Da Lat is a famous tourist city in Vietnam that leaves visitors reluctant to leave. When mentioning Da Lat, tourists can easily name many famous spiritual destinations. One of them is Linh Phuoc Pagoda, a unique and unmissable destination when visiting this city of a thousand flowers.
Overview of Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is located at 120 Tu Phuoc Street, Xuan Truong-Da Lat Ward, Lam Dong Province. It’s also known as the “Ve Chai Pagoda” because its architecture is adorned with pottery, porcelain, bottles, and glass, creating a vibrant and impressive atmosphere. This unique decoration has amazed visitors and made it a very impressive check-in spot in Da Lat.
The entrance of the pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda was built in 1949 and completed in 1950. In 1990, the pagoda was renovated by Venerable Thich Tam Vi, during which several new structures were added. The restoration process involved contributions from Buddhists from all over, as well as the combined efforts of generations of monks at the pagoda. Therefore, this project also carries profound meaning regarding the value of unity and the creative labor of people.
A unique architectural design of Linh Phuoc Pagoda
The story of collecting recyclables to repair the pagoda, still recounted by the monks, is remarkable. To gather enough broken glass, porcelain, beer bottles, and ceramic pieces for the repairs, the monks had to go to people’s homes, factories, and workshops in the surrounding area to collect them. Once the broken pieces were brought back to the pagoda, the monks had to scrub, cut, and grind them into suitable shapes for use. Every step was done manually and required significant effort.
empty bottles and broken glass used to adorn the pagoda
Visiting Linh Phuoc Temple, tourists feel as if they have entered a spiritual world created with countless large and small ceramic images and paintings. These fragments are embedded everywhere: on the pillars, on the dragons, on the walls, and on the decorative patterns in the pagoda.
The first impressive work is the Long Hoa Garden, featuring a 49-meter-long, winding dragon made from 12,000 bottle caps that creates a sparkling cluster under the sunlight.
Opposite the Long Hoa Garden is the 7-story Linh Phap Tower, 36 meters high, designed with many distinctive statues. The highest level of the Linh Phap Tower houses the Dai Hong bell, cast in 1999, weighing 8,500 kg and standing 4.3 meters tall. This is the second-largest bell after the bell at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh.
The giant bell, standing 4.3 meters tall, with a mouth diameter of 2.33 meters and weighing 8,500 kg, is one of the heaviest in Vietnam.
The inner sanctuary is even more majestic with 324 statues of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva; most notably, two Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statues hold Vietnamese records. One, made of reinforced concrete, is recognized as the largest Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue in Vietnam. Another equally famous artwork, made from 650,000 everlasting flowers, stands 17 meters tall, weighs 3 tons, and was completed in 36 days with the contributions of 300 Buddhist followers and 30 artisans.
Inside the sanctum of the pagoda
The tallest indoor concrete Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue in Vietnam
A statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva made from 650,000 immortal flowers
The most remarkable highlight is the 18-level hell-themed viewing area, stretching 300 meters. In this area, the pagoda explains and speaks about karma, cause and effect, and filial piety, aiming to guide people towards greater goodness. The pagoda hopes this area will help Buddhist followers and visitors achieve enlightenment and learn valuable lessons. It will undoubtedly be a fascinating and meaningful experience for visitors.
The records of Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Temple is one of the most unique spiritual and cultural destinations in Da Lat. Besides its unique architecture and decoration, the pagoda is also notable for holding numerous records:
- The tallest bell tower in Vietnam
- The tallest indoor concrete Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue in Vietnam
- A statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva made from 650,000 immortal flowers;
- The largest peacock king statue made of starwood in Vietnam
- The pagoda was constructed with the most ceramic pieces.
- The largest wooden Buddhist scriptures are contained within a tree stump in Vietnam.
- The largest set of wooden altars made of starwood in Vietnam
- The “Twin Podocarpuses and Cranes” artwork, a Vietnamese record
- The largest architectural work recreating the scene of Maudgalyayana searching for his mother through the 18 levels of hell in Vietnam
- The largest wooden statue of Bodhidharma in Vietnam
- The largest set of starwood tables and chairs carved with the 12 zodiac animals in Vietnam.
- The pagoda with the most wax statues of Zen masters.
- The Avalokiteshvara shrine in the pagoda with the most statues of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara;
- The largest set of eighteen Arhat statues made of cracked glaze Bat Trang ceramic.
- The largest set of statues of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity is made of pine wood.
- The largest dragon made from empty beer bottles.
The largest peacock king statue made of starwood in Vietnam
The largest wooden Buddhist scriptures are contained within a tree stump in Vietnam
The tallest bell tower in Vietnam
The pagoda with the most wax statues of Zen masters
From Linh Phuoc Pagoda, visitors can easily reach Da Lat’s tourist attractions, such as Da Lat train station, Da Lat flower village, Cau Dat tea plantation, and Lang Bian mountain… Perhaps that is why, amidst the many attractive tourist destinations of Da Lat, Linh Phuoc Pagoda still holds a unique position that is neither overshadowed nor blended in.
Source: collected by An
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