Surprised? It was equally surprising for us when we discovered this place while researching Vietnam. Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1999, Mỹ Son’s ancient Shiva temples from the 4th century draw thousands of tourists everyday. Here’s all about My Son-a Hindu culture heritage in Vietnam during our visit to Da Nang.
Fun Fact: It is pronounced “Me-Saun”, with “n” being silent.
A little background
Believed to have existed and flourished between the 4th and 14th centuries, the temples were dedicated to Lord Shiva. The credit of the site construction goes to the kingdom of Champa. The Champa dynasty comprised Cham people who once dominated maritime southeast Asia and were historically influenced by the Indian culture.
Restored, destroyed, restored
The cluster at one point in time had over 70 temples. Restoration of these structures began only in 1937 by French scholars. Majority of these in the center of the complex survived but the structural soundness continue to pose potential threats. Surrounding structures were revived between 1939 and 1943 but most of them were destroyed during U.S bombing during the Vietnam war.
While statues and several artifacts have been moved to France or historical museums, rest of them have been set up in a museum inside the complex.
The Government of India in association with the Government of Italy and Japan chipped in for the maintenance of Mỹ Son. After all the place is an important part of our culture.
The journey inside:
Alphabetically named clusters A to H, Shiva Lingas are prominently found across the complex. Most of them stand next to the temples or inside museums. People then used to maintain records in Sanskrit and old Cham. Subsequently, most of the inscriptions have been traced on stone slabs/pillars, of which 32 dating between the 5th and 12th centuries have been found at Mỹ Son.
The beauty of the sanctuary lies in the natural surroundings which the authorities have tried to maintain. It transports you back in time when the Champa dynasty had flourished.
Most of the temples at Mỹ Sơn were made of red brick, and only one (the temple labelled B1) was made of stone. The stone carvings exude elegance while the outer wall designs embody grace. The process of the bricks sticking together and the process of carvings still remains a mystery till date.
French and Polish explorers took great care in restoring the temple complex while maintaining its authenticity. The reconstruction work reflects the inspiration taken from inscriptions and preserved records. Thanks to UNESCO and several authorities who recognized the importance of the place and gave it a face-lift it deserved.
Time to spend:
The sanctuary is huge. So it takes two to three hours to cover the whole place and more if you wish to explore every detail.
Amenities available:
Washroom, restaurants, souvenir shops, resting places, tour guide (paid). Not wheelchair-friendly.
Ticket price:
150,000 VND (Vietnamese Dong). The cost includes cultural performance anda free shuttle ride of 2 km from the main entrance to the starting point.
Timing:
6:30 am to 5:30 pm
What to wear:
There’s no dress code. Advisable to wear clothes that cover your limbs as it may be hot, humid and will protect you from insect bites. Shun heels, wear comfy shoes or floaters as you’d be required to walk a lot.
Location:
Located in Quam Nang district 68 km from Da Nang, the easiest way is to hire a taxi or hop onto your tourist bus. But we rode a bike through the countryside, soaking in the luscious greenery and scenic horizons. Though tempted to halt, the sky had turned dark and we hurried before it rained. But it was not a lucky day. Nonetheless, we had to run for shelter twice. Later it continued to rain after we entered the sanctuary, dampening our spirit. Left with no choice, we had to purchase raincoats for 15000 VND each from the souvenir shops.
Essential Tips:
- Da Nang can experience rain any time. So it is safe to carry raincoat/umbrella.
- Wear masks and carry hand sanitizers if you are travelling during the Corona Virus scare. We were warned not to travel during this period, but nothing stops determined travelers.
If you have been to My Son, the Hindu Culture Heritage in Vietnam, do share your experience with us.
Check out another UNESCO world heritage site in India’s Himachal Pradesh.
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