Visit "the land where Kings, Saints, and Gods are born" in the land of birds

(CLO) Thung Nham eco-tourism area (Ninh Binh) is not only known as the land of birds, this place is also known as the land where Kings, Saints, and Gods are born with a famous spiritual site. It is famous for many temples, pagodas, shrines, etc. and legendary stories tinged with fantasy.

(CLO) Thung Nham eco-tourism area (Ninh Binh) is not only known as the land of birds, this place is also known as the land where Kings, Saints, and Gods are born with a famous spiritual site. It is famous for many temples, pagodas, shrines, etc. and legendary stories tinged with fantasy.

Thung Nham is located in Hai Nham hill - Hai Nham village - Ninh Hai commune - Hoa Lu district - Ninh Binh province, about 15km from Trang An eco-tourism area, is one of the tourist destinations in the core area of ​​the heritage complex. Trang An World Heritage Site.

This place has a very fresh climate and charming scenery, green mountains and blue water. With a natural flooded forest ecosystem covering an area of ​​about 334.2 hectares, of which 19 hectares is primary forest, Thung Nham bird garden is home to about 46 species of birds, 109 species of plants, 150 species of animals. ... famous for being the home of many bird species such as storks, cauldrons, teal, starlings, teals... and two precious birds, flamingos and phoenixes, listed in the red book. For many years, Thung Nham bird garden has been famous because it is the largest natural bird sanctuary in the North.

Thung Nham Bird Garden - Where nature calls.

In addition to being known as the land of birds in Ninh Binh and an attractive eco-tourism destination, Thung Nham is also known for works with extremely unique cultural and historical religious values.

Located on the campus of Thung Nham Ecotourism Area, there is a famous sacred spiritual site including: Goi Dai Temple, Linh Than Temple and the "moving" Banyan Tree that is always chanted and praised by local people. worshiped to this day.

This spiritual site is located in the center of Thung Nham eco-tourism area. It is a place with a beautiful location and good feng shui. This area is located in a "mountain overlooking the river" position - behind is the majestic mountain range of Hoa Lu primeval forest, in front is the calm, emerald green Fairy Lake. The entire hill is like a blooming lotus, standing out in the middle of the valley. Therefore, this area is considered the land of the gods, a sacred, pure place, where the gods reside.

Here, people combine the belief of worshiping the Mother Goddess with worshiping the god Quy Minh. Besides, it also worships Saint Viet Vuong - a talented general during the Dinh dynasty. Over many decades, this spiritual site has become an important place for cultural and religious activities in the spiritual life of the people of Nham village.

Located at the highest position near the top of the hill is Goi Dai Temple. The name Goi Dai is a combination of the words "pillow" - meaning "next pillow" and "dai" in "dynasty", indicating the continuity from one era to another. It can be seen that the name of the temple represents the wishes of the ancients: the wish for the country to be forever independent, peaceful and prosperous.

Goi Dai Temple is located at the highest position near the top of the hill - Photo: Thung Nham eco-tourism area

The current temple was rebuilt on the foundation of the old temple, following the Dinh architectural style. In front of the temple, there is a stone gate in the shape of a scroll sculpted with a scrolling Dragon motif and two screens sculpted with a tiger statue. This is a popular architectural style of Vietnamese temples and pagodas, creating a space of solemn and pure worship, as well as a place for rustic and close community cultural activities.

The temple's harem worships the Three Holy Mothers, including: The first Mother Thuong Thien (ruling the sky) is placed in the middle wearing a red uniform, the second Mother Thuong Ngan (ruling the mountains and forests) is wearing a red uniform. green on the right and the third Mau Thoai Phu (ruler of the river area) wearing white uniform on the left.

Outside the temple, the Five Immortals and the Three Hoangs are worshiped. The right wing worships the Saint Viet Vuong, the left wing worships the Ban Temple Lady (the ruler of the sacred temple). In addition, on the right side of the temple there is also "Son Trang cave" worshiping Lady Son Trang and 12 saints.

