Located 95 km south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh province, Bai Dinh Pagoda is perched on a limestone mountain slope covered with lush vegetation. It is one of the most famous Buddhist temple complex in Vietnam for not only monumental architecture but also traditional features.
Bai Dinh Pagoda covers an area of 539 hectares, including 27 hectares of the old pagoda, 80 hectares of the new pagoda. As for the name of the pagoda, the ancients used to say: “Bai” means the practice of worship, “Dinh” means the top, “Bai Dinh” means “the worship of Heaven and Earth, of Buddha and heavenly angels”.
Bai Dinh is one of the largest Buddhist complexes in Southeast Asia, very famous for several of its records, including the corridor of the pagoda with the largest number of statues of arhats (500 statues), the largest bronze bell in Southeast Asia (36 tons), the highest stupa in Asia (100m high), etc..
The ancient pagoda is located at 187 m above sea level on Mount Dinh. To reach it, you have to climb more than 300 steps. It has a main sanctuary flanked by two caves: Blood (Light) on the right where Shakyamuni Buddha is honored, and You (Dark) on the left, dedicated to the Mother Goddess of the nation (Mâu). On the altar are traditional statues representing the Buddhas of the past, present and future, Sakyamuni Buddha and Kwan Yi.
The new pagoda, built in 2003, is located on the slopes of Ba Rau hill overlooking Dam Thi Lake and the Hoang Long River, an ideal location according to geomantic rules. It is a huge complex that stretches in length and height, from the main entrance to the shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha, passing through the bell tower and the shrine dedicated to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guang Yin), the Lady of Mercy of the Buddhist religion.
La Han corridor
Installed along the two 1,700 m long corridors of La Han, 500 statues of arhats have been carved in blue stone by Ninh Binh craftsmen. Each statue has a different shape and expression, showing all the states of mind of the man: joy, anger, satisfaction, frustration, etc. At the foot of each statue, one finds the name of the arhat in question.
The bell tower
The octagonal-shaped Bell Tower is built on three floors. It houses a 36-ton bronze bell which is considered the largest in the country and in Southeast Asia. Below you will find a 70 ton bronze drum. Buddhists believe that the sound of the bell can free people from their suffering and bring them serenity.
Buddhist temples
Two main buildings are the temples of Tam The and Phap Chu. These two temples cover a total area of 1000 square meters.
Phap Chu temple is 22 meters high and contains five partitions. You will find a pure bronze statue of Sykamuni Buddha 10 meters high and weighing 100 tons which is recognized as the largest statue in Vietnam in 2012.
Being the tallest, largest and grandest building in Bai Dinh Pagoda, Tam The Temple contains 3 bronze Buddha statues of 50 tons each represent for the past, present and future.
The stupa
Located west of Tam The Temple, the 13-story, 100-meter-high stupa is known as the tallest stupa in Southeast Asia. You can reach the 12th floor by climbing 72 steps and then taking the elevator to view the entire Bai Dinh pagoda complex.
For years, the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival has been held from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the end of the 3rd lunar month. Bai Dinh, one of the most important Buddhist centers in the country, hosts thousands of monks, nuns, worshippers and incense burners.
Bai Dinh is a spiritual tourism destination that is one of the main tourist attractions in Ninh Binh. It is both a natural and cultural place that will give you an exciting look at the Vietnamese culture.
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