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Nestled under the canopy of Tay Nguyen Forest, Yang Prong Tower worships the crop-taker Shiva (Mukhalinga), prays for the growth of the race, prosperity, and happiness. Not only is it a unique architectural work, Yang Prong tower also carries the mysterious, ancient, and solemn Cham culture that has existed firmly over time. Let’s dig into the story behind this building with Asia King Travel!
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Yang Prong Tower
Yang Prong Tower is located in Ea Rok Commune, Ea Sup District, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak. Until now, this is the only Cham tower in Tay Nguyen. Nearby the winding Ea H’leo River, Yang Prong is appealing to those who love Cham culture and want to admire their meticulous architectural style.
Yang Prong Tower is around 100 km from Buon Ma Thuot City, the central city of Dak Lak Province. If you’re staying in nearby regions, you can drive straight to the destination. On the other hand, if you depart from far-away cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, we suggest traveling by plane to save time. You will land at Buon Ma Thuot Airport. Then, from the city, head west to Ea Rok Commune. It will take around 2.5 hours to drive.
Ea Sup District experiences a high temperature (30-37 degrees Celsius) from April to November. The weather gets cooler from late November to March. Therefore, we suggest visiting the Yang Prong Tower during the period between November to March to have a better experience. The weather is cool, quite dry, and comfortable for carrying out activities.
There are higher chances of encountering rainy days from August to October, along with a humid atmosphere. Therefore, check the weather forecast if you intend to explore during this time. Bring along necessary items like raincoats, umbrellas, and hats to avoid getting wet.
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Yang Prong Tower has a square base with the top pointed like an onion
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Yang Prong Tower is the only Cham tower in Tay Nguyen. It was built in the late 18th century to pay gratitude to Siva (Mukhalinga), the distinguished god who takes care of the crops, according to the ancient Cham people’s belief.
The tower was built in the late 13th century under the reign of King Sinhavarman III. Yang Prong Tower was discovered around 1904-1911 by a French ethnologist named Henri Maitre. This scientist described this work in the book Les Jungles Moi (The Jungle of Moi) published in Paris in 1912. Yang Prong Tower has a significant meaning to ethnologists, historians, and engineers. It proved that 700 years ago, not only the locals but also other races lived in harmony here in Tay Nguyen.
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Tourists admire the ancient Cham architecture
Yang Prong Tower was hidden under the canopy of the Ea Sup forest and beside the gentle Ea H’leo river. Despite going through 3 centuries, Yang Prong Tower stays quite intact. It was built of hard bricks in various sizes, concreting on a high bluestone rock bed. Yang Prong followed a square-shaped structure, with the top pointed like an onion, making it different from the usual Cham architecture.
The tower is 9 meters high, and each side is 5 meters long. The outer wall has 3 fake doors, the only door opening to the East, where the gods reside. According to the professional adjustments, Yang Prong Tower is possibly an unfinished project, because the Cham people often built a complex instead of just a single tower.
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Yang Prong Tower Relic from above
In 1991, Yang Prong Tower was recognized as a National Cultural and Architectural Relic and received the preservation effort of the local authority. The restoration included many works such as reinforcing the steel frame around the main tower, building a surrounding fence, paving the floor with cement, planting grass, and placing stone benches in the tower area. During this process, Yang Prong still retained its ancient and solemn features.
The trip to Yang Prong Tower feels like an adventure to the abandoned relic, where you can admire an ancient building standing alone in the middle of the forest. While learning about Cham culture and the history behind this construction, as well as its religious meaning, you can wander around and take a deep breath of the wild scent lingering in the air. It's not just a tourist attraction, but a place to reconnect to nature and unwind.
Yang Prong Tower is a remaining religious construction of the ancient Cham dynasty. If you’re interested in the Cham culture and architecture, don’t miss out on the chance to visit the unique Yang Prong Tower and have a walk under the canopy of the jungle forest in Tay Nguyen. Let Asia King Travel help plan your wonderful trip to the remaining heritage of the Cham people!
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