Bai Dinh pagoda complex is located in the west of Hoa Lu ancient capital, Gia Sinh commune, Ninh Binh province. It consists of an old temple and a new temple complex. Owning many records of Viet Nam, Bai Dinh pagoda has become a popular spiritual destination, attracting many Buddhists and tourists from all over the world.
Overview
Bai Dinh pagoda situates on the same name mountain in Ninh Binh. Here many important events in Vietnam’s history took place. This religious complex covers a total area of 539 hectares. Therefore it is recognized as the largest spiritual pagoda in Viet Nam and one of Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist complex.
Highlights of Bai Dinh pagoda
Tam Quan Gate (three-entrance gate)
To visit Bai Dinh temple complex visitors should start at Tam Quan Gate. This is the main entrance to the pagoda. Here you will be impressed with giant gate with three layers of curved roofs.
Corridor of Arhat statues
Connecting with the gate is the nearly 13km long corridor with 500 stone statues of Arhat, carved in different forms. It is renown as the longest Arhat statue corridor in Asia. The pagoda owns the greatest number of Arhat statues in Vietnam, created by skilled workers from the most famous handicraft villages in the north Vietnam such as Phuc Loc wood village, Y Yen bronze village or Ninh Van stone village…
Bell tower
Behin the Tam Quan Gate visitors can see a big bell tower. The tower has octagonal shape with three storeys. Inside the tower there is a great bronze bell weighing of 36 tons. Below the bell is a bronze drum with 70 tons weight, 4.7 m high.
Kuan-Yin Hall
Next to the bell tower is the Kuan-Yin Hall. This architectural building is made of most precious wood. At the middle of the temple stand a statue of Bodhisattva with a thousand eyes and thousand arms. This 80-ton statue is recognized as the biggest one in Vietnam and also in Asia.
Fairy Lake and Buddha Dharma Lord Temple
Behind the Kuan-Yin Hall, it’s large temple of Buddha with an outstanding architecture. It attracts many tourists coming here to adore and worship the most majestic statue of Thich Ca Buddha (Gautama Buddha). Thí giant statue is made from bronze, weighing 100 tons with a height of 10 meters. Until now it still holds the title as the highest and heaviest statue of the Buddha in Vietnam
The three periods temple
Situated at the highest position in the Bai Dinh temple complex is Dien Tam The. This place is the most important and impressive part of Bai Dinh complex. The temple worships 3 identical statues of Buddha which represent for the past, present and future. These statues are recognized as the biggest ones in Viet Nam.
Bai Dinh ancient pagoda
Not too far from Dien Tam The is Bai Dinh ancient pagoda on the left side. The ancient temple area includes the front temple, a cave to worship the Buddha and other temples to worship the mountain god, the kings and saints.
Bao Thap (stupa)
On the right of the main temple visitors will see a 13-storey stupa called Bao Thap, where preserves relics of Buddhas from India and Myanmar. It is considered as the tallest stupa in Southeast Asia. From the top, visitors can have a panoramic view of splendid Bai Dinh temple complex.
Thanks to its cultural value and many sophisticated sculpture statues, Bai Dinh Pagoda has become a famous attraction not only for domestic visitors, but also for international tourists. Coming to Ninh Binh, you shouldn’t not miss this place.