The monastery is on top of Phung Hoang Mountain.

Tuyen Lam Lake rests at the foot of the mountain.

The monastery, which covers 24 hectares, is the biggest meditation monastery in Vietnam.

It was designed by two Vietnamese architects and built from 1993 to 1994.

Truc Lam Meditation Monastery is dedicated to the Truc Lam meditation sect established by King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), who became a Buddhist monk after abdicating the throne.

The monastery consists of simple circular houses with pointed domes and red-tile roofs.

The central building, used for worshiping and praying, has a one-ton bell inscribed with Buddhist poems.

The 190-square-meter central building, where sacred beings are worshipped, is home to statues of Sakya Muni Buddha, a bodhisattva riding a lion and a bodhisattva riding a six-tusk white elephant.

The building is decorated with carved relief pictures depicting eight different images of the Buddha.

The monastery is also home to hundreds of beautiful and rare flower species of Da Lat.

Visitors can reach the central building of Truc Lam Meditation Monastery in two ways: by climbing 61 steps from the parking lot at the side gate of the monastery; or by climbing 222 stone steps to pass three gates.

At the parking lot, visitors can take in a panoramic view of Phung Hoang Mountain.

A visit to Truc Lam Meditation Monastery includes beautiful mountain and forest scenery.

Visitors can experience the stillness of the pagoda.

For an even more relaxing encounter, take a boat trip on Tuyen Lam Lake, ride the cable car over Phung Hoang Mountain and visit the valley where locals eat wild animal dishes and drink ruou can (wine in a sealed jar).

Leading ao dai designer Si Hoang encourages children to explore their creativity at an annual children’s design contest marking International Children’s Day

Reported by Diem Thu

source: thanhninennews