On Kon Tum mountain town, in addition to admiring the beautiful natural landscape picture, remember to visit Bac Ai Kon Tum Pagoda – the oldest ancient temple in the Central Highlands and is the pride of the people here.
Bac Ai Kon Tum Pagoda is the first Buddhist establishment present here. This temple possesses the simple and rustic architectural beauty and has become a favorite sightseeing destination for those who want to find peace and tranquility in their hearts. As the first temple built in Kon Tum with bold Hue architecture, it has created a unique beauty for the temple. And this is also one of the ancient temples of the mountain town people recognized as a national historic site.
Bac Ai Kon Tum pagoda in the middle of the mountain town
About Bac Ai Kon Tum pagoda
Where is Bac Ai Kon Tum pagoda?
Address: To Dinh Bac Ai – Quyet Thang Ward – City. Kon Tum – Kon Tum Province
Bac Ai Pagoda is located in Kon Tum town, Kon Tum province. The east of the pagoda is bordered by Tran Phu street, the west of the pagoda is adjacent to Mac Dinh Chi street, the south is bordered by Phan Chu Trinh street, the north borders on Ba Trieu street. This is an ancient temple so the architecture of Bac Ai pagoda is still intact as it was in the beginning. The identity, the statue of Guan Yin, the wooden counter … are still one of the items that are still intact here.
History of Bac Ai pagoda
Located on a hill that used to be a pristine forest, the ancient pagoda of Bac Ai was built in 1932 according to the Tonkin sect. After completion, the pagoda was called To Dinh Bac Ai . Mr. Vo Chuan, coaching Kon Tum province, designed and supervised both Kinh people and ethnic minorities to declare the old hill in order to build a pagoda, designed in the word “Mon”.
Old Uncle Ai Kon Tum pagoda
In 1931 in the year of Tan Mui, the central regions of the Central Vietnam suffered from drought, losing consecutive crops, people’s lives fell into misery. Therefore, in the last years of 1031 and 1932, a large migration from central provinces such as Hue, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Quang Nam rushed into the highlands and Kon Tum.
In this exodus up to 70% of people starving along the way, 30% remaining to the promised land. And in order to maintain their daily life, this villager has cleared the forest for cultivation. It is also from here that they face many dangers when being attacked by wild beasts, cobra attacks, killing many people.
In 1932, Mr. Vo Chuan invited Mr. Hoang Thong to preside over Bach Sa pagoda, Quy Nhon and his monks to go to Kon Tum for 3 days to pray for the death of his sins. After his son’s medical examination, he requested Mr. Hoang Thong to prove his identity in Bac Ai. Bac Ai means immense love, regardless of the religion of the Montagnard and the Kinh.
The ancient pagoda of Bac Ai was also granted a signboard “Sac Tu Bac Ai Tu” by King Bao Dai in 1933 and presented with two opposite sentences and engraved with gold lipstick on both sides of the column in front of Dai Hung Buu Dien. In 1990, the temple was restored with the organization of Venerable Thich Chanh Quang.
How to move to Bac Ai pagoda, Kon Tum
To move to the ancient pagoda of Bac Ai Kon Tum, visitors can choose one of the means of plane or road to get to the city. Kon Tum:
+ Airplane
- If you want to go to Kon Tum by plane, you will land at Pleiku airport, far from the city. Kon Tum 50km. Then you can take a taxi or bus to return to the city. Kon Tum.
+ Go by road
- The route Hanoi – Kon Tum is about 1080km long. Therefore, you can choose reputable car houses such as Viet Tan, Dang Khoa, Hong Anh with the price of about 550k – 600k.
- The route Ho Chi Minh – Kon Tum is about 576km long and the departure time to Kon Tum usually starts from 17h – 6:30. On average, there will be 7 bus trips a day to Kon Tum, so you can go to reputable car companies such as Dong Tien, Minh Quoc, Viet Tan, Truong Giang … It will take up to 12 hours to get to Kon Tum. so visitors can take the 17h ride will be reasonable. Fares from the city. Ho Chi Minh City to Kon Tum ranged from 230k – 250k.