The special feature of the temple lies in the diverse combination of cultural beliefs: from the belief in worshiping the Mother Goddess to the belief in worshiping the Gods. Legend has it that the temple is very sacred. On Tet holidays or the Fourth and Full Moon days of every month, local people often come here to offer fruit and incense cakes. Everyone respectfully clasped their hands together, bowed their heads, and asked the Mother Mother to caress and protect them and show them the way; Pray for the villagers to have a smooth business and for their families to be safe and healthy.

At the temple, worship objects such as stone lamps, incense burners, and floating column bases are all sculptures of Ninh Van - Ninh Binh fine art stone village.

Next is Linh Than Temple - The sacred temple that tells the story of the General. Legend has it that the Holy Viet Vuong was one of the mandarins who assisted King Dinh Bo Linh in suppressing the rebellion of 12 warlords and unifying the country of Dai Co Viet. In 968, after the king ascended the throne, the heroic general volunteered to return to this land to guard the western gate of Hoa Lu citadel and lived here in hiding until his death. When he passed away, the king built a temple right under the Da tree to express his condolences and remind future generations to remember his merits. Speaking of the heroic Dinh Bo Linh era, ancient history books also recorded the legend. to the Tuong mountain range of the Trang An range.

Linh Than Temple - A sacred temple that tells the story of the General. Photo: Thung Nham eco-tourism area

At that time, this mountain range was considered the forward guard post protecting the west of Hoa Lu citadel. In 966, the country of Dai Viet fell into a period of chaos with 12 warlords, Dinh Bo Linh raised the flag of insurrection, repeatedly defeated the East and defeated the North. He was honored by the people as Van Thang Dai Vuong. Legend has it that, after major victories, Dinh Bo Linh and his generals went to the top of Tuong mountain to hold a feast to welcome the troops, celebrate and sing triumphant songs all night long here. The name "Tuong Mountain" also comes from there.

Later, when the Saint Viet Vuong passed away and a temple was built, the temple also faced the top of Tuong mountain as the wish of the talented general of the past to always remember the glorious glorious period as well as the loyal heart of the army. His patriotism lives on forever. The current temple has historical value as it still stores many precious antiques.

The recorded artifacts include: 5 green stone panels assembled into 1 altar and 2 incense bowls (1 round cylinder, 1 rectangular) made of smooth green stone with the main pattern being "two dragons flanking the moon". . According to research, these two incense bowls date back to the Later Le Dynasty (around the 16th century). The shrine's spirit is always worshiped and cared for by local people, and the incense smoke has never cooled down. Just like the hearts of the people here, they always remember the merits of the talented general of the past.

Standing tall in the middle of Thung Nham mountains and forests, shining a green shadow over Goi Dai Temple and Linh Than Temple is a thousand-year-old banyan tree. According to science, when the sa and banyan lines reach 300 - 330 years old, the tree will replace its trunk. The main trunk of the tree will grow old and rot, and instead, the secondary roots attached to the ground will grow and become trunks. new. This process is called moves.

Scientists research that the Banyan tree in Thung Nham is more than 1,000 years old and has moved in 3 steps. The tree is currently moving at the end of the third step and the beginning of the fourth step. The original location of the tree is 20m from the current location.

Moving banyan tree - Thousands of years of standing. Photo: Thung Nham eco-tourism area

This is also the reason why the tree is called "Moving Banyan Tree". Especially: according to natural laws, trees always move towards a water source. Finished, this Banyan tree did not move towards the Tien Lake wharf but moved in the opposite direction: around the Linh Than Temple and Goi Dai Temple. The roots of the tree are intertwined to form a green screen that shields windstorms and toxic gases from the buildings behind.

This strange and interesting thing has been associated by the people here with the loyalty of Duc Thang Viet Vuong - a talented and virtuous general who wholeheartedly supported King Dinh. Over the past decades, through many storms, the ancient banyan tree still stands majestically, in the summer it spreads its green canopy to provide shade, in the winter it becomes a protective screen. When taking steps to move the Banyan tree, it only moves around the temple. The images of the banyan tree and the temple always go hand in hand, both sturdy and intimate. It seems like the love between the king and the king is still alive and well here.

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Update day : 29/02/2024