Monuments of the Cham culture still stand

Tucked away just 2km from the center of Nha Trang City, Thap Ba, a Po Nagar Cham Tower, is one of the significant destinations for enthusiasts of culture, old architecture and ethnic Vietnamese peoples.

The Cham towers complex is the only relic of the Cham culture. The towers have a long history of establishment, existence, preservation and development from the eighth century to now. The towers were built when Hinduism prevailed in the land.

The tower is about 23m high and holds statues of goddesses and animals. Striking inside the tower is a giant statue of a goddess sitting on a lotus flower and leaning her back on a large rock in the shape of a bodhi tree leaf.

The outside stone wall of the tower is covered with images of dancers in traditional costumes, sailors, farmers husking rice and hunters with bows and arrows. There is an altar with a statue of Po Nagar with 12 hands, two hands on her knees and five embracing weapons on the right side and five more holding bells, plates, bows and horns on the left side. Scattered around the temple are statues of humans and animals that augment the ancient Cham architecture and décor.

The complex also puts on traditional dance performances by Cham ladies.

(Source: SGT)

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