Linh Phuoc Pagoda

"One of the weirdest but yet beautiful pagodas we have seen in our whole 5 months in Asia. The pagoda is made of broken ceramics. Also underneath the main pagoda you can access what they call "hell". Just go, it's one of the weirdest places you will ever be haha definitely worth a visit!"

The Linh Phuoc Pagoda

          The Linh Phuoc Pagoda - is located in Trai Mat, which is easily accessible from Dalat with a nostalgic railway line, which winds through a green landscape. The Linh Phuoc Pagoda, also called Ve Chai Pagoda, was built from pieces of glass, pottery and porcelain shells between 1949 and 1952 in Trai Mat. The pagoda was built under the direction of several Buddhist monks and was renovated in 1990. The pagoda has become one of the most important in the area of Dalat.

The front of the pagoda is lined with meticulous, carved pillars in the form of flying dragons, which were made from pieces of glass. It is still an inspiring pagoda in oriental style with prayer rooms to Buddha. It has curved roof tiles and pillars with carved figures of sacred animals, with dragons and phoenixes. But the most special character of the Linh Phuoc Pagoda. compared to other pagodas, is that the pagoda architecture is inlaid with pieces of glass, pottery and porcelain bowls. This form colourful patterns that harmonize and balance each other. Since the pagoda is covered with this beautiful appearance, are not only Buddhists, but also many tourists come to Trai Mat to admire the graceful and unique artwork.

The Golden Buddha and the infinite tree of enlightenment

The first thing you notice is the image of twisting dragon of 49 meters around the statue of Maitreya Buddha, which is shown on top of the dragon. The front of the dragon is made from 12,000 empty beer bottles.
When you walk onto the courtyard, you see the main hall, which is 33 meters long and 22 meters wide. Inside the pagoda you can see the Sakyamuni Buddha. This is 4.9 meters from the floor and is made of concrete. The exterior is gold leaf. Behind the Buddha is a very lively relief of the infinite tree of enlightenment.
In front of the pagoda is also a seven-storey tower, which is 37 meters high. At present, the tower is considered to be the highest tower in Vietnam. Inside the tower is a huge bell of 4.3 meters and weighs 8.5 tons. The bell was cast in 1999 by skilled, highly qualified and experienced artisans from Hue. They worked more than a year at the bell and were also graphics.

The pagoda with the bell tower