The journey to turn Ponagar Tower into a special national monument

Khanh Hoa - The Government has recognized Ponagar Tower as a special national monument.

The Ponagar Tower relic in Khanh Hoa is one of five relics recognized by the Government as special national relics. Photo: Binh Quy

In July 2025, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee will hold a ceremony to announce and receive the certificate of ranking as a special national monument for Ponagar Tower.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long signed a Decision on ranking 5 special national relics (17th batch).

In this list, the architectural and artistic relic of Ponagar Tower in Khanh Hoa is officially recognized as a special national relic.

Ponagar Tower is the pride of Khanh Hoa people, a unique architectural work, a symbol of cultural and religious exchange. Photo: Huu Long

Po Nagar Tower is located on Cu Lao hill, Bac ward, Nha Trang city. The structure was built from the 8th to 13th century by the Cham community to worship the goddess Po Inư Nagar - the Mother Goddess of the Cham people.

By 1653, with the coexistence between the Vietnamese and the Cham people, the worship of Mother Goddess of the Land was transformed into the worship of Thien YA Na Thanh Mau in the Vietnamese community.

The Ponagar Tower complex currently has 5 architectural works, distributed in two main areas: the Mandapa area and the temple tower area. Photo: Huu Long

The Ponagar Tower complex currently has 5 architectural works, distributed in two main areas: Mandapa area and temple tower area.

The Mandapa area consists of four rows of large octagonal pillars built of baked bricks, with a total of 10 large pillars and 12 small pillars.

The temple complex has four main towers remaining. Of these, the Northeast Tower (Main Tower) is 23m high, first built in the 8th century, restored in the 11th century. Inside the tower is a statue of the goddess Po Nagar.

The 18m high South Tower, built in the 13th century, worships the god Shiva. According to Vietnamese legend, this is the place to worship Thien YA Na's husband, called Ong Tower.

The Southeast Tower is 7.1m high, dating from the 11th-12th century, and worships the god Skandha - the son of Shiva. According to the Vietnamese, this is the place to worship Mr. and Mrs. Tieu, the adoptive parents of Thien YA Na.

The 9m high Northwest Tower is a fairly intact tower, worshiping the god Ganesha. Vietnamese legend says that this is the place to worship Co and Cau - the children of Thien YA Na.

The Po Nagar Tower relic was built between the 8th and 13th centuries and is a typical work of Cham architectural art. Photo: Huu Long

In 1979, Po Nagar Tower was ranked as a national architectural and artistic relic.

In 2012, the Ponagar Tower Festival - taking place annually from the 20th to the 23rd of the third lunar month - was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The festival is an occasion to practice the worship of Mother Goddess (of the Cham people) and the worship of Mother Goddess (of the Vietnamese people).

Currently, the Ponagar Tower relic still preserves 14 royal decrees, 28 inscriptions on steles and many artifacts of historical, cultural and archaeological value.

Previously, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Monument Conservation Center organized two programs to visit Ponagar Tower at night. These programs are “Sacred Land of Agarwood” and “Moon Reflecting on the Tower” which take place on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, respectively. Photo: Huu Long

Mr. Le Van Hoa - Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Culture and Sports - assessed that the ranking of Ponagar Tower as a special national relic is an event of great significance. Thereby, contributing to enhancing the position of the relic in the system of Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/hanh-trinh-dua-thap-ba-ponagar-thanh-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-1537482.html