BANH IT TOWER BINH DINH
Banh It Tower Binh Dinh. Unique to Champa culture, it has distinct architectural characteristics and is one of the Champa Dynasty's great temple towers, attracting researchers' attention.
Banh It Tower Binh Dinh:
Banh It Tower is located on a hill over 100 meters high in Dai Le hamlet, Phuoc Hiep commune, Tuy Phuoc district (Binh Dinh), approximately 18 kilometers northwest of Quy Nhon's city center.
This is one of the largest tower clusters remaining in existence in the Champa kingdom. This is a stunning and rare relic site in Binh Dinh. According to the chairman of the Binh Dinh General Museum, during the period of shifting the capital to Binh Dinh (11th century), the Cham people built temples and towers on top of hills to absorb the natural landscape, which served as a backdrop for the temples. Architecture sits above. Thus, Champa architecture in Binh Dinh is huge and grand.
"Banh is not only a tower area with a variety of architectures, but also one of the greatest temple and tower architectural complexes in the Champa kingdom. Each piece of architecture in the Banh It Tower is unique, with its own creative character," said Binh Dinh General Museum's director. This is the largest tower complex of the seven ancient Champa tower clusters surviving in Binh Dinh, with four structures: the main tower (Kalan), the gate tower (Gopura), the fire tower (Kosagrha), and the beer tower (Posah).
The Banh It Towers are a series of four towers collectively known as the Silver Towers. They are among the best-preserved specimens of late Cham architecture. The Cham kingdom reigned over southern and central Vietnam beginning in the second century and reaching its peak of dominance in the ninth century.
The Cham accepted Hinduism and made it their state religion. They borrowed the building from the Indian model to produce something unique in Vietnam. Kalan best demonstrates this. Kalan refers to one of the main towers located in this field. This is one of the most essential things used to worship their deity. In this example, it is a statue of the Hindu deity Shiva.
The Cham's dominance waned in the tenth century, and late Cham architecture collapsed. They didn't want any more of the early Cham architecture. Early Cham art emphasized basic themes. It lacked refinement, yet they created lovely monuments.
The refining is where you'll discover the Banh It Towers or Silver Towers. They erected the towers on the hill. The lesser towers come first, followed by the great tower, which is the most significant temple. This one has a Shiva statue. The facility is shaped like a pyramid. Constant battles with the Khmers also took a toll. Several skyscrapers were demolished. Luckily, some had previously been restored.
These constructions have experienced the ebb and flow of time over the ages, with periods of devotion and neglect in between. Restoration attempts, particularly in the twentieth century, have allowed us to appreciate their architectural intricacy. Intriguingly, the towers have withstood not just the passage of time but also climate difficulties, holding firm on their summit position.
Highlights of Ong Nui Pagoda and its surrounds:
To reach the towers, guests must navigate a tiny sloping road built with bricks and lined with tree forms. On the top, a few dozen meters above sea level, you may not only feel the vastness of heaven, but also enjoy a panoramic view of dispersed dwellings, verdant farmland in villages, and twisting rivers and streams.
The Banh It Towers serve as an important connection to the past, symbolizing the pinnacle of Cham workmanship and religious dedication. They are among the most well-known of the remaining Cham monuments in Vietnam, representing a civilization that has been integrated into Vietnamese culture yet continues to speak its past through these quiet sentinels. The towers' significance extends beyond their visual appeal; they sustain the region's palpable link to old traditions and architectural advances.
The importance of Banh It is also rooted in its spiritual tradition. For ages, this place functioned as a holy area where the Cham people could connect with their deities via rituals and devotion. Today, it remains a culturally significant site where tourists may explore the rich spiritual fabric of Vietnam's ancient civilizations. Its place in Southeast Asian history is significant, providing insights into commerce, religious, and cultural contacts that created the area.
Exploring the Banh It Towers is an engaging experience, not just visiting an archeological site. Climbing the slope to reach the towers is an experience in and of itself, with breathtaking views of the surrounding rice fields and waterways. Photographers, history buffs, and nature lovers will all find inspiration here.
The site boasts extraordinary brickwork and carvings that have lasted the test of time, with images of flames, animals, and legendary creatures to understand and enjoy. As you roam, take a minute to admire the Cham people's architectural ingenuity; the way the bricks are built without mortar while remaining securely linked is just breathtaking.
When is a good time to visit Banh It Tower Binh Dinh? How do I get there?
It takes half an hour to get from the center of Quy Nhon to the Banh It towers, which are situated on a low hill. It has distinct architectural features and is one of the outstanding temple towers of the Champa Dynasty, attracting the attention of researchers.
Located on a high hill in Dai Loc Hamlet, Phuoc Hiep Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, 25 kilometers from Qui Nhon City, Banh It Towers today consists of four towers: the Main Tower, the Nam (South) Tower, the Cong (Gate) Tower, and the Dong (East) Tower. The Main Tower is 22 meters high.
The Cham towers in Binh Dinh have been there for millennia and house hundreds of precious cultural and artistic objects. The local officials are now preparing a dossier to submit to UNESCO in order to get the Cham Towers in Binh Dinh designated as a World Heritage Site.
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