Visit Binh Dinh, see the thousand-year-old Cham tower under the dawn light

The thousand-year-old Silver Tower, also known as Banh It Tower, stands majestically under the dawn, bearing the imprint of the powerful Champa Dynasty.

Silver Tower, also known by the familiar name Banh It Tower in Binh Dinh province, is located on a hill in Dai Loc village (Phuoc Hiep commune, Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh province), about 20km northwest of Quy Nhon city.

Banh It Tower is the largest tower complex and has the most towers among the 7 remaining ancient Cham tower complexes in Binh Dinh, comprising 4 structures: the Main Tower (Kalan), the Gate Tower (Gopura), the Fire Tower (Kosagrha), and the Stele Tower (Posah).

The Banh It tower complex was built around the late 11th or early 12th century by the Cham people under the name Yang Mtian.

Banh It Tower was classified as a national architectural and artistic monument in 1982 and was featured in the book "1,001 Architectural Works You Must See in Your Lifetime" by a group of British authors, with architecture writer Mark Irving as the General Editor, published by Quintessence (UK). It is the only ancient Vietnamese architectural work included in this book.

According to researchers, the Banh It tower complex is not just individual towers but also layers of architecture eroded and damaged over time, and this entire complex is situated on a natural hill 75 meters high, making the overall structure massive and majestic.

The main tower features striking architectural details, including a spearhead-shaped dome adorned with Kala reliefs in the center. The dome's cornice is carved with dancing monkey deities like HaNuMan. Smaller false doors feature Gajasimha reliefs on their cornices.

In terms of size, the Gate Tower (Gopura) is 13 meters high, on a square base with sides of 7 meters; the Stele Tower (Posah) is over 10 meters high, square in shape, and located 22 meters south of the Gate Tower. The Main Tower (Kalan) is the largest tower on the hilltop, with a height of 29.6 meters, on a square base with sides of 12 meters; the Fire Tower (Kosagrha) is 10 meters high, 12 meters long, and 5 meters wide.

The front and back of the two towers at the highest point on the hill: the Main Tower (Kalan) and the Fire Tower (Kosagrha).

The main tower houses a statue of the god Shiva, measuring 1.54m high, 1.06m wide, and 0.56m thick. The statue is the oldest Cham sculpture in Binh Dinh, exhibiting the Chánh Lộ style of the 11th century.

Inside the vaulted ceilings of the towers are layers of bricks uniquely arranged in a pattern of gradually smaller pyramids.

From an artistic perspective, among all the remaining Cham tower relics in Vietnam, the Banh It tower complex is a unique architectural ensemble with diverse architectural styles, beautiful decorations, and high artistic value. This tower complex was classified as an Architectural and Artistic Monument in 1982.

Vtcnews.vn

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ve-binh-dinh-ngam-thap-cham-ngan-tuoi-duoi-anh-binh-minh-ar893247.html