Truc Lam Zen Monastery - Famous pilgrimage destination in Da Lat

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is one of the famous spiritual tourist destinations in the "city of flowers," Da Lat. Not only has it an extremely large area, but this place is also a beautiful landscape for domestic and foreign tourists to visit and experience. Let's join HoaBinh Tourist to learn details about this sacred temple.

General introduction to Truc Lam Zen Monastery

If you are planning to visit this place, let's learn about this Zen monastery with us right now!

Where is Truc Lam Zen Monastery?

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is a Zen monastery belonging to the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect and is the largest Buddhist building in Da Lat. The address of the Zen monastery is in Phung Hoang mountain area, ward 10, Da Lat city, Lam Dong. This place is 5 km from Da Lat city center.

In what year was the monastery built?

Truc Lam Da Lat Zen Monastery was built in 1993 and basically completed in 1994. The architecture and beliefs of this place are similar to those of other Zen monasteries in Vietnam located in Hanoi or Can Tho.

The first person who came up with the idea of establishing this place was Venerable Thich Thanh Tu. The monastery was built by two architects, Vu Xuan Hung and Tran Duc Loc, and also received advice from famous architect Ngo Viet Thu (who designed the Independence Palace, a famous historical monument in Vietnam). Ho Chi Minh City). Currently, the abbot of the Zen monastery is Venerable Thich Thong Phuong.

Opening hours and tour ticket prices

Currently, visitors can visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery for free. Daily opening hours are usually from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. If tourists use the cable car to move from Robin Hill to the Zen Monastery, the ticket price will be:

• Two-way cable car: 100,000 VND/adult, 70,000 VND/child
• One-way cable car: 80,000 VND/adult and 60,000 VND/child

How to get to Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat

If you travel by motorcycle or family car, follow the following route:

• First, you go across the Ong Dao bridge (located in front of Da Lat night market), then turn left onto Tran Quoc Toan Street and then to a roundabout at 3/4 Street.
• Going straight along this road, you will reach the beginning of Prenn Pass.
• Go about 5 km, and you will come across a 3-way intersection.
• Turn right onto Truc Lam Yen Tu Street and continue moving about 2 kilometers more to reach the Zen monastery.
• If you are not familiar with the roads or have weak steering, you can choose to travel to the Zen Monastery by cable car.
• From the city center or your accommodation, you go to Da Lat Cable Car and buy a ticket.

Normally, choosing to travel by cable car is a popular form and is chosen by many tourists because you will not have to struggle to find the way to the Zen monastery, and besides, you will also be able to see the nature of Da Lat in a beautiful setting that is absolutely wonderful.

Unmissable experiences at Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Possessing an area of ​​up to 24 hectares, the Zen monastery is structured into four main areas: the abbot's monk's area, the outer courtyard area, the monk's retreat area, the monk's inner courtyard area, and the nun's inner courtyard area. If you are planning to travel to Lam Dong, especially to visit and sightsee at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, definitely do not miss the experiences below.

Temple prayer ceremony

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is considered a famous pilgrimage destination in Da Lat. On the 14th and 19th days of every lunar month, this place also holds sermons on meditation and is a familiar place for Da Lat people to offer incense and pray for health and peace.

Short-term retreat

Truc Lam Zen Monastery also organizes short-term retreats for Buddhists across the country to participate in. To participate in these retreats, monks must have an education level of grade 12 or higher; in addition, they need a letter of recommendation from the master, parental consent, or have completed courses at schools other than Buddhism. During their time studying at the temple, Buddhists will be arranged to live like monks and nuns at the monastery.

Join meditation courses

In addition to retreats, Truc Lam Zen Monastery also organizes short-term meditation courses every year. Monks will meditate starting at 3:00 a.m., 3 times a day, for 2 hours each time.

Sightseeing and enjoying the quiet space at the temple

Located in the middle of the Phuong Hoang mountain range, the pagoda faces the peaceful Tuyen Lam lake. This is the ideal place for tourists to enjoy and immerse themselves in the nature of Da Lat.

In the temple grounds, there is a colorful flower garden with many types of precious flowers, such as: birds of paradise, firecrackers, ephemera, etc. Going deeper inside, visitors can see Tinh Tam Lake and Tham Van Duong. Walking around here, you can feel a beauty that is both majestic, ancient, and extremely pure.

Experience riding the cable car

In 2003, Da Lat inaugurated the Da Lat cable car to easily welcome tourists to visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Looking from above, visitors can admire the panoramic view of dreamy Da Lat with vast pine forests, brightly blooming flower gardens, and white clouds mixed with mist. Only a few minutes on the cable car, but perhaps enough for you to immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of this "city of flowers.".

Things to note when visiting Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat

To have a meaningful and memorable visit and pilgrimage here, please note the following:

• If you plan to travel to the Zen Monastery by motorcycle, check the weather forecast before going. Although the road from the city center to the temple is quite beautiful, there will be a few dangerous turns that can easily become slippery when it rains, so it is not for weak drivers who are not familiar with the road. If you still want to visit the temple on a rainy day, choose another, more suitable form of transportation.
• If the tour group has elderly people, you should not choose to move in the direction of Tuyen Lam Lake. Because of the Tuyen Lam Lake area, you have to go through 140 steps.
• When you go to the Zen monastery, you need to be careful to walk and speak softly, not to joke around and affect the people around you.
• Choose polite clothes, sleeveless shirts, long pants, or knee-length skirts. Pay attention to maintaining general hygiene.
• Photography and filming are not allowed in the main hall area. If you want to come in and offer incense, you need to leave your shoes outside.
• There are some areas that are prohibited from visiting or are only allowed to visit during certain hours. You should carefully ask the monks at the temple to know this in advance.

Above are shares about Truc Lam Zen Monastery, a famous pilgrimage destination in Da Lat. If you are planning to visit and sightsee here, don't forget to save this article! If you need any information or advice about Dalat tours, please quickly contact HoaBinh Tourist via hotline at 0939.311.911 - 0913.311.911 for dedicated support.