Ninh Thuan Cham Tower - the symbolic architectural beauty of the Cham people
Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is one of the unique architectural works and has high historical and cultural value in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam. Built in the 13th century, Ninh Thuan Cham tower has gone through hundreds of years of history and still stands today, becoming a famous tourist destination.
Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is located in the entrance gate area of Phan Rang town, about 7km northeast of Phan Rang - Thap Cham city center. The tower is about 20m high, built of high-quality red stone, shaped like a blooming lotus field. The architecture of the Cham tower is imbued with Cham culture, with beautiful decorative patterns and motifs and has high artistic value.
History of Cham tower
Cham Tower was built in the 13th century during the Champa dynasty, with the purpose of being a place of worship for the gods of the Champa country and also a place of worship for Cham emperors and nobles.
When the Champa empire weakened, Ninh Thuan Cham tower became one of the places of worship of Vietnamese people, especially during the time of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tower has also undergone many repairs, reconstructions and upgrades throughout its history.
Currently, Ninh Thuan Cham tower is still one of the cultural heritages of the Cham people in Vietnam. The tower has been ranked as a national historical-cultural relic and is one of the famous attractions of Ninh Thuan province. The existence of Ninh Thuan Cham tower not only demonstrates the cultural and historical values of the Cham people but is also one of the proofs of the cultural diversity of Vietnam.
Unique architecture of Cham tower
Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is one of the unique architectural works of the Cham ethnic group in Vietnam. The tower's architecture was built in the Cham art style, demonstrating the talent of the artisans. The tower was built of red stone, about 20m high, shaped like a blooming lotus field, with beautiful decorative patterns and motifs and has high artistic value.
The tower is built of large red stones, cut from nearby limestone mountains. The stones are meticulously cut and ground to fit together, creating circular stone strips around the tower.
On the tower, there are small windows, arranged in a cross shape. These windows allow light to enter the tower and create a sacred space, creating architectural excellence. The special thing about Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is that the stones are stacked on top of each other without using any adhesive, creating solidity and stability for the entire architecture. Ninh Thuan Cham Tower has a romantic and mysterious beauty. The combination of red stone and natural light creates a sacred space, bringing people back to the past, enjoying the artistic masterpieces of the Cham people.
Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is not only a unique architectural work but also a cultural museum, helping people learn about the long history and culture of the Cham people.
Cham culture and religion
Cham people often call their language "Cham", belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian language group. Cham culture is diverse and rich, including unique religious, cultural and culinary traditions. Regarding religion, the Cham people have three main religions: Hinduism, Islam and Brahmanism. In particular, coming to Ninh Thuan, visitors can see unique architectural works of the Cham people such as Po Klong Garai Cham tower and Po Nagar Cham tower.
Ninh Thuan Cham Tower is considered a religious center of the Cham people. In the past, Cham people used towers to worship gods, such as the grass god, rain god, wind god... and heroes in the nation's history. The tower is also a place to store important religious sacraments of the Cham people.
