Located in Phuoc Hiep commune, Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh province, Banh It Tower is an ancient Cham architectural complex, attracting tourists by its unique beauty and great historical and cultural value. This place is considered one of the most important relics of the Cham people remaining in the country, the pride of Binh Dinh people and an unmissable destination for those who love to explore cultural heritage.
This is a tower complex built on a small hill where many branches of the Kon River flow through.
Unique architecture bearing the mark of Champa
Banh It Tower consists of 4 main towers: Gate Tower (Gopura), Stele Tower (Posah), Main Temple (Kalan or mausoleum) and finally Fire Tower (Kosagrha). Each tower has its own unique beauty, demonstrating the sophistication and creativity in the architectural art of the Cham people.
Covered by green hills, Banh It Tower stands tall like a fairy tale, bearing the mark of history over time.
The Gate Tower is the main entrance to the complex, about 13 m high, built of dark red bricks with a square shape and overlapping layers. The tower's door arch is designed in the shape of a layered spearhead, creating a unique and impressive look.
Gate Tower is the place where young people check-in the most because it has a view straight up to the main temple.
The Stele Tower is about 7 - 8 m high, also built in a square shape with rounded corners. It houses many sophisticated sculptures of gods and religious culture of the Cham people.
The Main Temple is the focal point of the tower complex, 29.6 m high, considered a masterpiece of Cham Pa architecture in Binh Dinh. Standing out with its pointed roof dome, inside the temple is a delicately carved statue of Shiva, where sacred religious activities of the Cham Pa people take place.
Despite time and war, Banh It Tower still retains the sophisticated sculptural art of the ancient Cham people.
The top of the main shrine.
The Fire Tower is about 10 meters high, built in a rectangular shape with rounded corners. It was once used as a warehouse, but today it has become an attractive tourist attraction with ancient sculptures on the tower's walls.
The Fire Tower is also known as the Saddle Tower because of its curved roof structure and concave middle part that looks like the shape of a horse saddle.
Great historical and cultural value
Banh It Tower was built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, demonstrating the brilliant development of Champa culture during this period. The tower complex is a place to worship sacred gods, expressing the religious beliefs and life philosophy of the Champa people.
Over the centuries, Banh It Tower has witnessed many historical ups and downs, and is a cultural and religious convergence point of the Cham people. Today, Banh It Tower is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, the pride of Binh Dinh people and an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
Exquisite sculptures on the tower.
James (31 years old, American tourist) shared: "My girlfriend and I sat here for 2 hours. The tower above looked down on the fields and the peaceful rural life below. Banh It Tower has the same architecture as most other Cham towers, but somehow still has a unique feature that you can only clearly feel when standing here."
Coming to Banh It Tower, visitors not only admire the unique architecture but also have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Cham Pa people. Visitors can participate in traditional festivals of the Cham Pa people held here on special occasions.
In addition, visitors can also visit traditional craft villages of the Cham people such as brocade weaving, pottery making, knitting... and enjoy special dishes of the Cham people.
When visiting Banh It Tower, you need to "pocket" the following experiences to have a complete and meaningful trip:
- You should choose to travel to Banh It Tower from January to August, at this time the weather is sunny, little rain, convenient for sightseeing.
- Visitors should bring light, comfortable clothing suitable for hot weather. You should bring hats, sunscreen and drinking water to protect your health.
- Because Banh It Tower is located on a high hill, visitors should bring mosquito and insect repellent to ensure safety.
- If traveling in a large group, visitors should contact the relic management board in advance for assistance in arranging a tour guide.
- Visitors need to maintain general hygiene in the relic area, not litter, contributing to protecting the environmental landscape.
