Reclining Buddha in Vietnam - a short excursion to two unique places. Reclining buddha statue, phan Thiet, vietnam The largest buddha in vietnam
Mount Taku is south of the city Phan Thiet, just 30 km away. It is known for the fact that it has a statue of the largest reclining Buddha in all of Vietnam. But first things first.
Experienced advice:
Namely, at noon, you will be on Mount Taku and, most likely, burn yourself.
Despite the close location of Mount Taku to Mui Ne, it took us about an hour and a half to get there. Since in Vietnam, driving at a speed of more than 40 km / h is not only prohibited, but also impossible due to the large number of motorbikes on the road.
Driving through Phan Thiet we enjoyed sightseeing tour in this city.
And we decided to stop near the garden to see how the dragon's heart (pityachia) grows and take photos. The roads in Vietnam are very picturesque, we drove and enjoyed the views from the window. So time flew by.
At the foot of Mount Taku, there is a park with flowers. An electric car was waiting for us in it, which literally drove (if we compare with the bus that drove us) to the foot of the mountain.
The mountain is 475 meters high. You can climb it on foot up the steps (as some Vietnamese do). But this will take a lot of time and effort, it is clear from the benches, which are located through a certain number of steps.
We climbed cable car... It is not as big as in Dalat, but it is also interesting and modern.
The mountain is famous for the fact that the monk Cham Chuu Duc lived on it in the 19th century. He cured the mother of the emperor from a serious illness. Where the monk originally stayed, the emperor, in gratitude, built a beautiful pagoda after the monk's death. And where Cham Chuu Duc lived in last years- on the top of the mountain. A modern reclining Buddha statue was built. It was built in the 60s of the 20th century with the money of believers.
On the mountain is the Linh Son Truong Tho pagoda (the eternal sacred pagoda on the mountain), there are a lot of Buddhist statues in it. When we were on the mountain (May 2013), the temple was under reconstruction, and everything from the temple was moved to the hangar.
From the temple to the statues of the reclining Buddha, one has to climb the steps. On the way, we saw the tombs of the monks who served at the temple.
The Reclining Buddha is also called passing into nirvana. On Mount Taku, the statue of Buddha reaches 49 meters in length. The height of the statue is about 11 meters. Which is not accidental:
- 49 meters in length, the statue symbolizes 49 steps in the path of development;
- 11 meters in height - symbolizes the 11 steps of Buddhism.
In this sacred place, you can make a wish or ask Buddhist deities for help in solving a difficult issue.
There is a small souvenir market near the cable car, where you can buy all sorts of trinkets. We bought cinnamon and a bracelet there.
Since we bought a combined excursion, then we went to the Binh Chau hot springs and the crocodile farm. I advise everyone to do this, because in Vietnam there are a lot interesting places, which are worth visiting, but they are located far away (due to the speed limit of 40 km / h on the highway, and on settlements and even less).
And here are some more photos from Mount Taku:
Park at the foot of Mount Taku
A fountain in the park at the foot. Truth didn't work when we were there
Statues on the way to the reclining Buddha
We continue to tell (and show) what is interesting in the Vietnamese village of Mui Ne and its environs.
Perhaps one of the places that is definitely worth a visit is Mount Taku, on the top of which is the largest statue of the reclining Buddha in Vietnam and several Buddhist temples. It is also notable for its cable car with a funicular, which offers a very picturesque view of the surrounding area.
Mount Taku is located quite far, 50 kilometers from Mui Ne itself, so it is best to get there by bike or buy an excursion that includes visiting it. In principle, bus number 4 from Phan Thiet still runs there, but you also need to get to it (from Mui Ne to Phan Thiet go number 1 and number 9), besides, buses run without a clear timetable and stop moving early, so there is a risk there get stuck.
If you go from Phan Thiet by bike, two roads lead to Mount Taku - one is short (~ 50 km) along the highway to Ho Chi Minh, and the other is long (~ 75 km), along the seashore. If you have enough time and good suspension (a 10-15 km piece of road in front of the mountain itself is badly broken), it is better to go along long road- at the same time you can see the Kega lighthouse. Plus the road is pretty deserted and picturesque.
