Most of the Cham towers in Binh Dinh are sited on hills with face to the East and are surrounded and bended by rivers as if the rivers embellished the solemnity and grandiosity of each tower. The groups of Cham towers in Binh Dinh are large. The main towers are often from 20m to 30m high; exceptionally, the central tower of Duong Long tower group is over 40m high and currently considered the highest ancient brick-built structure in Southeast Asia.
The Cham towers left in Binh Dinh now are classified into three groups: only 01 tower (Canh Tien, Phu Loc, Thu Thien, Binh Lam), group of three towers (Duong Long) and group of various towers (Banh it). Therefore, the towers in Binh Dinh have every basic architectural types of existing Cham towers. Cham towers were built to worship Shiva, one of three most supreme gods of Brahmanism. In Hinduism, people call the tower of gods as Sikhara, which means a sharp peak, symbolizing for Mount Meru. The mythological Meru Mountain is the home of the supreme gods. Cham people called temples of Shiva as Kalan, which means temple.
Cham towers are the symbol of the distinctiveness regarding their construction material and techniques. The construction techniques of the Cham people developed to a perfect level. Until now, scientists still have not found out the answers for their construction techniques. The Cham towers in Binh Dinh alone are also the proof of a sophisticated combination of bricks and stone, which does not exist in any other Cham towers.
The Cham towers in Binh Dinh are structures typical for the Champa tower construction art in the most flourishing growth stage of the Champa culture in centuries XI-XV. These structures are not only imbued with the cultural identity of the Cham people but also reflect lively and specifically the influences of the cultures of surrounding groups. Although they are located in a large area including most Cham towers built in a method influenced by Indian religious architecture, the Cham towers in Binh Dinh still have the unique features of the ancient Vyjaya kingdoms as well as the cultural interaction of other emirates in the region and Khmer, ancient Vietnam.
The Cham towers in Binh Dinh are unique architecture-sculpture works with a distinct style, which is also called Thap Mam Style. Each structure was built as an artistic entity. Besides its large size and strong look, the Cham towers in Binh Dinh were engraved elaborately, emotionally and very lively.
The towers are located mainly in the southern of the province, scattering in Quy Nhon, Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon and Tay Son. In 1984, when visited Quy Nhon, the talented poet - musician Van Cao uttered surprisingly and excitingly when he first saw the Cham towers in Binh Dinh the following verses:
"From the blue sky
Fall down
Some drops of Cham towers
I am
Like a legend-loving child".
Because of the unique and prominent values of the Cham towers in Binh Dinh, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh and the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology are promoting the construction of a profile to recommend the Government to propose UNESCO to recognize, "The system of Cham towers in Binh Dinh is the world's cultural heritage".
Author Resource:-
There are some local tour operators organizes the vacation for local tourist via Cham towers. For further infomation about Vietnam vacationplease find it at Viet Vision Travel based in Vietnam
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