Introduction
Bich Dong Pagoda, located quietly on the Truong Yen mountain range, far from all the hustle and bustle of the crowded city, will be our destination today. The pagoda is one of the many famous landmarks that Ninh Binh owns. This place is renowned for its wild and quiet scenery, as if taking people back to the past. Therefore, this temple is suitable for those who want to escape the bustling life and find peace and serenity in their souls. Let us return to the past with Ninh Binh Private Car and explore Bich Dong Pagoda.
Bich Dong Pagoda Location
Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient pagoda built on the Truong Yen limestone mountain range in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh province. It is a cultural and historical relic belonging to the Trang An Tam Coc—Bich Dong scenic complex. UNESCO has recognized it as a unique national monument and a world heritage site.
Bich Dong Pagoda and Bai Dinh Pagoda have many things in common: they belong to the cave temple complex style. This is a common type of pagoda building in Ninh Binh, such as Dich Long Pagoda or Canh Dieu Pagoda. However, choosing Bich Dong Pagoda or Bai Dinh Pagoda will be difficult because each has unique features. So, if you can, visit both temples to see the difference.
How To Get To Bich Dong Pagoda?
To get to Bich Dong Pagoda, you must first get to Ninh Binh city. The distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is approximately 100 km, and from Ninh Binh to the temple, it will be about 10 km. Tourists can use many vehicles, such as trains, buses, motorbikes, or the Hanoi to Ninh Binh Private Car service.
A train ticket from Hanoi to Ninh Binh will cost about 110,000 VND, and a bus ticket will cost about 50,000 to 210,000 VND, depending on the seat class. Once you arrive in Ninh Binh, it will only take you about 10 minutes by car to get to the temple. Otherwise, you can rent a bicycle or motorbike in the Van Lam village area to get to the temple. Additionally, if you want, you can also walk to the temple. Although it will take more time, you can slowly admire the natural beauty of Ninh Binh.
If you want to explore Vietnam in other lands, you can consider our service:
Ninh Binh To Dong Hoi Private Car – From 208 USD Per Car
Ninhbinh To Moc Chau Private Car – From 100 USD Per Car
Ninh Binh To Phong Nha Luxury Car – From 255 USD Per Car
History Of Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda was a small temple built at Truong Yen Mountain in 1428 during the Later Le Dynasty. In 1705, two monks, Tri Kien and Tri The, from Nghia Hung district, Nam Dinh province, met and became brothers. Both are devout people who want to travel everywhere to spread Buddhism to everyone. When passing by here, they saw that the mountain had beautiful terrain and a pagoda already existed, so the two decided to stay there and build the pagoda.
The two monks raised donations from the surrounding people and built three pagodas: the Lower Pagoda, the Middle Pagoda, and the Upper Pagoda. In 1707, two monks, Tri Kien and Tri The, cast a large bell still hanging in Dark Cave.
The pagoda used to be called “Bach Ngoc Thach Son Dong,” which means the beautiful pagoda is made of stone and is as white as jade in the wild mountain. But in 1774, Lord Trinh Sam once visited the pagoda and saw that it was surrounded by mountains, forests, fields, and rivers, all of the same green color, so he changed the pagoda’s name to Bich Dong.
Unique Architecture Of The Temple
Bich Dong Pagoda was built according to the words Tam (三) in Chinese; the three buildings are not adjacent. The Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda, and Upper Pagoda are separated on the mountainside, leaning against the mountainside, forming three separate pagodas. In addition to the three pagodas, Bich Dong has two more caves: Toi Cave (Dark Cave) halfway up the mountain and Xuyen Thuy Cave underground. The unique feature of the pagoda is that the mountain, cave, and pagoda complement each other, making the pagoda hidden behind the trees on the hill.
Ha Pagoda (Lower Pagoda)
Ha Pagoda has five compartments built on a high foundation, with the lowest location at the foot of the mountain. In the Buddhist temple, the temple architecture is in the style of the character Dinh (丁). The rafters and crossbeams are all ironwood and have been through for centuries, but the pagoda remains firmly. The pagoda’s roof is two tiers of roofs that curve upward and have eight roofs in total. The stone pillars in the lower pagoda are all made of one piece of stone, not joined, and are over 4 meters high. Making such stone pillars is a feat.
