Tam Chuc Pagoda - All You Need To Know (History, Location, Guide)
Since its formal launch on February 16, 2019, the Tam Chuc Pagoda event has drawn tens of thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims in the early days of the Lunar New Year. The pagoda is located inside the 5,000-hectare Tam Chuc Tourist Complex. Tam Chuc Pagoda is 60 kilometers from Hanoi and is located in the northern province of Ha Nam. It is being constructed on the foundation of the previous pagoda and is flanked by freshly constructed buildings, a parking lot, a vast lake system, and dense trees. Visitors are captivated by Tam Chuc Pagoda's blend of outstanding design and breathtaking scenery.
Where is Tam Chuc Pagoda in Vietnam
Tam Chu Pagoda is located in Ba Sao town, Kim Bang district, Ha Nam province. The pagoda is approximately 60 kilometers from Hanoi and 30 kilometers from Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh province).
Tam Chuc is a religious tourist attraction in a breathtaking setting, with its front facing the lake and its back leaning against the mountain. The complex encompasses over 5,000 hectares, with Tam Chuc Pagoda covering 144 hectares with several structures.
According to legend, seven heavenly fairies traveled to the Tam Chuc Mountain region to wander the earth. Even though the God of Heaven sounded six bells to remind them to come home, they neglected to do so since the view was so breathtaking. The six islets on the lake in front of Tam Chuc Pagoda represent the six bells, while the seven mountains behind the pagoda represent the seven fairies.
Best time to visit Tam Chuc Pagoda
The spring, specifically in the early months of the year (January 10th to the end of March following the lunar calendar) is the best time to visit Tam Chuc Pagoda. This is also the time for the festival, and visitors can participate in many exciting activities. At that time the weather was also very convenient not hot and humid for visitors can join in worshipping Buddha and wishing for luck and health all year long.
The Architecture of Tam Chuc Pagoda
On the base of an older pagoda from the Dinh Dynasty that dates back more than a thousand years, the new Tam Chuc Pagoda is now being constructed.
The new pagoda complex is still being built in some of its constituent pieces. Cong Tam Quan, also known as the three-arched entrance gate, Dien Quan Am, Dien Tam The (also known as the Main Hall of Buddha of the Three Times), Dien Phap Chu, and Chua Ngoc are all components of Tam Chuc Pagoda.
Especially, this complex was built in accordance with the traditional architecture of Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam (Jade Pagoda). These locations have enormous sculptures of the Buddha that have been intricately crafted.
Tam Quan gate
As soon as you leave the boat pier, you will be able to view the enormous Tam Quan gate. You may take a walk to the main hall by one of the two broad pathways that are located on each side of the entryway. Additionally, a large number of young individuals go here in order to save themselves millions of likes on social media.
Three Palaces in Tam Chuc Pagoda
Observing the layout of the Tam Chuc pagoda, there are three main halls: Tam The Palace, Phap Chu Temple, and Quan Am Palace. Each shrine will honor a Buddha with a unique significance in the region. The three shrines share four reliefs sculpted by hand from Indonesian crater-sourced stone.
Dien Tam The (The Main Hall of Buddha of the Three Times)
Dien Tam The is the biggest in the Tam Chuc Complex. In the temple, there are three enormous black bronze Buddha sculptures symbolizing the past, present, and future. Each of these sculptures weighs around 80 tons and is adorned with a Bodhi leaf covered in gold. Dien Tam The's 5,100 square meters of floor space can accommodate up to 1,500 people. In addition, the pagoda has 12,000 paintings representing Buddha tales carved on the volcanic rock by Indonesian craftsmen.
Dien Phap Chu
Dien Phap Chu is located beneath Dien Tam The. The four enormous reliefs that cover the figures in the temple are the feature that draws the most attention. Each of the reliefs illustrates a significant event in Shakyamuni Buddha's life, such as his birth, enlightenment, sermon, or his passing into nirvana.
