Po Nagar Cham Towers

Tháp Bà Ponagar

A group of 8th–13th-century Champa brick towers on a hill at the river mouth, dedicated to the goddess Po Nagar. It is Nha Trang's most important historic site, overlooking the Cai River and the fishing port.

Po Nagar Cham Towers stand on a hill on the north bank of the Cai River (Sông Cái), at the northern end of Nha Trang city. They were built gradually from the 8th to the 13th century by the Champa kingdom and are among the best-preserved Champa ruins in south-central Vietnam. The temple honours Po Nagar, the 'Mother of the Nation' in Cham belief, a goddess who taught people farming and weaving. It remains an active site of worship for the Cham people and ethnic Vietnamese, and worshippers often burn incense inside the main tower. The site has three levels. At the foot of the hill is the entrance area. The middle level holds the 'mandala' colonnade, ten octagonal brick pillars that originally formed the front hall for worship and are a classic photo spot. On the hilltop stands the tower group, which originally had six towers and now has four. The main tower is about 23 m high, built around 817, and houses a stone statue of the goddess, whom Vietnamese people revere as Thiên Y A Na. The brick carvings and lintel reliefs are well preserved, and the square between the towers hosts free traditional Cham dance and music performances several times a day. From the hilltop you can see the Cai River, the fishing boat quay and the Nha Trang Bridge at the river mouth. Entry costs about 30,000 VND, and the site is open 06:00–17:30. It is best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is soft and tour groups are fewer. Getting there: a Grab from the hotel area on Trần Phú Street takes about 10 minutes. You can also cycle north along the seafront and combine the visit with Hon Chong rock cape, 500 m away. Notes: you must take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees to enter the towers (grey robes are provided free at the entrance). Photography is not allowed inside the towers. The brick square is exposed to intense sun at noon.

Po Nagar Cham Towers

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