Bát Tháp Pagoda
Hà Nội(Chùa Bát Tháp)
Overview & history
Bát Tháp Pagoda, whose formal name is Bát Tháp Tự and also known as Vạn Bảo Pagoda, is located on Đội Cấn Street, Đội Cấn Ward, Ba Đình District, Hà Nội.
History
The pagoda was built on Vạn Bảo Mountain, a low hill in the Thăng Long citadel during the Lý - Trần dynasties. In the 2nd year of Gia Long (1803), the pagoda was formed by merging the pagoda on Elephant Mountain (núi Voi) and Vạn Bảo Pagoda into Bát Tháp Pagoda. The pagoda faces south and features a tam quan (three-entrance gate), a main hall (tam bảo), the ancestral house (nhà tổ), and a rear garden. The main hall (tam bảo) is situated at the highest point of Vạn Bảo Sơn, with a floor plan shaped like a pestle handle, consisting of a front hall with 7 bays, 2 side compartments, and a rear sanctuary with 3 bays.
Currently, the pagoda still preserves many statues, artefacts, and carvings in the 19th-century style, including a bell cast in the 2nd year of Gia Long (1803).
In 1989, the pagoda was classified as an architectural and artistic heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
Photos
📷 Contribute photosVisiting tips
- Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
- Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
- Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
- Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
- Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.
Read more & references
Useful links to learn more before your visit:
Location
Coordinates: 21.03592, 105.82245
🧭 Directions on Google MapsReferences
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