The sacred Thung La Temple worships the National Mother in the mountains and forests.

Ninh Binh is a province located at the southern gateway of the North of our country, formerly the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010 with 3 dynasties Dinh, Tien Le, Ly and also an important military area through historical periods. Therefore, this place has many spiritual places that attract many tourists to visit and worship.

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 1 — Gia Vien district is the land of "giving birth to kings and saints"; the birthplace of King Dinh Tien Hoang and Saint Nguyen Minh Khong.

In particular, Gia Vien district is the land of "giving birth to kings and saints"; the birthplace of King Dinh Tien Hoang and Saint Nguyen Minh Khong. Gia Vien also has many other famous people such as: Prime Minister Nguyen Bac, Ngoai Giap Dinh Dien, Minister Trinh Tu, Grand Tutor Luu Co of the Dinh Dynasty and Grand Tutor Truong Ba Ngoc of the Ly Dynasty.

In Gia Vien district, there are currently 279 historical and cultural relics such as: Hoa Lu Cave, Dich Long Cave, Bai Dinh Pagoda, King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple in Gia Phuong Commune, Saint Nguyen Temple, Kenh Ga Hot Spring, Van Long Nature Reserve.... And it would be a mistake to miss Thung La Temple, one of the sacred historical relics that tourists should visit and worship when coming to Gia Vien in particular and Ninh Binh in general.

Thung La Temple is located next to Hoa Lu Cave, in Gia Hung Commune, Gia Vien District, with an area of about 4 hectares. This is a rather deep valley, surrounded by five large mountains, in front of which is a large lotus lake with a fragrant scent.

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 2 — Thung La Temple is the place to worship the Mother Goddess of King Dinh Tien Hoang and the mysterious Lady who had many contributions in helping King Dinh defeat the 12 warlords.

This is the place to worship the Queen Mother of King Dinh Tien Hoang and the mysterious Lady who had many merits in helping King Dinh quell the rebellion of 12 warlords. Legend has it that in the past, there was a Lady who was a very good fortune teller and often read palms for King Dinh Tien Hoang before going to war or doing something. She had merits in helping King Dinh quell the rebellion. This place also has many good medicinal plants, so when King Dinh's army was injured, they were taken from Thung Lau to Thung La for treatment through a small village. People also say that: Thung La is a sacred forest, so people often come here to burn incense before going to the forest.

To enter the Temple of the Mother Goddess of Thung La, visitors must pass through a gently sloping path with nearly 100 steps up and down. In front of the temple is a well, the mouth of the well is made of green stone carved with many images such as: dragons, turtles, birds, chrysanthemums, etc.

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 3 — Thung La Temple has the architecture of "Tien Nhi, Hau Dinh" - Han script. The front worshiping area has three rooms opening to three doors, no porch, on top is a pair of dragons facing the moon, the back is connected to the sanctuary.

Thung La Temple has the architecture of "Tien Nhi, Hau Dinh" - Han script. The three-room front worshiping hall opens to three doors, has no porch, and is decorated with two dragons facing the moon. The back connects to the rear palace. Through the brick yard is the Front Sacrifice House, consisting of 5 rooms, with a tiled roof, and inside is an altar to worship the Tran Dynasty.

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 4 — Inside the front sanctuary worships the Council of Officials...

Inside the front of the harem is the worship of the Cong Dong Cuong Quan, next to the statue of the heroic Mother of the Nation placed in a gilded red lacquered shrine, with a gentle and kind face, close and mysterious and sacred. On top is the altar of the Three Holy Mothers (the First Heaven, the Second Heaven and the Third Water Palace), these are the characters in the Mother worship of the ancient Vietnamese. On the right side of the harem is the worship of the Quan, on the left side is the worship of the Lord of the Heaven. Outside, next to the mountain, there is Son Trang Palace (also known as Son Trang Cave).

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 5 — ...next is the statue of the Holy Mother of the Nation placed in a gilded shrine, her face gentle and kind, familiar yet mysterious and sacred. On top is the altar of the Three Holy Mothers.

The natural and cultural environment here is protected by the government and the people, so Thung La Temple is a very peaceful place surrounded by many green trees. When visiting and worshiping Thung La Temple, visitors feel like they are in a fairyland because of the beautiful landscape of the mountains, the long roads leading to the cave, the green grass on the dike. Every early spring, visitors often come in large numbers to pray for a good new year and to practice or enjoy the bronze prices - a unique cultural form in the Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people.

sacred valley of the motherland in the mountains and forests picture 6

The Thung La Temple Festival is held on the 11th day of the first lunar month every year. When visiting and worshiping Thung La Temple, tourists should visit Thung Lau, which is associated with the childhood and adulthood of Dinh Bo Linh. Coming here is an opportunity to help us review the old times in the 10th century, when Dinh Bo Linh grew up and gathered and trained soldiers. After that, Dinh Bo Linh's armed forces grew stronger and stronger, occupying the entire Hoa Lu countryside, and by the end of 967, he had pacified and subdued 12 warlords, and in 968 he ascended the throne as Emperor. For the first time in the history of Vietnam's founding, Dinh Tien Hoang was the one who consolidated national independence and sovereignty , built a unified feudal nation - the founder of national reunification.

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