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Elephant Mountain, towering at 1,756m and situated approximately 15km southwest of Dalat city, is deeply intertwined with numerous legends of the ethnic minorities of the South Central Highlands, passed down from generation to generation. Presently, Elephant Mountain stands as an enticing tourist destination in Dalat, particularly appealing to young travelers visiting this city of a thousand flowers.
The legend of Elephant Mountain
Legend has it that in ancient times, when trees and animals could understand human language, the La Ngư Thượng region was home to a young man named Lang, who served as the chief of the Lat ethnic group at Dalat tourist destination.
He was a robust and intelligent individual, deeply connected to nature and possessing remarkable hunting skills, capable of conquering fierce jungle beasts such as tigers, leopards, elephants, and snakes... At the age of 14, he successfully tamed two wild elephants, bringing them back to serve the villagers without causing any harm to the surrounding communities. Consequently, he garnered love and admiration from the villagers.
At the age of 20, Lang serendipitously rescued a beautiful girl named Bian, only to discover that she was the daughter of the chief of the Sre tribe's prison camp, K’jrềnh. The two deeply fell in love, frequently meeting despite the distance between them. Their love stirred joy among the creatures of the marshes and forests, eagerly awaiting their union. However, when they sought approval for marriage, Bian's father objected due to age-old customs forbidding the integration of Lat descendants into the Sre tribe. Their profound love led them to elope to the La Ngư Thượng mountains together.
Despite the descending night and falling mist, Lang and Bian sat side by side, pledging to remain together until death. The creatures of La Ngư Thượng mourned their departure, even the two elephants, believed to attend their wedding, heard of the tragic news upon reaching Liên Khương. Struggling to reach Ba Thao mountain, the elephants succumbed to exhaustion, collapsing to form two majestic stone peaks.
The legend further enhances the allure of this tourist destination in Đà Lạt, captivating visitors even more.
Explore Elephant Mountain
Traversing through the territory of Hiệp An commune, Đức Trọng, tourists can clearly discern the silhouette of an elephant lying on its front legs. Elephant Mountain is situated 15km away from Dalat city and approximately 5km from Preen waterfall.
The Elephant Mountain ecotourism area spans over 100 hectares. The terrain here is quite rugged, so if you wish to explore the tourist area, you should opt for either elephant riding or, if you seek to boost your fitness, trekking is the ideal mode of transportation. Elephant riding is quite unique and draws in many tourists. If you get the chance, you should experience the sensation of sitting atop an elephant's back, swaying with their steps, and admiring the mountainous landscape from above, as well as crossing streams and waterfalls.
At the foot of the mountain, tourists will encounter the houses of the K’ho people at Dalat tourist destination. Here, you will gain insight into the customs and culture of this ethnic group. Along the way, visitors will be awestruck by the small streams cutting across the path, and the vibrant orchids hanging from ancient trees.
Venturing deeper into the mountains, you'll encounter thousand-year-old red pine trees, so colossal that three people couldn't encircle them. Elephant Mountain is the sole location in Vietnam harboring a community of ancient red pine trees at Dalat destination.
Ascending about 2km from the mountain's base, tourists will be truly amazed to stumble upon a pristine lake nestled amidst the rugged peaks. Surrounding the lake are large, flat rocks where you can pause, rest, and immerse yourself in the refreshing nature.
Having successfully conquered Pin Hatt peak, standing at this altitude, you'll feel as though you're at the meeting point of heaven and earth. Looking into the distance, all the scenery unfolds before your eyes: the quaint, beautiful city of Dalat, the grandeur of the highlands...
To complete your journey, upon leaving Elephant Mountain, you can visit the enticing outdoor recreation area. Here, you can participate in survival skill training programs, explore exciting and challenging games in spacious training grounds, relax in comfortable resting areas, and dine at rustic-designed restaurants serving delicious meals made from mountain produce. This is an intriguing tourist spot in Dalat for you, your family, or your group of friends to experience group activities.
