A 400-year-old banyan tree, a mysterious ancient tree growing on a giant rock next to Thuong Pagoda in Ninh Binh

Pass through the dark cave to reach Thuong Pagoda

To reach Thuong Pagoda to see the ancient banyan tree (Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province), the pagoda worshiping Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara on the top of a high mountain, Dan Viet reporters, locals and tourists had to overcome many challenges.

Clip: Close-up of the 400-year-old banyan tree next to Thuong Pagoda (Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province)

At the foot of the mountain is the Lower Pagoda, which requires walking 120 steps along an S-shaped path halfway up the Ngu Nhac mountain range to reach the Middle Pagoda. Next, to reach the Upper Pagoda, visitors must climb nearly 40 more stone steps along the mountainside, which are sometimes slippery.

In particular, to get to Thuong Pagoda, you have to overcome the challenge of a dark, damp, solemn, quiet, long cave, inhabited by many bats. The path to the dark cave is almost vertical, going under the bridge of redress, because the cave entrance is shaped like a rainbow.

To reach Thuong Pagoda, locals and tourists must pass through a dark cave where many bats live. Photo: Vu Thuong

Above the cave entrance hangs a large bronze bell cast by two monks Tri Kien and Tri The in 1707. The dark cave is a long, wide space that is currently lit by electricity.

Everything is like a petrified fairy tale world of nature. Near the entrance of the dark cave, in front of visitors is a statue of Amitabha Buddha and a statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Near the entrance of the cave, on the left hand side of visitors is a small cave, on high is the worship of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

Ancient banyan trees cover the area around Thuong Pagoda in Ninh Binh. Photo: Vu Thuong

Underneath this small cave there are stalactites shaped like turtles and especially two strange rocks, which when tapped make a sound like a wooden fish, one has a deep sound, the other has a clear sound. The dark cave is also a temple to worship Buddha, it is a natural temple.

Thuong Pagoda worships Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara

Thuong Pagoda, also known as Dong Pagoda, worships Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. This is the pagoda located at the highest position, near the top of Bich Dong Mountain. From Thuong Pagoda, looking far away, there are 5 mountains standing independently facing Bich Dong Mountain, looking like 5 lotus petals, called Ngu Nhac Son, including Tam Sang Mountain, Gia Dinh Mountain, Con Lon Mountain, Dau Cau Mountain and Hang Dua Mountain.

Thuong Pagoda worships Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Photo: Vu Thuong

Bich Dong is a "unique" pagoda in Vietnam, no other place has such a terrain and mountain. Thuong Pagoda has two temples on both sides, the right one worships Tho Dia, the left one worships Duc Son Than.

Next to the pagoda is a water tank called "Cam Lo water tank" of Bodhisattva Quan Am. In front is Ngu Mon field. Standing on Thuong pagoda, you can see the whole beautiful scenery of Bich Dong pagoda.

Tourists marvel at the ancient banyan tree at Thuong Pagoda. Photo: Vu Thuong

From Thuong Pagoda, looking down below is a cool green scene. Photo: Vu Thuong

Here, people and tourists not only admire the beautiful scenery, cultural and architectural art, but also have the meaning of a historical relic of Ninh Binh province.

Ancient tree - 400 year old banyan tree still blooms, giving off a fragrant scent

Coming to Thuong Pagoda, many people are amazed when standing in front of the ancient tree estimated to be about 400 years old, but the tree still has many flowers, lush branches and leaves and has a rare beauty.

An ancient tree about 400 years old grows on a giant rock. Photo: Vu Thuong

Many branches of the banyan tree grow green and well. Photo: Vu Thuong

The flowers of the frangipani tree have a special fragrance. Photo: Vu Thuong

Observation from Dan Viet reporter, the tree is about 10m high, with a rough, knobby trunk and a canopy of leaves that spreads out around it. Notably, under the base of this ancient tree is a giant limestone block.

Ms. Hoang Thi Huong (tourist from Hanoi ) said: "I know that Bich Dong Pagoda is a historical and cultural relic belonging to the Trang An Tam Coc - Bich Dong Scenic Complex which has been ranked as a special national relic and recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site".

"There is Thuong Pagoda on the top of a high mountain with a very beautiful landscape. Next to the pagoda is an ancient banyan tree growing on a rock. I observed the banyan tree's arid and harsh living environment, but I don't understand how the tree is still green and flourishing," tourist Huong wondered.

Close-up of a banyan tree growing on a rock next to Thuong Pagoda in Ninh Binh. Photo: Vu Thuong

The base of the tree is covered with white mold and many tumors appear. Photo: Vu Thuong

Through research, the plumeria tree has the scientific name Plumeria rubra acutifolia (Poir.) Bailey, belonging to the oleander family (Apocynaceae). This is a small woody species, which can reach a natural height of 8 to 12 m. The flowers of the tree are white on the outside, light yellow or red on the inside, and fragrant.

In Vietnam, frangipani is grown as an ornamental plant, providing shade, and is popular in homes, temples, and schoolyards. In traditional medicine, people also use frangipani to make medicine to treat heart disease and blood pressure.

Locals and tourists take photos of the ancient banyan tree at Thuong Pagoda as a souvenir. Photo: Vu Thuong

According to Buddhist nun Thich Dam Tho - Abbot of Bich Dong Pagoda: "This banyan tree has been around for a long time, estimated to be about 400 years old. In the past, people probably took the trunk and branches of a banyan tree and placed them in a crevice or a rock cavity, and with its strong vitality, it grew into the ancient banyan tree it is today."

It is known that in the year of Giap Ngo 1774, Lord Trinh Sam visited the pagoda, looked at the panoramic view of mountains, caves, rivers, fields, and trees all green, the pagoda seemed to converge with the green background of the pagoda, so he named the pagoda Bich Dong.

Bich Dong Pagoda was built in the style of the Chinese character "Tam", three non-contiguous buildings, three levels along the mountainside, based on the mountain's position from low to high into three separate pagodas: Ha, Trung and Thuong.

The unique thing about Bich Dong Pagoda is that the mountain, cave and pagoda complement each other, hidden among the green giant trees, making the pagoda blend in with the spectacular natural scenery.

Source: https://danviet.vn/mot-cay-dai-400-tuoi-cay-co-thu-ky-bi-moc-tren-khoi-da-khong-lo-canh-chua-thuong-o-ninh-binh-20240615215105076.htm