Po Nagar Cham Towers

The Po Nagar Cham Towers is one of the many relics of the Champa Kingdom, which was the most significant power inSouth Vietnamfrom 200-1720AD. Cham, an ancient civilization ruled Vietnam for 10 centuries, is said to have root in the India’s Buddhism, and its unmistakable architecture and art style had spread widely across places in Vietnam. Thus, it is no strange to find there is a great deal of similarities between the Po Nagar Cham Towers in Nha Trang and some others within India.

In Nha Trang the Po Nagar Cham temple complex (locally referred to as Thap Ba) is situated on a hill in downtown of the city, and is reached by crossing theCaiRiverfrom the main tourist stretch.

The four towers remaining from an original eight are truly beautiful and charming. Each of them was built to dedicate to a unique deity. The largest, which is23mhigh, was built in 817 AD and contains a linga and a statue dedicated to Ponagar, who is said to have taught new agricultural and weaving techniques to people of the area. In gratitude they have built the complex to honor the Goddess. The central tower is in honor of Cri Cambhu who blesses devotees with fertility, hence childless couples often visit and pray there. TheNorth Westtower is in honor of Sanhaka, a wood cutter and foster father to Ponagar. The tower in the south was dedicated to Ganeca, the daughter of Ponagar.

If you are interesting in history, you can be amazed to find hundreds of ancient relics displayed inside the complex.