Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat - A place where the heart finds a peaceful place

As a Buddhist, it is impossible not to know the sacred tourist destination - Truc Lam Zen Monastery Da Lat. Long history, quiet and peaceful place of Zen forest. The most beautiful, unique and esoteric architectural work is an attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Truc Lam Zen Monastery deserves the name of a charming place surrounded by mountains and the poetic blue Tuyen Lam lake.

About Truc Lam Zen Monastery

History of Zen Monastery

According to the records left, on a beautiful day in 1986 while sleeping and dreaming. Venerable Thich Thanh Tu found himself hugging the neck of a phoenix and flying high into the sky. Then he got up and reflected on the dream he had just dreamed. He thought that Da Lat is a place with a cool and fresh climate that is really suitable as a meeting place for monks and nuns.

Panoramic monastery from above Source: dulichdalat.pro

A few days later, he immediately sketched the entire monastery after surveying Phung Hoang Mountain. When he arrived at Tuyen Lam Lake area, he was very satisfied. We Buddhists therefore immediately agreed to his will to carry out the procedures for land grant. He is also the one who conceived the idea, planned the monastery and is currently also the abbot of Truc Lam Dalat Monastery!

Unique and secular architecture of Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Zen Monastery was built on April 8, 1993 and on February 8, 1994, it completed and started the first meditation course. The owners of this design are architects Tran Duc Loc, Ngo Viet Thu and Vu Xuan Hung.

Source: ticotravel.com

The entire monastery has traditional ethnic architecture and has a harmonious combination with contemporary Asian architecture. The unique architecture along with the charming natural landscape of high mountain clouds, clear blue lake and fresh green trees have created a charming and magical painting that "fascinates" many tourists. .

Thien Vien has the layout of 4 main zones. Abbot's monk area, inner hospital area, internal hospital area for nuns and outer hospital area. Truc Lam Zen Monastery is located in an extremely favorable location. Leaning on the back of the mountain, overlooking the poetic lake. Only about 5km from Da Lat city center towards Prenn pass.

Source: songchautourist.com

The exterior area includes the following works: Main hall, road consultation, exhibition house, ancestral garden, guest house, library, drum floor, bell tower. Outside area visitors are free to visit.

The interior area consists of 3 small areas: the monk's interior area, the nun's interior area, and the monk's retreat area. In this area visitors can visit, but at meditation time visitors are not allowed to enter.

Places to visit in Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Triple gate

Zen Monastery is a unique construction located next to Tuyen Lam Lake. If going up from the lake, there will be a steep path with 140 stone steps. On either side are tall pine trees leading the way through three three-way gates into the main hall.

On both sides of the road up are green pine forests. You can slowly walk to feel the fresh air here. From here, you can see the scenery of Tuyen Lam Lake from above.

Tam Quan Gate (Main Gate) Source: dalattrongtoi.com

The main hall

Outside the main hall Source: digiticket

The main hall has an area of 192m2. Inside, the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is about 2m high, holding a lotus branch in his right hand. The front corridor is four rows of wooden imitation round columns. The ceiling is covered with shiny glazed tiles. On the roof, it is slightly curved to exude the modesty of the Vietnamese people.

Inside the main hall Source: agotourist.com

On either side of the Buddha statue is a painting of Bodhisattva Manjushri riding a lion and Bodhisattva Samantabhadra riding a white elephant with six tusks. Around the main hall are bas-reliefs depicting the eight appearances of the Buddha and elaborately carved wooden balustrades and altars.

The flower garden at the monastery

Empty floor Source: ticotravel.com

Outside the main hall is the empty floor and the bell tower. To the right of the main hall is the bell tower. Exquisitely carved reliefs carry the profound meaning of Buddhism. Inside is a giant persimmon weighing about 1.1 tons, engraved with verses on it with a sense of serenity and morality.

Bell Tower Source: bazantravel.com

Around the drum floor and bell tower is a flower garden with many strange and rare flower varieties such as Thien Dieu, Australian Sim, Phu Dung ...

Garden of Zen Monastery Source: dalattrongtoi.com

Tinh Tam lake area

Located in front of the main hall of the Zen Monastery with willow trees casting shadows around the lake. Below the lake are released a lot of fish and turtles. Here you can see turtles and very big fish. It is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Because the lake is surrounded by pine forests, the air here is fresh and quiet.

Source: agotourist.com

The way to Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is located on Truc Lam Yen Tu Street, in Ward 10 of Da Lat City. There are 2 ways to go to the Zen Monastery:

The first way: To move to the monastery you can follow the road. Going along the highway, to the road with the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree is the way to the Zen Monastery.

On the way, you will see the road pointing to Phung Hoang Mountain with a large golden Buddha statue, turn right and go straight to the Truc Lam Monastery in Dalat. On the way you can stop by Palace III Bao Dai and Datanla Waterfall near the monastery.

Motorbike route from Artishotel to Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Second way: You can reach the monastery by cable car. Ride a motorbike to the top of Robin hill and buy a ticket to go straight to the Zen Monastery. Looking down from the cable car, you will see a corner of Da Lat and the peaceful and colorful scenery around the monastery.

Source: dulichgiatot.com

Looking down from the Zen Monastery, it will be the green Tuyen Lam Lake sparkling in the sunlight. If you pay close attention, you will see that there are 5 streams flowing into the lake, looking like a warm hand of nature waiting for the whole place.

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is a place that Buddhists should not miss when coming to Da Lat. Coming here, you will feel calm, peaceful, immersed in nature and fresh air. Ignore all the chaos of life, meditate for peace of mind.