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When visiting Binh Dinh - Quy Nhon, alongside the beautiful beaches, there's a highly sought-after destination that tourists especially flock to, and that's Mount Temple. This place is dubbed as the ancient temple with the largest sitting Buddha statue in Southeast Asia, inaugurated in early 2023. Let's delve into the travel destination Mount Temple: Home to the Largest Buddha Statue in Southeast Asia to understand more about the profound beauty this temple brings.
I. A Glimpse into the History of Mount Temple
Since ancient times, the name Linh Phong has been mentioned in the book 'Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi' in the section 'Tia Son - Vong Hai': Linh Phong Temple in Phuong Phi village, Phu Cat district, leaning against a high mountain (Ba mountain), overlooking a dried-up lagoon (Thi Nai lagoon), surrounded by streams, with beautiful scenery. Nowadays, people in Binh Dinh province often refer to Linh Phong Temple as a more familiar name, Mount Temple. Today, Mount Temple has become one of the National Historical - Cultural Relics of Vietnam. Over time, Mount Temple has undergone more than 12 generations of succession. Every year, there is a festival held on the 24th-25th of the lunar January and on the death anniversary of Master Vien Minh in the temple. On this occasion, thousands of local people and pilgrims come to visit the Buddha, tour the scenery, pass through the Master's cave to offer incense in memory of Mount Temple's merit, and pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
According to temple documents compiled in 2001, the temple was founded by Mr. To Giám Huyền and his disciple Tánh Bảng (Lê Ban) in the year of Giáp Tý (1684) under the reign of the 5th Chánh Hòa dynasty of King Lê Hy Tông (according to the book 'Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi,' the temple was established in the year 1702 under the 11th Chánh Hòa dynasty). In front of the temple, there is a stream flowing from the mountaintop, hence the cave is called 'Dũng Tuyền Thạch Cốc' (a cave with flowing water). Afterwards, Master Giám Huyền entrusted his disciple Lê Ban to undertake the journey to the south. According to some historical documents, the monks often appeared in front of the locals wearing robes made of tree bark, hence they were dubbed the title 'Mộc y Sơn ông' (meaning 'mountain man wearing bark robes'). Thus, the name Ông Núi originates from the title 'Mộc y Sơn ông' used by the people to refer to this monk.
Legend has it that during the day, Ông Núi would go into the forest to chop wood, bundle them into large bundles, and carry them alone down the mountain to the crossroads before climbing back up. Local people would bring rice and salt there and then take the wood back for use. Whenever there was an epidemic in the area, this monk would bring medicine to treat the sick. After treatment, he would leave without accepting any reward.
II. Directions to Visit the Buddha Statue at Mount Temple
In case you want to travel by motorcycle, you can choose to depart from the center of Quy Nhon city and travel about 30km to Cát Tiến commune, Phù Cát district. If you are unfamiliar with the route, you can opt for a taxi or take bus route number 7 to get to Mount Temple.
When joining Quy Nhon tours, you can save costs and ensure safety compared to traveling independently. As the roads can be long and have steep slopes, you should be careful and take breaks when you feel tired. Experiencing the magnificent scenery of the sea and mountains throughout the journey will surely dispel all worries in life.
III. What Makes Binh Dinh's Mount Temple Special?
The scenery here exudes a classic beauty deeply rooted in sacred cultural values. When you have the opportunity to visit Mount Temple, you can discover many new things not only in the temple itself but also in the serene atmosphere it offers.
1. Beautiful Surroundings of Mount Temple
In front of Mount Temple, gazing into the distance, you can see the Thị Nại lagoon with its sparkling water stretching under the sunlight. Looking to the West and South, you'll admire the rustic beauty of houses nestled amidst lush green rice fields.
One thing to note when visiting this temple is that you need to climb over hundreds of stone steps and bamboo planks stretching up the mountain for about 100m. When you reach this place, you can fully enjoy the panoramic view of the majestic Phương Mai peninsula.
2. The Mysterious Path to the Ancestral Cave
Legend has it that this cave is where Ông Núi meditated. There exists a small bridge to the west of the Linh Phong main hall leading to the Tower tombs and ancestral cave behind the temple. The Ancestral Cave lies next to a stream, enclosed on all 3 sides by natural rock formations resembling a house. Locals call it Ông Núi's cave where he meditated and worshipped Buddha. In 2000, a Buddha statue at Mount Temple (monk Lê Vân) was erected and installed in the Ancestral Cave. The 84cm tall statue of Ông Núi is painted with gold leaf, crafted manually by artisan Lê. Inside the cave are vertical rock walls formed by mother nature over thousands of years. There are several open spaces resembling rooms in a stone house formed from large blocks. Looking below, you can see streams flowing horizontally with a depth of over 5m.
4. Festival at Mount Temple
Every year on the 24th of January, thousands of locals and tourists gather at the temple to seek fortune and pray for peace. Therefore, if you are traveling to Quy Nhon during this time, don't miss out on joining the festival to wish for luck for yourself and your family here.
IV. 3 Tourist Attractions Near Mount Temple to Visit
After admiring the giant Buddha statue at Mount Temple, you can explore nearby famous tourist destinations. Below are two places you can consider visiting:
1. Quy Nhon's Windy Pass
This place attracts tourists with its natural beauty, combining the harmony of rivers and mountains under the gathering clouds. Located just 20km from the city center of Quy Nhon, it's an ideal tourist spot. Here, you can breathe the rare fresh air of nature, guaranteed to relieve all your fatigue.
2. Thị Nại Lagoon
Another tourist destination near Mount Temple is Thị Nại Lagoon. With an area of over 5000 hectares, it is most famous for aquaculture. When the tide recedes, the lagoon's water level drops, revealing muddy flats known as the Dry Sea Lagoon. Watching the sunrise or sunset here, you'll find it like a gentle painting, leaving you with lasting impressions throughout your journey.
Read more: Detailed information about Quy Nhon's tide schedule in 2023 to visit the lagoon at the most suitable time.
V. Things to Note When Visiting Mount Temple
Temples are sacred places, so when visiting, choose modest and simple clothing suitable for the temple's atmosphere.
This is a prohibition because Buddhist temples and pagodas are sacred places, where incense, gold leaf, and candles are placed. Furthermore, speaking loudly is also prohibited as it disturbs the Buddhist atmosphere.
In Buddhist belief, the main door stands between the altar of the Buddha and the Mother. Therefore, when entering the temple, you should enter through the two side gates.
Temple offerings belong to 'all beings.' It would be a great mistake to take items from the temple. Therefore, when visiting the temple, under no circumstances should you touch the temple's furnishings without permission.
When visiting a temple, maintain order and adhere to the rules inside. No running, jumping, speaking loudly, or causing conflicts. Additionally, all behavior in the temple must be appropriate, without actions or words that disturb the Buddhist atmosphere.
And those are the detailed information about the Mount Temple tourist destination we've compiled. We hope this article will help you grasp useful insights and make the most of them throughout your trip to Quy Nhon city. If you have any questions about our tours, feel free to contact us for free assistance!
Posted by: Tiến Đạt
Keyword: Exploring Mount Temple: The Largest Buddha Statue in Southeast Asia
