Po Klong Garai Tower enriched in Cham culture in Ninh Thuan province

Locating about 07 kilometres to the west of Phan Rang city, Po Klong Garai Tower is the famous tower group among other top destinations on the tourist map of Ninh Thuan.

1.     Po Klong Garai Tower is at Trau hill, Do Vinh ward, Phan Rang - Thap Cham city. This is a tower group consisting of Chinh Tower (Main Tower), Lua Tower (Fire Tower) and Cong Tower (Gate Tower), which is considered as the most magnificent and beautiful existing tower group of the Cham people in Viet Nam today.

2.     Travellers follow the steps to go uphill to see the 9-meter high Lua Tower which is to the South of Chinh Tower. According to tradition of the Cham people, Lua Tower is the resting place and preserving items for ancient rituals.

3.     Cong Tower is the stopover to take a rest and calm down before entering Chinh Tower.

4.     Chinh Tower is the centre of the tower group, that is high over 20 meters and has one entrance. The tower complex was listed by Vietnamese Ministry of Culture in 1979 as the Historic – Architectural Relic of the Cham Sculpture Art.  

5.     King Po Klong Garai (reigned from 1151 to 1205) has been worshiping with the Mukha - Linga symbol in Chinh Tower. He was honoured as the great contributor to build the irrigation system for agricultural activities of the Cham people in the region. The famous King’s works still in use now are Nha Trinh Dam and Cham Canal.

6.     The tamarind tree is a highlight in this compound. Based on Cham legend, King Po Klong Garai leaned his back on that tamarind tree while he was on his trading journey at his youth. Another legend says that the tamarind tree is the patron saint for the King in this ancient tower.

7.     At the end of every October, the Cham people in Ninh Thuan province often go to the tower to celebrate their traditional Kate festival. They worship and pray for an abundant crop. The colourful costumes of Cham ladies mixed with the unique white-and-red dresses of Cham dignitaries are, among others, the attractive point of this festival.

8.     At the Trau foothill, travellers can visit the tourist information centre with corners of book exhibition, Cham cultural photoes, Cham traditional handtools and souvenirs.

9.     In the exhibition corner, the visitors can see the old authentic tools of the Cham people as rice huller, traditional musical instruments and costumes of Cham monks. In particular, the buffalo-drawn cart is one of the featured objects existing today. Wheels and other parts were made entirely of wood. The joints were carved to fit to each other without using any supporting materials. There are only 03 carts remained and to be used mostly for display in culture houses.

10.  Handbag, purses, lovely scarves are sold in the souvenir corner of this information centre. However, their prices are higher than in My Nghiep traditional weaving village that is 10 km southward.

In addition, Bau Truc Ceramic is also exhibited and sold with various designs. Guests can choose the miniature tower for 50,000-80,000 VND (2,5-4 USD) as souvenirs or gifts for relatives.

Note:

Guests are requested to dress properly and not to write, graffiti, burn incense or leave money inside the tower, as those acts are inappropriate with the religion and culture of the Cham people.