A mysterious architectural complex shrouded in rainforest～Central Vietnam, My Son Sanctuary

My Son Sanctuary, listed as one of the World Heritage Sites, is a sacred place in the hearts of the Vietnamese. The local ruins even predate those of the Angkor Dynasty. It was once the religious center of the once-flourishing Champa Empire. Although the Champa Empire no longer exists, this empire that dominated central Vietnam from the 4th to the 12th century left behind many astonishing large-scale Hindu structures. Among them, My Son Sanctuary is the largest in scale, comparable to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, after frequent and ruthless wars in modern times, the ruins have become even more dilapidated.

My Son Sanctuary originally had 70 structures, of which about 25 remain today. The earliest, dating back to around the 4th century, were wooden and were completely destroyed by fire in the 7th century. Later, through multiple reconstructions, bricks became the main building material, adorned with sandstone carvings. The scale of the Cham architecture here is not as massive as nearby Angkor, yet it possesses a unique and delicate beauty.

Generally speaking, among the Cham architectural complexes of My Son, the central and tallest tower temple is considered the most sacred, called Kalan, symbolizing Mount Meru—the most sacred mountain in Hindu belief—where the Linga is enshrined. In groups B and D, B1 is the central tower temple, but unfortunately, it has completely collapsed, leaving only a large Linga pedestal exposed among the wild grass. C1 is the center of Group C, and the roof of this structure is boat-shaped, which is quite unique among Cham buildings. Typically, in front of the central tower temple, there is a gate tower (Gopura), and nearby buildings include preparation rooms and treasure chambers. Other smaller structures are dedicated to the deities of their respective cardinal directions...Click to view detailed attraction information

★★★Further reading =Vincent's Blog:: Flying Over Annam in Four Days (M): My Son Sanctuary (Part 1) UNESCO World Heritage Site

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