Vietnam | Po Nagar Cham Towers 🛕

The Po Nagar Cham Towers, also known as "Bà Ponagar," are ancient temples of the Cham Kingdom, located in present-day Nha Trang, southern Vietnam. These towers are dedicated to the goddess Yang Po Nagar, who holds a significant position akin to the Buddhist and Hindu deities. The towers stand atop Cù Lao Mountain, featuring three levels, with the highest level comprising two rows of towers. The main tower rises to 25 meters. A stone inscription confirms that construction began before 781 AD. Another inscription notes the threat of pirates from Malaysia and Java, who harassed the coastal areas. Although King Sri Satyavarman managed to repel them, many temples were destroyed in the conflict, prompting the king to order the restoration of the Po Nagar Towers in 784 AD. A stone inscription from 918 AD recounts King Indravarman III's order to create a gold statue for the goddess, which was later stolen by the Chenla people in 965 AD. The king then commanded a reconstruction at the original site. A stone from 1050 AD indicates that the king used substantial resources—land, labor, jewels, and precious metals—to build this statue. Subsequent inscriptions reveal that this idol became an object of worship for both Hindus and Buddhists. After the 17th century, the Vietnamese occupied the Champa territory and took control of the Po Nagar Towers, renaming it the Temple of the Holy Mother. This change stemmed from the Vietnamese referring to Yang Po Nagar as "Bà Thiên Y." Today, the Po Nagar Towers are a major tourist attraction in Nha Trang, drawing large crowds of visitors. The freshly squeezed sugarcane juice sold at the entrance is a must-try! #Vietnam #VietnamTravel #NhaTrang #PoNagarTowers #ChamTowers #TravelGuide #ExploreTheWorld #TravelPhotography