It so happened that we went to this mountain three times. And every time something happened to us. The first time we arrived too late, and there was only half an hour left before closing (the funicular ends at 16:30). It was raining and we were soaked to the skin on our way back. The second time, a scooter broke down in the middle of the road, which we still rented at that time. And it broke down quite badly - something happened to the automatic transmission. It was not possible to repair it, but in a car repair shop, where it was somehow possible to get there, they twirled something, the engine spun at high revs, but the clutch worked. As a result, we got there. Well, and the third time, when we took my grandmother to Mount Taku Temina, she twisted her leg badly, but bravely waddled along the mountain, and then healed her foot for a whole month. However, all these obstacles were worth it, because the place on the mountain is absolutely amazing and special.
You can climb the mountain in two ways: free on foot (more than two hours) and for money by electric car and funicular. It is most profitable to buy a complex round-trip ticket for 250 thousand VND. Children below 100 cm travel free of charge. For older children (from 100 cm to 140 cm), a visit will cost 150 thousand VND. A visit to the mountain itself costs 30 thousand VND.
Here, next to the flower bed, electric cars stop, which are taken to the beginning of the cable car. But if you want to walk a little, you can walk there - it's pretty close.
On the second level, where the electric car arrives, there is this observation deck... This is not to say that the view from there is magnificent, it is too low. But you can admire the mountains in the distance and take a picture against their background.
But the most breathtaking views are, of course, when you ride the cable car.
There are a variety of souvenir shops near the cable car station.
Various animals, reptiles and birds live in the surrounding rocks and on the slopes of the mountain. There are even monkeys, but we were unable to capture them.
The road to the temples is decorated with multi-colored flags.
This staircase behind the gate leads to the Reclining Buddha. But don't be in a hurry. If you walk past along the path, you can visit another temple, where not so many tourists wander.
The temple is dedicated to the master Tran Huu Duc, who practiced on the mountain in a cave in the 19th century.
The interior decoration of the small temple is quite traditional for Vietnam.
Below is the permanent statue of the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin.
To get to the main statue of the Reclining Buddha, you need to climb the high stairs.
Complete the Temple under Construction.
Admire the view from above.
First you will be greeted by statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattvas and Mahasthamaprapta.
And only then, having walked along a long staircase between the trees, you can see the Reclining Buddha.
A lot of people come here, but there is no feeling of crowd or bustle. There are benches at the foot of the statue, and if you sit down on one of them, you can feel the peace and quiet of this place.
There is another hidden attraction on the mountain that is worth visiting if you are not afraid of jumping over rocks and you are not claustrophobic. You need to face the reclining Buddha and look to the right, you will see barely noticeable arrows drawn on the stones and pointing somewhere to the right. If you follow the arrows, then after 20-30 meters you will see a hole among the stones - this is a small underground temple. You can squeeze into it if you slide down. There is little space inside, and there is a small altar with incense smoking.
Unfortunately, we do not have photos of this place, because we went there together with Tyoma and did not take a camera with us. Going down inside, we made offerings and good wishes, and sat in silence for a while, until Tyoma asked for it back. it perfect place for meditation.
Somewhere in the distance you can see the sea.
On one fine day of numerous weekends, we went to the oldest lighthouse in Vietnam. The road to the lighthouse is probably the most enjoyable of those I have ridden on a moped. From Mui Do not drive about 30 km along a winding road along the sea with good coverage and surrounding greenery. By the way, we saw how the dragon heart fruit grows π An exciting sight. Small-sized dragons graze on the lawns and when they reach a certain age, their heart is ripped out π Actually not π Small bushes with a human height, similar to aloe branches. Whole plantations are spread out along the road to Ke Ga lighthouse.
Help from planetofhotels.com:
Not far from the mainland, on the island of Ke Ga, there rises a lighthouse, which is the oldest and highest in the country. The island of Ke Ga is also called Honba by the people, its area is 5 hectares, its entire territory is covered with many yellow marble blocks of various sizes and shapes, century-old plants grow here.
According to information received from the rangers of the Mui Ne sight, in the last years of the 19th century, Ke Ga Island was the most important outpost on the sea route from Fang Rang to Vung Tau. It was in this place that the ships crashed for various reasons, often they could not determine their position and location coordinates.
To ensure the safety of movement of French military and merchant ships different countries on this site, the French explored the area and built the Ke Ga lighthouse on the island. Its construction lasted 2 years, was completed in 1899, it was commissioned in 1900.
The building was designed by an architect from France. The total height of the tower is 35 meters, it stands on a hill, so the total height of the building together with the height of the hill is 65 meters. The masonry of the building was carried out according to the exact calculation, each stone has a certain size in accordance with the location in the building. All this greatly facilitated the work of the builders, who just needed to install the stone in a predetermined place and strengthen it with a layer of mortar.
