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When exploring Hải Phòng tourism, besides enjoying leisure time and admiring the magnificent natural landscapes of Đồ Sơn Beach, Cát Bà, Lan Hạ Bay, and exploring the city itself, tourists should spare some time to visit Gắm Temple. It is a sacred ancient temple deeply rooted in the religious beliefs of the people of Hải Phòng and is a well-known tourist destination that attracts many visitors annually, both domestic and international.
Gắm Temple is a spiritual tourism destination in Hải Phòng.
Insights into Gắm Temple.
For ages, Gắm Temple has been known to the people of Hải Phòng and visitors from afar as a sacred ancient temple located in Toàn Thắng commune, Tiên Lãng district. Situated in a prime location amidst vast landscapes with river views and skies, Gắm Temple faces the Văn Úc River, with its back against a stretch of embankment, fields, and villages, providing a sense of shelter and protection for the local people.
The temple was built during the reign of King Lý Cao Tông to commemorate the merits of General Ngô Lý Tín. In 1992, Gắm Temple was recognized by the state as a national historical and cultural relic and underwent restoration and embellishment to become a spiritual and ecological tourist destination for the people of Hải Phòng and the whole country.
Notable Highlights of Gắm Temple Tourism
When embarking on domestic tourism to explore the land and people of Hải Phòng, visitors to Gắm Temple will have the opportunity to trace back to its origins and history, closely intertwined with the ups and downs of present-day Hải Phòng.
The Gắm Temple stands as one of the five renowned temples in Tiên Lãng, Hải Phòng, a monument erected upon the very land where General Ngô Lý Tín once built his home, established schools, trained soldiers, and martial artists. Today, it serves as a place of worship and the final resting site of General Ngô Lý Tín. Through generations, locals have revered and safeguarded this temple, imbuing it with sanctity through its unique history and significance.
During the resistance against the French colonial forces, when they launched a massive offensive in Tiên Lãng – Hải Phòng, the Gắm Temple became a crucial hideout and strategic stronghold for the local forces, thwarting every enemy scheme. Despite the destruction of most architectural structures during those battles, the sanctuary of General Ngô Lý Tín remained intact, reinforcing the people's faith in the temple's sanctity.
In 1958, the local community undertook the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the temple, a tradition upheld to this day. Recent years have seen the organization of the Gắm Temple festival, attracting numerous visitors from Hải Phòng and beyond. Consequently, in 2010, the government allocated funds for its renovation, expansion, and enhancement, nearly doubling its area to almost 2 hectares.
Despite modern renovations to accommodate tourism, the Gắm Temple retains its ancient architectural charm, with its courtyard expanded fourfold, featuring a crescent-shaped lake and twin dragon fountains. Notably, within the temple, four ancient Lý dynasty bricks adorn the entrance—a testament to General Ngô Lý Tín's significant role in the Lý dynasty's royal court.
Exploring Tiên Lãng tourism in Hải Phòng is incomplete without visiting the Gắm Temple and participating in the annual temple festival held on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of January. During the festival, visitors can immerse themselves in the rich cultural traditions of the Red River Delta region through traditional games such as wrestling, tug-of-war, cockfighting, swinging, and crab racing, attracting hundreds of tourists from all over the country.
With its spiritual significance, strategic location, and picturesque natural scenery typical of the Northern Delta region, the historical complex of Gắm Temple, Thắng Phúc Pagoda, along with four sacred shrines, has become a unique spiritual and rural tourism destination in Hải Phòng, catering to the needs of budget travelers on their exploration journey of Hải Phòng, including those on budget tours.
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