Dien Quan Am
Dien Quan Am is where the enormous statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara may be found. The whole sculpture is fashioned out of bronze, and it may weigh up to a hundred tons.
Kinh Pillar garden
After passing through three gates that lead to the Quan Am Palace, you will arrive at the garden of pillars. This garden has 32 massive columns weighing in at over 200 tons. Each column is made of Thanh Hoa green stone with a height of about 14m.
The column's base is designed in the form of a lotus, the body of the column is hexagonal, and the top of the column is a lotus bud. In addition to the hand-crafted sculptures of the Buddha's teachings. All of this created a magnificent place in front of the Quan Am Temple.
Jade Pagoda
Jade Pagoda is the last destination in the Tam Chuc complex. It has three stories and a curving roof and is situated atop That Tinh Mountain. This 13-meter-tall Jade Pagoda's flawless red granite construction captivates tourists. Inside the pagoda is a 4,000-kilogram Amitabha Buddha statue made of rubies.
All of the rubies used in the statue's creation were obtained from Myanmar. To reach the pagoda, tourists must up 299 stone steps, but it is well worth it to see the panoramic vista of a landscape shaped by nature's majesty and man's ingenuity.
How to Get to Tam Chuc Pagoda
The Tam Chuc Spiritual Tourism Complex can be found in Ba Sao Town, Kim Bang District, in the Ha Nam province. This location is just around 60 kilometers away from the city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. To get to Tam Chuc Pagoda, guests may take a public bus, ride a motorcycle, or drive themselves there in a private vehicle. The travel time from Hanoi is around one and a half hours on average, making it an ideal destination for a weekend excursion.
Public bus: From the Giap Bat – Phu Ly bus leaves from the Giap Bat Bus Station. The bus leaves the station every 15 minutes, and a ticket for one direction only costs 35,000 VND. After traveling for around one hour, you will arrive at Phu Ly Bus Station. From there, you may continue your journey to Tam Chuc Pagoda by taking a cab or a motorbike taxi (20 km).
Motorbike: Due to the short distance, you may go to Tam Chuc Pagoda by motorcycle and reach your destination immediately. Continue on National Highway 1A until you reach Cau Gie–Ninh Binh, and then continue on until you reach Ha Nam Province. If you forget to carry your driver's license, don't forget to wear a helmet, and don't forget to respect the traffic regulations, you will be caught since there are many police officers on the road.
Private car: If you are going to take a day trip to see Tam Chuc Pagoda, it is highly recommended that you reserve a private car together with a driver in advance. This is particularly true for those who are traveling in a large group or with elderly people. This choice is superior to the other two alternatives in terms of both safety and comfort.
Tips for Visiting Tam Chuc Pagoda
To access the main area, guests may take an electric vehicle or a boat from the dock near the parking lot. The round-trip cost of an electric automobile is 90,000 VND, while a round-trip boat ticket is 200,000 VND.
Tam Chuc Spiritual Tourism Complex is next to a number of well-known cultural and scenic attractions, such as Bai Dinh Pagoda and Perfume Pagoda, constituting a "Golden Triangle" of the best spiritual and ecological tourism destinations in northern Vietnam. You may include these stunning pagodas in your trip. As this is a spiritual location, you should not wear tank tops or shorts. It is advised that you have a scarf in your luggage to show monks respect.
At Tam Chuc Wharf, visitors may also go kayaking and have afternoon tea on a boat daily between 16:30 and 18:30.
- Hours of operation: 6 am to 18pm, Monday through Sunday.
- Admission is free.
Final Thoughts
Tam Chuc Pagoda is one of Vietnam's most renowned Buddhist structures. It is also one of the world's most prominent pagodas. If you are a person that paid attention to the culture and architecture of Vietnam, Tam Chuc Pagoda is the dream destination for you to explore and discover.
Visit our website at asianwaytravel.com if you are seeking Vietnam Tours for your upcoming vacation. We have over 100 Vietnam tour packages that may meet the demands of any client.