For the construction of the searchlight, a special lamp was used, its radius of action is 22 nautical miles, which is equivalent to 40 kilometers. Inside the tower there is a steel spiral staircase, the total number of steps in which is 183. All building materials, including a lamp, a generator and a staircase, were brought directly from France.
At the foot of the sights of Vietnam, there is a concrete road, which was built during the time of the French colonialists, centenary frangipani grow on its sides, they were planted simultaneously with the construction of the lighthouse. They keep the memory of those distant times, they grow well, in summer time are covered with many flowers that emit a wonderful scent.
From the coast to the island, there are completely non-regular ships of various types. different cost ticket. But we did not swim to the lighthouse, because such structures are beautiful from afar.
The lighthouse itself somehow did not really impress us. Maybe it was our blurry look that played a role? Or high expectations? Or an atypical-looking gray lighthouse? Who knows ... But the people around were impressed. Fishermen who tried to catch something from the sea with nets and Vietnamese who were riding a bike along the beach.
There is a cafe near the lighthouse where we were served the strongest coffee in my life. Black as pitch, he just didn't want to pour down his throat. We tried to dilute it with condensed milk. But this practically did not even change the color, but it corrected the taste and the coffee was destroyed π
Help from nashaplaneta.net
The mountain is 694 meters high and the temperature at the top is several degrees lower than at the bottom, although you can hardly feel it. You can climb to the top by cable car, and for lovers hiking the idea of ββclimbing on foot through a real wild jungle can be interesting. But keep in mind that the ascent will be very laborious and time-consuming. It will take at least 3 hours, even if you are in good physical shape.
The mountain itself, as it were, includes several attractions at once: natural landscapes and wild jungle, cable car, Linh Son Trong Pagoda and the largest statue of the reclining Buddha (49 meters long) in Vietnam. It is thanks to the pagoda and the Buddha statue that the cable car appeared here, and, moreover, it is intended not so much for tourists as for local residents... The fact is that Buddhist believers consider this place sacred and pilgrimages are made here. There is a restaurant at the top near the pagoda. Those who wish can spend the night in the hostel (guesthouse) upstairs.
At the foot of the mountain, where the ascent and the cable car begin, a whole complex is organized. There is a guarded parking lot, many souvenir shops, beautiful garden, and even have their own public transport- small electric vehicles that carry visitors from the entrance to the territory to the cable car station.
The ascent on the cable car opens up picturesque views of the surroundings. The way to the top on it takes no more than 10 minutes. It is at the top that all the most interesting is located. There is a whole complex of temples, pagodas and statues, and construction continues today. After visiting the pagodas, it is imperative to climb even higher, where on the side of the mountain is hidden by the trunks of trees big statue reclining Buddha 49 meters long. It is so huge that it does not even fit into the lens of most cameras, so you only have to photograph it from the side.
Yes, the Vietnamese did not think about the length of the statue π Only Go Pro Orestes captured the great man with a wide angle π But even then he came out round. So it didn't work out very well. I only had to take a picture of Buddha's legs π
The place is extremely touristy. Despite the statements about the pilgrimage. It feels like everything was built here yesterday. Everything shimmers with fresh beauty and white paint.
The cable car, or rather the cabins themselves, were brought from Switzerland. The cable car is pleasant and quite long. Our Ai-Petrinskaya nervously smokes on the sidelines π
And the views are interesting. There are plains and small hills all around, and you are on a mountain almost 700 meters high.
While we were climbing to the statue of the reclining Buddha, we saw an interesting tree that looked like a Christmas tree. I wish we had this on New Yearπ I donβt know what itβs called, but it looks cool:
Maybe you know? Write in the comments if you are in the know π Lin Son Trong Pagoda takes you back to basics. Makes you think about the eternal. But not for long. Perhaps these are all tourists, like we have charged this place with incomprehensible energy. And they continue to charge. But the spiritual bonds did not grow stronger here.
