In early 2025, the Government announced the ranking of 5 special relics. This time, the list includes the Ponagar Tower Art Relic - which has been considered the pride of the Cham people for many centuries.
Ponagar Tower is currently located in Vinh Phuoc ward (Nha Trang city), was ranked as a national monument in 1979.
The Ponagar Tower relic was built by the Cham people from the 8th to the 13th century, on Cu Lao hill to worship Goddess Ponagar, the Mother of the Cham people, so it is commonly called Ponagar Tower.
The Ponagar Tower relic site is an architectural complex consisting of the gate tower, Mandapa and the temple tower area. However, due to historical fluctuations, the relic site currently has 5 remaining architectural works on two levels: Mandapa and the temple tower area.
The Ponagar Tower relic has a very unique construction technique and method of making bricks to build the temples and towers. Until now, there are still many unanswered questions.
The Ponagar Tower relic is not only a sacred place but also an attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Besides its unique architectural values, this place also attracts visitors with cultural activities such as Cham dance performances, brocade weaving and especially the Ponagar Tower festival which was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012.
From April 25-27 (March 20-23 of the lunar calendar) every year, a large number of Cham people from provinces such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City... make a pilgrimage to Ponagar Tower to participate in the festival to commemorate Thien Y Ana Thanh Mau (Po Inu Nag), the mother of the land who has made many contributions to helping the people and bringing them happiness.
Mr. Le Van Hoa - Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Culture and Sports - assessed that the ranking of Ponagar Tower as a special national relic is an important event, contributing to enhancing the position of the relic in the Vietnamese cultural heritage system.