Entering the main hall, you will see at the top the three-worldly building, with three statues symbolizing Buddha’s three lives. Next are the Three Saints of the West, and Amitabha Buddha is in the middle. On the right is Avalokitesvara, and on the left is Mahasthamaprapta. The third row is Thousand Hands Thousand Eyes Avalokitesvara, followed by the newborn form of Gautama Buddha.
Trung Pagoda (Middle Pagoda)
120 steps away from Ha Pagoda in an S shape in the Bich Dong Pagoda complex, Trung Pagoda is halfway up Ngu Nhac Mountain. This is a unique temple, half in the open air and half in a cave. After worshiping Buddha in the upper palace, go up 21 stone steps to reach the Dark Cave. This main cave has thousands of years of natural creation, creating an extremely magnificent scene inside the cave with stone statues of many beautiful shapes.
Regarding decoration, the two statues sitting outside are Manjushri, on the left, and Samantabhadra, on the right. Inside the main palace is a statue that worships Ananda. Next to Dark Cave, right in front of the cave entrance, is a big bronze bell. Three stone statues are standing majestically inside the cave. In the middle is Amitabha Buddha, on the right is Manjushri, and on the left is Avalokitesvara, a stone Jurojin statue worshiped in a small temple.
Thuong Pagoda
The last and tallest of the three pagodas in Bich Dong Pagoda is Thuong Pagoda. Looking far away from Thuong Pagoda, five mountains stand independently towards Bich Dong Mountain, looking like five lotus petals. The five mountains are called Ngu Nhac Son, including Tam Sang Mountain, Gia Dinh Mountain, Con Lon Mountain, Dau Cau Mountain, and Hang Ba Mountain. The temple worshiping Avalokitesvara in the main hall outside has two small shrines: on the right, worshiping Tudigong, and on the left, worshiping the Mountain God.
Dark Cave
Only about 6m from Trung Pagoda, visitors will come to Dark Cave, the main cave of the pagoda. If the Trung Pagoda is on the first floor and is 6m high, the Dark Cave is on the second floor and is 8m high.
The road to Dark Cave is nearly vertical, going under the bridge of injustice. Above the cave door hangs a large bronze bell cast by two monks, Tri Kien and Tri The, in 1707. Tourists passing by here often ring the bell thrice to dispel the fatigue in their souls.
Xuyen Thuy Cave
In addition to Dark Cave, there is another cave, Xuyen Thuy Cave, a dark and flooded cave that goes through Bich Dong Mountain. Xuyen Thuy Cave is like a semicircular stone pipe about 350 m long, winding from east to west. The average width of Xuyen Thuy cave is 6m, and the widest part is 15m. The cave’s ceiling and walls are flat, and nature seems to have arranged each large stone slab into a perfect dome.
Bich Dong Pagoda Opening Hours
Bich Dong Pagoda is open day and night, so visitors can visit anytime. However, we do not encourage you to go at night because the temple is halfway up the mountain, so it will be dangerous when it gets dark.
Bich Dong Pagoda Entrance Fee
You will not have to pay to visit the temple, but you will have to go through Tam Coc. So you must buy tickets to see the Tam Coc—Bich Dong tourism complex for 250,000 VND/adult and 120,000 VND/kid.
Essential Tips Visit To Bich Dong Pagoda
- Very few shops are outside the temple, so you should bring drinks and snacks to prepare for the visit.
- The pagoda is open to visitors all year round, but to avoid the rainy season, visitors should visit from April to June or during the last three months of the year: October, November, and December. It is also good to see other destinations in Ninh Binh, such as Dinh And Le Templess, Thung Nham Bird Park, and Thai Vi Temple.
- This temple is sacred, so visitors must pay attention to its Bich Dong Pagoda dress code and behavior. They should avoid wearing revealing clothes and engaging in inappropriate activities.
- You should wear comfortable sneakers because visitors must walk many stairs to visit the temple.
If you can visit Bich Dong Pagoda, do not miss the opportunity to experience other interesting activities there. For example, the Trang An Boat Tour visits the little-known Linh Coc Pagoda.
Conclusion
Bich Dong Pagoda is a hidden gem in Ninh Binh, offering visitors a serene and spiritual experience amid breathtaking natural scenery. With its ancient temples, limestone caves, and lush surroundings, the pagoda perfectly blends history, culture, and nature. Whether you’re seeking peace, adventure, or a glimpse into Vietnam’s rich heritage, visiting Bich Dong Pagoda will leave a lasting impression on your journey through Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh Private Car hopes you will have engaging experiences when visiting Ninh Binh in general and Bich Dong Pagoda in particular.