But nevertheless, if you are in Vietnam, be sure to visit here. Moreover, it is not far from Phan Thiet. The ascent to Budda is best done by cable car for 120,000. Entrance ticket costs 20,000. And an electric car for 10,000 is not worth taking. Walk better on foot. There is something to see π
It is one of the largest in Vietnam and the whole South-East Asia... The length of the architectural creation is 49 meters. It lies literally in a Buddhist center 40 km from Phan Thiet on a mountain called Ta Ku. According to experts, the uniqueness of the statue lies in the fact that the huge statue was carved from a solid rocky base of snow-white color. His Holiness is depicted lying in a pose of appeasement.
Tourists not only admire the beauty of the great statue, but also allow themselves to lie down on the Buddha's hand. According to the vacationers, this gives your thoughts a balanced character. Everything here is in a state of tranquility - both the enlightened one, shining in the sun, and the atmosphere itself, and even the pine trees, from which a sound emanates that resembles the whisper of a thousand people. Find out what.
Features of the reclining Buddha statue
Mount Ta Ku, together with the famous statue, is revered by the entire Buddhist world as a saint. A great number of pilgrims and curious tourists from all over the region flock here. For the most part, many are interested directly in the giant sculpture. However, the sacred site is not limited to an imposing statue. The surroundings are rich in many pagodas, stone chairs for relaxation, amazing views from the funicular.
The monument was erected in 1962. Then the statue was united into a single architectural complex located on extinct volcano... The safe volcanic formation reaches a height of 700 meters. Locals call Mount Temple because of the large number of religious shrines.
The monument is often in the process of restoration, since the damp element is not subject to natural stone. However, the cheerful monks offer tourists another activity - to take two bricks and carry them to the top, thereby demonstrating their commitment to the Holy One. It is likely that in this way the cunning adherents of Buddhism arranged a rise with building materials to the upper objects, which are constantly under the influence of winds, moisture, and the sun.
At the same time, there are two ways to help the complex: difficult and lightweight. At the first, you need to take bricks and drag them through the real Forbidden Forest, about 2300 meters. The slope in some places reaches 45 degrees, and ravines, rivers, curious monkeys are constantly encountered on the way. Be sure to stock up on water, mosquito spray, a warm sweater, and patience. Having reached the desired pagoda, you feel a relief that borders on euphoria.
You can choose the lighter option by climbing the funicular. However, in this case, no sins are forgiven you. But the desire remains to enjoy the unprecedented beauty of mountain-forest Vietnam.
Hello dear readers.
Buddhism in Vietnam originated in the 1st - 3rd centuries AD, and the first Buddhist schools appeared in the second half of the 6th century. From the beginning of the XI to the middle of the XIV centuries. this philosophical and religious trend flourished.
Further, there is a gradual decline until the 80s of the XX century. Despite such a difficult historical path, Buddhism in Vietnam left a noticeable mark, both in literature and in architecture - in the form of pagodas, columns and sculptures. Today we will talk about two statues of the reclining Buddha, which are located in the Vietnamese cities of Vung Tau and Phan Thiet (Phan Thiet).
Now, among the many religions preached in Vietnam, Buddhism occupies an honorable first place. Many Buddhist sights, popular with the local population and tourists, appeared only in the 20th century. These include the reclining Buddha in Vietnam. Particular attention is drawn to two statues located near Phan Thiet and in the city. Vung Tau.
Phan Thiet
This is a relatively young resort in Vietnam, stretching along the coast of the South China Sea. It includes the city and adjacent villages, in particular Mui Ne (7 km to Phan Thiet). This is the capital of kitesurfers - the sea is stormy and the wind is constantly blowing.
There are few attractions and they are located quite far away - the statue of the reclining Buddha is located on sacred grief Ta Ku (Temple Mount) is about 700 meters high, which is 30 km southwest of the city.
What is
At the very beginning of the path (at the foot of the mountain), there is a parking lot for cars, a complex of souvenir shops. All this is surrounded by a blooming garden.
On the way up, the traveler comes across various statues and pagodas. Interestingly, their construction is still underway. The reclining Buddha statue is located at the very top of the mountain and is cleverly hidden by tree trunks.
Its dimensions are impressive - 49 meters long, 7 meters high. This is the largest Buddha statue in Vietnam. You need to photograph it from the side, otherwise it will not fit into the lens.
The history of the appearance of the complex goes back to the 19th century. Until 1857, the monk Chan Huu Duc lived here. He treated people, tamed wild animals. Once he managed to heal the empress herself. The emperor's reciprocal gesture was a complex of pagodas. The reclining Buddha, which is above, is the creation of modern masters.
