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Cham towers have unique architecture. Photo vnexpress |
The central province of Binh Dinh is famous for a series of Cham towers with unique architecture.
Eight historical sites with 14 towers are located across Quy Nhon city and districts of Tay Son, An Nhon, and Tuy Phuoc.
Most of the towers were built around Do Ban Citadel (also called Emperor Citadel) in An Nhon district in the 11th-12th century under the Champa Kingdom. There are many relievos sculpted around these towers.
Within a 40-km radius of the city, tourists are able to visit most Cham towers here. Doi (twin) Towers are the nearest ones located in Dong Da ward. Two towers, one big and one small, were built side by side in late 12th century.
Banh It or Bac (Silver) Towers were built on the peak of a hill, 300 metres from the main road. Their design closely follows the Champa architecture. Tourists could see another when standing at a gate of each tower.
From Banh It Towers, tourists also could enjoy a panoramic view of this very fertile countryside. They are called Banh It towers because they look like banh it la gai (three-cornered glutinous cake filled with green bean paste), a specialty in the central region.
Most Cham towers here are good examples of Cham craftsmanship. Leaf- and flower-shaped motifs are only found on edges of the roof, and dancing senses are found on false gates. Carvings of dancing girls and many valuable religious sculptures such as the stone statue of Siva, statue of Ganesa, statue of Goddess Uma, and bronze statue of Bhama, are on displayed.
Canh Tien tower is 500 metres far from the national road No 1A. Locating in Nhon Hay commune of An Nhon district, the tower belongs to the centre of Do Ban Citadel.
The 20m-high tower has got a square base and several stories built of bricks. In the distance, it looks like two wings of a fairy flying up to the sky.
Canh Tien is also one of the towers of typical Binh Dinh architectural style (dating back to the 12th century). Its structure is composed of the front hall and shrine (now, the front hall has collapsed). The outer walls are decorated with pilasters and vertical, protruding frames. Different from other Cham Towers, the pilasters and edges of the roofs of Canh Tien Tower are built of sandstone. At the four corners of each tower’s storey are stone motifs of phoenix tail. In the distance, Canh Tien Tower looks like a great, flashing fire.
Phu LocTower (in Phu Cat District) (dated in the 12th century) is 29 metre high. It is located on top of a hill which is 76 metre above the sea level. Although it is broken quite a lot, the tower still remains majestic figure of an ancient architectural work.
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