Tam Chuc pagoda complex located in Kim Bang district of the Vietnam northern province of Ha Nam sits on a site of nearly 5,100ha, surrounded by lakes, mountains, forests and valleys.
The site sits on the foundations of an ancient Tam Chuc Pagoda dating back to the Dinh dynasty over 1,000 years ago.
The pagoda, which has been entirely damaged with time, is being rebuilt with the first phase expected to be completed in May 2019 when the pagoda hosts the UN Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).
The Tam Chuc pagoda complex’s main construction covers 144 ha with great worshipping facilities such as Ngoc Temple, Three-Buddha Temple, Patriarch Temple, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Temple, Three-entrance Gate, International Conference Center Entrance, etc.
Ngoc Temple sits on top of That Tinh (seven-peak) mountain with 468 meters high and 299 steps made of stone blocks.
The three-Buddha temple has the height of 45 meters with three-layer roof and an area of 5,400 square meters that can sit up to 5,000 people in a Buddhist service. The Patriarch temple has a two-layer roof with 31 meters high and a functioning capacity of 3,000 square meters. The Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is 30.5 meters high and a functioning area of 3,000 square meters.
The Tam Chuc worshipping site also includes an ancestral worshipping temple with the height of 25 meters, Cao Son Temple, Tay Ngai Lake, a Mother Goddess temple and other supporting facilities.
The international conference center was built above the lake with 31 meters high that can sit up to 3,500 participants.
In addition, the worshipping complex has several guest houses, places for preserving relics and natural landscapes.
As many as 12,000 murals depicting legends of Buddha carved into volcano rock.
Tam Chuc temple worships emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, empress Đinh Dương Thị Nguyệt and Bach Ma deity
The Prime Minister has agreed with a proposal for Ha Nam provincial government in collaboration with concerning localities to prepare a dossier recommending the UNESCO to recognize the Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam) – Huong Pagoda (Hanoi) – Van Long (Ninh Binh) – Dong Tam (Hoa Binh) site as a world cultural and natural heritage.
Source: vietnamnews.