How to get there
The complex, which also includes Linh Son Trong Pagoda, can be reached by bus or rented motorbike. To see the attraction, it is best to stay on vacation in Mui Ne or Phan Thiet.
Until the very temple complex you can walk from the bus stop - it's a 3-hour walk up the scorching sun, or take a funicular, taking pictures along the way beautiful views and relaxing at the same time.
The road to the statue is well formed - it goes through the wild jungle, is buried in greenery, but you need to be in good physical shape to overcome the rise. Moreover, further you need to survey the surroundings, take panoramic shots and enjoy the place itself, and this is problematic when "the heart jumps out of the chest" and sweat pours into three streams.
Advice. When traveling on the pilgrimage path, do not take anything with you except water. Be sure to wear clothes that cover all parts of your body - light linen or cotton, cover your head with a hat or baseball cap.
Visit time and price
The attraction is open from 6 am to 5 pm. Paid entrance. The price depends on the method of climbing up:
- on foot - within 20,000 VND;
- by cable car within 80,000 VND one way plus 10,000 electric cars to get from the entrance to the funicular itself;
- a complex ticket costs within 100,000 VND.
Not far from the pagoda, on the top of the mountain, there is a good restaurant. If the pilgrim is very tired, you can spend the night right in the pagoda (there is a hostel).
Vung Tau
This city bears the proud name of the Vietnamese Riviera and at the same time is the oil capital of Vietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Distance from southern capital(Ho Chi Minh city) 128 km. Vung Tau was named the Vietnamese Riviera for a reason. Previously, the local elite lived here - the entire coast is built up with villas in the style of French colonists.
They are now turned into luxury hotels and is fully adapted to the needs of tourists and local holidaymakers.
Vung Tau is not a resort, but a city of entertainment and shopping. Here stormy night life- there are casinos, nightclubs, bars and restaurants open around the clock. On weekends, starting on Friday evening, wealthy Vietnamese from Ho Chi Minh come here to hang out and escape from the gray days.
The appearance of the city attracts:
- luxury in everything;
- cleanliness and well-groomed;
- excellent roads;
- many kilometers embankment;
- beautiful architecture.
Temple of the reclining buddha
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha has a second name - the house of pure nirvana. The statue of the Enlightened One is much more modest here than in Phan Thiet, only 12 meters long. Located on the ground floor, on a high pedestal. Made of mahogany.
12-meter Buddha statue made from a whole mahogany trunk
On the second floor, fish are swimming in a boat carved in the shape of a dragon snake. Above is the bell tower, where a huge bell is installed. You can make a wish - the monk offers everyone a piece of paper and a pen. After that, stick a note on the rim and hit the bell with something (by the way, there is a special knocker stick hanging).
They say that wishes always come true. If you go to the balcony at this level, you can admire the beautiful views of the South China Sea.
Also here you can see statues of various incarnations of the Buddha and mosaic paintings.
How to get to Vung Tau and attractions
You will have to choose from two methods - ground and water. It is much more interesting and cooler on the water. Who does not know what Vietnamese roads are, it is better not to get acquainted with this phenomenon.
In addition, by car from Ho Chi Minh City it takes at least 4 hours, and even then, if you don't get stuck in a traffic jam. This pleasure is not cheap, about $ 80. The journey along the water will take no more than one and a half hours and will cost about $ 10.
It is quite easy to get directly to the attraction. With your back to Vung Tau Pier, cross the road, turn right onto Ha Long Street. Look for a blue sign with an arrow and a name in Vietnamese Niet Ban Tinh XΓ‘ (the spelling is approximate - there are many apostrophes in Vietnamese that you can't put on a Russian keyboard).
Alternatively, rent a bike, you still need to move around the city somehow. Distances here are decent, and public transport is not at all developed. In addition, the roads are half empty, so those who are afraid of getting into trouble need not be afraid.
The second option to get to the home of pure nirvana is a taxi. However, you need to be careful with them. Directions here by the counter. Enterprising Vietnamese can travel around the city for a long time, reeling in dongs for an unlucky tourist, and, in the end, bring them to the wrong place.
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha was built for 5 years exclusively with voluntary donations from believers. The multi-tiered complex covers an area of ββover 10,000 m 2 , conveniently located - on Mount Nuino, from where the views of amazing beauty open up. The entrance is free.
Conclusion
Here's a short tour of the reclining Buddha statues in Vietnam. Dear readers, if the article turned out to be useful for you, share it on social networks.
