A Must-read Guide About The Bat Pagoda Before You Go
A Must-read Guide About The Bat Pagoda Before You Go
Like other famous pagodas in Vietnam such as One Pillar Pagoda, Thien Mu Pagoda or The Huong Pagoda. Bat Pagoda is one of the first Khmer buildings you should see in Soc Trang City. It is a beautiful Khmer pagoda in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. This 452-year-old pagoda is famous for both its mysterious interior, which is home to bat colonies, and its unique and beautiful design. So let’s find out with Vietnam Budget Car Rental with a must-read guide about the Bat Pagoda before you go.
1. A few things you should know as a tourist
- Ticket: Free
- Spend-time: Half an hour (approx)
- Hours: All day
- Address: It is located approximately 3 km southeast of Sóc Trăng City, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Recognition(s): Since 1999, Doi Pagoda has been recognized as a national relic for architectural art by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
Site highlights: In this area, a lot of beautiful Khmer people sell goods from their own farms. The bats are without a doubt the most interesting thing about Bat Pagoda. After going to the temple and listening to music, everyone will want to go to the pagoda's garden to see a lot of bats. Bats will sometimes spread their wings and fly from one tree to another.
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2. A full tutorial on traveling to Bat Pagoda
The design of Di Pagoda is a mix of Vietnamese and Cambodian styles. It used to be called "Seray tê chô mahatúp," which means "a blessing of good virtue." People in the area called it "Mã Tộc". There are a lot of bats living in the pagoda, so it is also called "Dơi means Bat." Literature says that this is one of the least damaged pagodas in the Mekong Delta.
People who come to see the Bat Pagoda will be amazed by the bright yellow color that covers almost the whole building. The sub-gates are decorated with huge snakes with five heads, but the main gate is plain. The walls of the main hall are made of brick. The Naga snake god is carved into each of the four corners of the roof's tiles that curve. There is a tower in the middle. The pillars that surround the main hall are decorated with Kemnar figures whose hands are pressed together chest-high in a prayer to all the guests.
There is a stone statue of the Buddha sitting on a 2-meter lotus throne inside the hall. There is also a figure of the Buddha riding on the snake-genie Muchalinda. There are pictures on the curved walls that show the Buddha's life, from birth to understanding and into Nirvana. Rare and expensive Khmer religious items are kept in the pagoda, along with sutras written on palmyra leaves.
Old trees are a shelter for the pagoda area. There are a few stupas and a house on stilts where monks can get some rest and study. The beautiful brown and black bats that live in the pagoda each weigh about 1.5 kilograms and have wings that are about 1.5 meters across. They can fly at their fastest speed, which is between 50 and 60 kilometers per hour. During the day, they hang from the trees upside down, looking like bunches of ripe fruit. We still don't know why these bats live here. Some people think that the nearby fruit trees, productive fields, and peaceful atmosphere of Di Pagoda are some of the reasons.
The bats live in the fruit trees, which is strange, but they never eat the fruit that grows on the pagoda grounds. When it gets dark, they leave the pagoda to find food somewhere else. They come back early the next morning. Also, no one knows why there are so many peaceful pagodas in the Sóc Trăng area, but only this one is where the bats live. It's also strange that the bats don't fly straight but instead avoid the roof of the main hall. The people in the town see them as protectors who are always there for them.
The temple's old books say that construction on the Bat pagoda began in 1569 on the solar calendar. Mr. Thach Ut organized the work, and the pagoda has lived through 19 venerable lives. In 1960, work was done to fix up the tower in the main hall. The main hall of the temple burned down in August 2007 because of a bad event. The main hall of Bat Pagoda was fixed up with 4 billion VND from the local government of Soc Trang.
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A lot of Buddhists were happy when the beautiful new main hall was finished in less than two years. The hearts of the hamlet and local government made every picture and pattern arrangement in the temple look more beautiful and vivid. The Chua Doi tourist area in Soc Trang opened in 2013 as a one-of-a-kind part of trips in the Mekong Delta. In spite of the fact that money is tight, The tourist area, on the other hand, is across from the pagoda gate and has lots of parking, restaurants, and electric cars, which makes it easier for people to visit.
Bat Pagoda has a main hall called Sala, a synagogue where monks and followers meet, a living room, bunk rooms for the abbot and other monks, and a tower where the ashes of the dead are kept. Around 4 hectares of land are used to house the work. The land has many old trees. Overall, the architectural ensemble is well-balanced; we see a pattern forest with a smooth and beautiful layout and a lot of unity. With the skilled hands of the Khmer, it gives off an air of hard work and new ideas.
3. Useful tips you may want to know
Soc Trang's Bat (Chua Doi) or Mahatup Pagoda is a serious place, so dress formally while being polite and quiet. On the temple grounds, you can find a lot of statues of animals, like elephants and snakes. Please tell the kids not to climb if you are with them because these are important Khmer symbols.
The monks don't need money, but you can give it to them if you want to.
You should bring a hat, sunglasses, sunblock, and a scarf with you when you visit temples, pagodas, and the church.
Bring bug spray with you if you want to make your trip to the Soc Trang homestay longer.
When you go to Soc Trang or make your own tour, make sure you book it through a reputable company that offers boat trips with lifebuoys, jackets, and motorbike and cycle tours with helmets. Safety is the most important thing!
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If you have time, don't miss the Bat pagoda, the Chen Kieu (Bowl) pagoda, the Dung islet, the Ghe Ngo boat race festival, the pink trumpet tree road, the Chau Dat Set pagoda, the Khleang pagoda, the Nga Nam floating market, the Phat Hoc 2 pagoda, the Soc Trang central market, the Soc Trang museum, and the Som Rong pagoda.
The food and drink guide for Soc Trang covers all kinds of food, from street food to fancy, traditional, and mixed food. Soc Trang is a tropical place with lots of fresh vegetables and home fields. The food there is always fresh, close to nature, and very traditional. Don't be afraid to add Cong Cake, Pia Cake, and Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang's Noodle Soup to your list if you like food.
It gets wet in Soc Trang during the rainy season, so bring a jacket. The city is beautiful, rain or shine.
Hope you will read a must-read guide about the Bat Pagoda before you go above and the knowledge will help you come up with a great plan for your trip to Soc Trang, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Remember to stay safe on your trip and if you have something to ask or want some rental car services from us when coming to this place, don’t hesitate to contact Vietnam Budget Car Rental.
