Discovering the thousand-year-old ancient Cham relic by the Cai River in Khanh Hoa

    Linh Boo |

    Khanh Hoa - Ba Ponagar Tower attracts tourists with its ancient beauty and unique historical and cultural values.

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    Located on the Cu Lao hill about 10-12 m high on the banks of the Cai River, Ba Ponagar Tower is one of the most famous attractions of Bac Nha Trang ward (Khanh Hoa). Ba Ponagar Tower is also known as Yang Po Inư Nagar or Yang Po Ana Gar. In the ancient Cham language as well as the languages of the E De and Jrai people, "Inư" or "Ana" both mean "Mother". Photo: Luong Phong
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    Ponagar Tower is a place to worship the goddess Ponagar. She is considered the "Mother of the Land" - the goddess of creativity, who pioneered land, created rivers and mountains, trees, and taught people farming, weaving, and building a life. Photo: Luong Phong
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    The tower complex was built between the 8th and 13th centuries. This was the period when Hinduism (Induism) was extremely developed in the ancient Champa kingdom. Photo: Luong Phong
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    The entire complex is built in a three-story structure, on an axis from low to high, bearing the imprint of ancient Cham temple and tower architecture. The current gate tower floor is no longer there, only traces of stone pillars and steps leading to the middle floor are left. The middle floor, also known as Mandapa, means a meditation house, is where pilgrims rest, prepare offerings before entering the worship area. Photo: Luong Phong
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    The most prominent highlight of the complex lies on the top floor, where the main tower is located, about 23 m high. The project impresses with its unique construction technique when red-hot bricks are arranged tightly together without almost using adhesive. To this day, this construction method is still considered one of the mysteries of ancient Cham architecture. Photo: Luong Phong
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    The exterior of the tower body is decorated with a system of reliefs, terracotta statues and arched roof patterns, fairies, lions, deer, geese and many images imbued with Hinduism. Photo: Luong Phong
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    The tower is designed with four floors, each floor has a door, a statue of worship and stone mascots. Inside the tower is a solemn worship space with a statue of the Ponagar goddess about 2.6 m high carved from black granite. The statue sits majestically on a lotus pedestal stone platform, leaning back against a large stone slab in the shape of a Bodhi leaf. Photo: Luong Phong
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    In addition to the main tower worshiping the goddess Ponagar, the complex also has three other towers worshiping the god Siva, the god Sanhaka and the god Ganeca. The southern tower is about 12 m high, worshiping the god Siva - one of the three supreme gods of Hinduism. Next to it is a smaller tower worshiping the god Ganeca with the image of a human body with an elephant head, the son of the god Siva. Photo: Luong Phong
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    Not only is it a famous tourist destination, Ba Tower Ponagar is also the venue for the Ba Tower Festival on March 21-23 of the lunar calendar every year. This is an opportunity to attract a large number of people and tourists to offer incense, pray for peace, and learn about unique cultural and religious values. Photo: Luong Phong
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    With outstanding historical, architectural and artistic values, the Ponagar Tower complex has been ranked as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since 1979. Meanwhile, the Ponagar Tower Festival is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage and is one of 16 national festivals of Vietnam. Photo: Luong Phong
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    Mr. Luong Phong, a resident of Khanh Hoa, said that the entrance fee to Ponagar Tower is only 30,000 VND/person. "The tower campus is planted with many green trees, so even if you go at noon, it is still quite cool. Everyone should spend time taking photos in the area below and then go to the top of the hill to admire the panoramic view of Cai River, the city and Nha Trang beach," Mr. Phong said. Photo: Luong Phong
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