cut figures, not free-standing monolithic statues installed separately.Step 4: Consider Kandy and Lhasa; both have important Buddhist sites, but they are not commonly cited in GK exams as having the world's tallest monolithic Buddha statue.Step 5: Choose 'Hyderabad (Hussain Sagar Lake, India)' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard general knowledge books and tourism sources describing Indian monuments repeatedly mention that the Buddha statue at Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad is the world's tallest monolithic statue of Gautama Buddha. This description is echoed in many exam-oriented materials, which frame MCQs exactly like this one and give Hyderabad as the correct option. Such consistent references support our selection.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bamiyan (Afghanistan): The statues there were very large and historically significant, but they were rock-cut figures carved into a cliff, not single-block freestanding monolithic statues installed elsewhere.Kandy (Sri Lanka): Kandy is famous for the Temple of the Tooth and other Buddhist monuments, but it is not usually cited for the world's largest monolithic Buddha statue.Lhasa (Tibet): It is an important centre of Tibetan Buddhism, but again, it is not the answer to this specific GK question about the monolithic Buddha statue.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse 'largest statue' in general with 'largest monolithic statue' or mix up rock-cut and monolithic constructions. Another common error is to pick Bamiyan because the statues there were widely known before their destruction. To avoid mistakes, pay close attention to qualifiers like 'monolithic', 'freestanding', or 'rock-cut' in questions. Here, recognising that the question points to the granite Buddha of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad helps you choose correctly.

Final Answer:
The world's largest monolithic statue of Buddha is installed at Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, India.