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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jun 3, 2023
By Jinnie Lee
My Son Sanctuary is a famous historical heritage of Quang Nam province with an architectural complex consisting of many unique Champa temples. The relic site was discovered in 1885 and recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1995. My Son Sanctuary is hidden deep in the valley surrounded by mountains. In the past, this place used to be a place to worship as well as place the tombs of the ancient Champa kings. What special aspects make My Son Sanctuary charmful in tourist’s eyes all over the world? Let’s discover the mystical charm of My Son Holy Land with Vietnam Escape Tours in this detailed blog.
If you are enjoying a tour to My Son Holy Land, what can not be missed is the historical story of the sanctuary to be told to you by guides. The Cham people belong to an ethnic group in Southeast Asia. They formed the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam. Cham is a remnant of the ChamPa Kingdom (7th to 15th centuries), closely related to the Malay race.
From the 4th to 15th centuries, a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism of Cham developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site of My Son Holy Land, which was the religious and political capital of the Chăm Pa Kingdom for most of its existence.
According to records on the stone stele, the prime foundation of the ancient My Son architectural complex was a wooden temple to worship the Siva Bhadreshwara genie. In the late 16th century, a big fire destroyed the temple. Step by step, historical mysteries were unveiled by scientists. Through stone stele and royal dynasties, they proved My Son to be the most important Holy Land of the Cham people during the mentioned centuries, reflecting the style and history of them.
My Son Sanctuary Hoi An with more than 70 intricately carved temples bearing many important inscriptions in Sanskrit and Cham. This relic was forgotten until 1898, when a Frenchman and his colleagues discovered the relic hidden in the forest, in the heart of the surrounding valley protected by two majestic mountains. In addition, another special impression that makes My Son Holy Land famous is the brick used to build the ancient towers. The bricks are fired and block cut, then stacked skillfully without the use of any kind of binder. Over the centuries, the My Son Sanctuary has not been weathered but only cracked a very small part.
My Son Sanctuary Hoi An
This is an ancient road leading to the My Son Holy Site, discovered by an Indian expert during the restoration and restoration of the central spires located in the core of the heritage site. The ancient road has a width of up to 8m, with 2 parallel walls, a depth of 1m buried in the ground.
According to recorded historical documents, this is the road leading directly to the center of the heritage, where there is a large gate tower used for sacrifices that only kings and members of the royal family, noble dignitaries of ancient Champa were allowed to enter. The wall system on both sides of the road is delicately and skillfully carved. This important discovery has contributed to increasing the long-standing historical values that the My Son Holy Land brings.
Ancient road of My Son Sanctuary
What interesting things in My Son Sanctuary? There is Apsara dance inspired by Apsara sculpted sandstone statues. This is considered a smooth and flexible dance with the title "Soul of the stone" to honor the flexible curves of women. This dance is currently used to perform in important art programs of Quang Nam province as well as for tourist groups to visit My Son Holy Land. You will feel lost in the ancient land of Champa with the image of girls with elongated fingers, round breasts and seductive curves in sparkling and brilliant costumes that blend with the sound of Paranung drums and drums. The sound of Saranai trumpet makes visitors even more infatuated.
Kate festival is one of the important festivals of the Cham people, usually held in July every year according to the Cham calendar. If your travel schedule meets the occasion of the Kate festival, you will not only be able to visit the unique heritage site, but also enjoy the rituals of praying for peace, a procession of robes and Kate, water procession. At the festival, there will be many unique cultural performances combined with traditional props and flexible dances of artists that make it hard for you to take your eyes off.
Kate Festival Of Cham People
The ideal time to visit My Son holy land is during the dry season, which runs from February to August.However, the best time to explore the My Son Sanctuary is usually from February to April. This is because the weather is still cool and not too hot after the Tet holiday. During this time, visitors can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and explore the ancient ruins comfortably without being affected by the heat. However, visitors should be prepared with sunscreen and a light jacket as the weather can still be cool during this time. It is also important to avoid traveling to the My Son Sanctuary during the end of the year when the weather is rainy as it can affect the trip. Therefore, plan your visit to the My Son Sanctuary carefully and choose the best time that suits your preferences and travel plans.
You can visit My Son Sanctuary in the early morning, right after the gate is opened to avoid the extreme heat here, but please note that there are more and more people coming here for sunrise tours. Another option is to visit the site in the afternoon, around 2 pm, when all the tourists are gone.
To get to the My Son Sanctuary, visitors can choose to depart from either Da Nang city or Hoi An Ancient Town. It is about over 60 km away from Da Nang city and 50 km from Hoi An Ancient Town so that you have many options to choose such as car, bus, motorbike. If you want to save time and gain much experience, the best option is to book a day tour from Da Nang or Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary.
In a nutshell, My Son Holy Land is a truly fascinating destination with a rich history and unique architecture. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Quang Nam province in Vietnam. Don't miss out on the opportunity to discover the mystery and beauty of this ancient Champa Kingdom in your journey in Vietnam. Book our day tour from Hoi An to visit My Son Sanctuary Hoi An and experience the magic for yourself!
