Dubbed as one of the 21 most beautiful landscapes in the ancient South, Perfume Pagoda in Can Loc district attracts many visitors to visit and worship.
Perfume Pagoda, also known as Huong Tich Co Tu, means Thom pagoda, belongs to Thien Loc commune, Can Loc district. The pagoda is located at an altitude of 650 m, halfway up Huong Tich peak, one of the most beautiful of 99 peaks on Hong Linh mountain. This place is known as "Hoan Chau the first scenic spot" - the most beautiful temple in Hoan Chau (Nghe province), one of the 21 landscapes of the ancient South.
According to research, Perfume Pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty, in the XNUMXth century, is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. Legend has it that, King Trang Vuong of the State of Chu gave birth to three daughters, and when they grew up, the two sisters married as mandarins in the court. When the youngest princess Dieu Thien was forced by her father to marry a martial mandarin, she was a cruel and ferocious person. She became frustrated and went to practice, her husband then came to set fire to the temple, but fortunately the Buddha protected and saved her. Dieu Thien then went to Huong Tich cave, Hong Linh mountain set up a monastery.
After that, Chu Trang Vuong fell seriously ill, the doctor advised to have the irises and hands of a daughter who voluntarily donated to save her. Dieu Thien knew that he sacrificed his eyes and hands to the messenger to save his father. When the king recovered from his illness, he sent someone to repay the favor to find out that it was his daughter. The Buddha touched Dieu Thien's heart, so he allowed her body to be healthy again. Dieu Thien then attained enlightenment and transformed into a thousand-eyed, thousand-armed Buddha Guanyin.
In the very place where Dieu Thien practiced and transformed into a Buddha, people built a place of worship, which is Huong Pagoda.
Perfume Pagoda has experienced many great events. In 1885, after a fire, most of the structures, Buddha statues and artifacts in the temple were burned down, leaving only a few single architectural works.
In 1901, the new pagoda was mobilized to rebuild under the Governor of An Tinh, Dao Tan. Architectural works such as temples, am, pagodas, are mostly restored to their original appearance.
The pagoda in the ancient architectural complex consists of three main areas: the upper palace, the temple of Trang Vuong, and the am Thanh Mau, arranged from low to high, leaning on the mountainside. In addition, the complex also has a forest gate temple, Phat Ba resting station, Giac Pho am, Quy Khoc slot, Giai Oan waterfall...
Visitors after arriving at the ticketing area managed by the Management Board of the Perfume Pagoda relic site in Thien Loc commune, can go to the temple in three ways. The first is to take the tram up the mountain and then take the cable car. The tram from the station to the cable car ticket selling point takes about 10 minutes, the round-trip ticket price is 35.000 VND per person. A tram can carry about 10 people.
The second option is to take a boat from Huong Tuyen wharf, travel about 1,5 km past Nha Duong dam for 20 minutes, then continue walking the forest road about 500 m to buy tickets to take the cable car to the temple. For each boat ride, a tourist has to pay 10.000 VND for the whole round trip.
The cable car line at Perfume Pagoda is 900 m long, passing through two stations, Mieu Co and Huong Tich. Each cabin can accommodate about 8 people.
One way from Mieu Co station to Huong Tich is about 5 minutes. Ticket price for adults is 180.000 VND, children 120.000 VND round trip. From the cabin, visitors can zoom in to see the mountain scenery below.
In addition, pilgrims can go to the temple by walking, following thousands of stone steps. However, the process is tedious and can take several hours.
The main place of worship of the temple is the upper hall, made of stone, inside built by wooden pillars, on the roof of yin and yang tiles. In front of the incense burner, visitors when coming to the temple often offer incense in the lobby.
Inside the upper hall, there are many ancient Buddha statues, people often come here to bow, read and pray for peace.
At the temple, there are still ancient bells dating from hundreds of years ago.
Behind the upper hall is Huong Tich Cave, located next to a large stone block, which is one of the important items of the pagoda.
Around the campus are arranged many places to burn incense. To the right of the upper hall, there is a stone tiger statue, some people often come to worship and anoint the body with oil to expect healing. Authorities believe that rubbing oil on the statue to cure disease is unfounded, having attached a prohibition sign, but on crowded occasions, it cannot be prevented.
The way to the temple is far, so the Management Board has arranged tables and chairs on both sides of the steps so that pilgrims can sit, eat, and rest.
Some locations have landscape images to check-in, take souvenir photos.
A trip to the Perfume Pagoda lasts more than an hour, for visitors traveling by tram, boat and cable car. If anyone travels by road, it takes about 3-4 hours.
Every year, Perfume Pagoda welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors to visit, burn incense and worship. The temple ceremony itself takes place on February 18 of the lunar calendar every year.
Vnexpress.net