- The distance from Da Nang – Kon Tum is about 350km long, so you can go to Viet Tan and Minh Quoc car companies with travel time of 8 hours. Ticket prices range from 180k – 200k.
How to move to Bac Ai Kon Tum pagoda
After moving to Kon Tum, visitors can find hotels and motels in the city center for easy sightseeing and transportation. Because To Dinh Bac Ai is located in Quyet Thang ward and about 1km from the center of Kon Tum city. Should want to visit the old temple of this mountain town you can rent a motorbike taxi, or take a taxi or also walk to the temple.
Architectural beauty of the ancestral pagoda of Bac Ai Kon Tum
The architecture of Bac Ai Kon Tum pagoda was built in the North-South direction with Mon-shaped design. Right from the moment you step foot in the pagoda, you will see the gate of the three judges, going to win the house to the main hall in the center of the temple. Next to the left and right are Dong Lang and Tay Lang.
Main hall area
The main hall of the ancestral temple of Bac Ai includes 3 rooms and 2 left. The old floor is divided into 3 compartments, including: front street, middle electricity and upper palace. In this space, we worship Di Da Tam Hon, Tam The Buddha, Hoa Nghiem Tam Thanh …
To Bac Ai’s Family
Almost all areas of the pagoda are roofed with roofs surrounded by brick walls and whitewashed, looking very clean and solemn. The ceiling of the pagoda is stamped with a font, truss, beams are all used from precious woods such as purple, rosewood, and chit to resonate with the talented hands of the old Hue artist to bring carved lines with lines. sophisticated, sophisticated, elaborate every detail. In addition, there is a wooden pillar symbolizing 7 unicorns of a Japanese officer who committed suicide behind the temple at the end of World War II and a stele inscribed with the merit of Captain Phap Quenin.
The pagoda is roofed with tiled roof, whitewashed
The area outside the main hall
Outside the main hall is Hoa Vien with the appearance of many steles, towers, tombs, shrines to worship Son Than, Doan Quan, Than Hoang Bon Canh and tru houses. Because it has been restored, only a few artifacts of artistic value appear, such as: Correspondence The Am, The Holy Mother Statue is made of glazed ceramic material, parallel sentence, Hoanh Phi, color box. , Buu seal … is displayed solemnly and faintly traces of time.
Statue of Guan Yin Buddha
Worship system
Bac Ai’s family also owns a system of worshiping statues when covered with shiny copper layer, so they no longer retain the original, ancient beauty as in the beginning. And some sculptures such as dragons and ropes are no longer available.
The Uncle Ai Kon Tum Pagoda means a lot to the Kinh people when they move bats to the land of Kon Tum to start a career. This is the premise, the basis for them to look to the Dharma teachings, find the old traditions that our ancestors left. Since then, it has enriched the cultural and spiritual values of the Kon Tum people in particular and the Central Highlands in general.
That is also the unique value, the pride of the people of the mountain town that Bac Ai pagoda has in the process of formation and development until today.
Note needed when visiting Bac Ai Family
Bac Ai’s family is an ancient and sacred temple. So when visiting this temple, visitors should note the following things:
– When visiting the temple, you should dress politely, discreetly and simply. Avoid revealing clothing that can detract from dignity and cause disgust when coming to the temple.
– Avoid causing noise, do not speak profanity, keep the attitude of courtesy and dignity.
– Maintain general hygiene and do not throw garbage in the spirituality indiscriminately.
– Do not pick flowers, break branches, and lose the tranquil landscape of the temple.
And if you have the opportunity to return to the sunny and windy land of Kon Tum , you should remember to visit Bac Ai To Dinh to have a chance to admire the architectural beauty of the ancient temple and learn more about a new place when experiencing it. many ups and downs, events but still retain the ancient beauty, quiet to this day.
Photo: Internet