Poklong Garai Tower – An icon of Ninh Thuan tourism culture and one of the few clusters of temples and towers with classic Champa sculptural architecture on the Central Coast. Let’s follow our introduction to a couple of things about Poklong Garai Cham Tower, a historic landscape that highlights the impact of civilization.

I. Where is Poklong Garai Cham Tower?

Trau Hill is about 7 kilometers northwest of Phan Rang City Center, near Bac Ai Street in Do Vinh Ward. This is a gorgeous place in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam, boasting the most magnificent indigo tower cluster. 

To get to Poklong Garai Tower from Phan Rang City Center, use Ngo Gia Tu Road (National Highway 27 (new)) until you cross the Cham Tower Overpass. You will arrive at this location after taking all of the left turns onto Bac Ai Road. We may easily access Poklong Garai Cham Tower by plane, rail, or bus from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or other parts of this country. This may be a fantastic spiritual tourist destination this summer.

II. The significance of  “Poklong Garai Cham Tower”?

The term Poklong Garai Cham Towers comes from the fact that this is a spectacular tower cluster of devotion that was created to honor King Poklong Garai (a Champa king for more than 50 years). This is a monarch related to historical stories of the old Champa kingdom; he was the one who successfully led the Cham people to fight the Angkor court’s dominance, calm the country, and promote agriculture. He was so powerful that the Cham people worshiped him as the deity of irrigation.

III. The architectural beauty of Poklong Tower 

Poklong Garai Cham Tower was constructed in the late 13th and early 14th centuries (about 800 years ago). It is in a quiet suburb. Visitors may take in the panorama from the tower complex atop Trau hill. With the image of the serene Ninh Thuan countryside looming in the background, buildings, farmland, or mountains in the distance make a lovely scene. The sunset from Poklong Garai Tower, in particular, is spectacular. The sight of the sun gently fading behind the mountain, leaving behind a silent night, radiates the extraordinarily enigmatic beauty of Poklong Garai Tower at this moment.

The Poklong Garai Cham tower was made up of three separate structures: the main tower, the fire tower, and the gate tower. It is a masterpiece of architecture, art, and sculpture. Each skyscraper has an eye-catching architectural design.

First, proceed to the Gate Tower, which consists of two doors joined along the East-West axis. The Gate Tower stands roughly 9 meters tall and is sculpted and carved with incredibly unique designs. This is also the entryway of the event, where sacrifices are made and visitors of the monarch are welcomed in the past. The Fire Tower is the next location with the distinctive architecture of traditional Cham Pa ethnic dwellings. It is also home to a vibrant Sa Huynh culture. The tower is 9.3 meters tall, with a length of roughly 8.1 meters, and a width of 5 meters. It was carefully created by Brahmin beliefs. This is the priest’s site of sacrifice, the location of dragon cells, and the location of the old King Cham Pa’s vital things. Finally, the main tower – the focal point of the architecture of Poklong Garai Ninh Thuan Cham Tower – must be mentioned. The primary entrance to the tower is to the east, and it is adorned with the figure of the deity Siva. In addition, the tower includes three faux entrances facing the remaining three sides of the structure.

Poklong Garai Cham Tower has been designated as a special national historic site by the Prime Minister as one of the finest architectural monuments of the Cham culture. Let’s go on a trip and explore together.

IV. Poklong Garai Cham Tower – The mysteries can not be decrypted

“The mystery of Poklong Garai Tower and ancient Cham vital” 

Going back to Ninh Thuan and interviewing the locals, I learned more about the norms of the Ka Te celebration, which is considered the Cham New Year according to the Brahmin faith (around October on the solar calendar).The first oddity is the Siamese parade, which consists of garments intended for the monarch but sent to another tribe in the highlands (the Raglai people). I used to wonder why it had such bizarre stories? It turned out to be a protracted history of dynastic warfare in which the Cham were forced to move everywhere to prevent tragedy. During the pandemonium, tens of thousands of Cham people were forced to break away. A big number of people were forced to go to the mountains to live with the Zhou Ru and Raglai people, while the others fled through Cao Mien or scattered elsewhere for safety. They brought their valuables and money and begged the Raglai to hide them.

After hundreds of years, the Cham were unable to return their valuables while also sending their brother Raglai back. Later, at the Kate Festival, the workman requested that the Raglai bring medicine and other gifts for sacrifices to his family (to put on an idol after ceremonial bathing). They ordered the Raglai to be maintained on the mountain until the next year after the ritual. Until recently, a weird story had established an annual custom between the Cham and the Raglai.

Then, as time passed, Raglai and Chu Ru citizens forgot where they had hidden their values. As a result, numerous eerie and terrifying legends emerge from the Cham people’s treasure search. For a few hundred years, the mystery of Cham towers and the reappearance of ghosts has not stopped people who went to unearth the tombs of Cham monarchs to plunder the hidden wealth.

V. Kate Festival – The Cham people’s unique beliefs

According to Monier and Cabaton’s dictionary, Kate is a noun derived from the Hindu words “Katik” and “Kattika” in Sanskrit, India. The meaning of this term is narrowly interpreted as a ritual in July of the Cham calendar.

Every year on this occasion, Cham people from all over the world gather to Ninh Thuan and Poklong Garai Tower to attend the celebration. The Cham kate festival in Ninh Thuan lasts three days and begins on July 1st, according to the Cham calendar. Poklong Garai Tower (Do Vinh Ward, Phan Rang City – Cham Tower) is the location. (Province of Ninh Thuan) The procedure is followed carefully from the temple tower to the villages and each household, according to the festival’s organizational sequence. As a result, the temple tower (Bimen, Ka lan), the settlement (Paley), and each family (Russia wôm) have their names. For thousands of years, this method has been regarded as valuable. Poklong Garai Tower is a spiritual site, particularly for the Cham minority in the area. On the other hand, the Cham people hold several traditional events here. Cham people dress in stunning traditional garb. Ceremonies are held to memorialize monarchs, gods, and so on. If you have the opportunity to come during the correct holiday days, you will undoubtedly have exciting experiences, be immersed in the bustling flow of people, and have a better understanding of Cham culture.

VI. Conclusions 

Poklong Garai Tower is not only a one-of-a-kind architectural work but also a symbol of Cham culture that is both distinctive and appealing. With its marks of Cham culture, is a must-see when visiting Ninh Thuan and learning about the features of this region. Visitors should not be hesitant to visit this location. In addition to learning about the cultural aspects, it is also a great tourist location for us to stop by.

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