Among famous Hue tombs, Khai Dinh is the smallest one. However, it is the most costly and recent compared with other Nguyen royal tombs. Khai Dinh Tomb is a special combination between Eastern and Western culture. Visiting this destination, traveler will have chance to admire the most beautiful tombs, perfect harmony of cultures and interest in ancient constructions.
Khai Dinh Tomb
Location and history of Khai Dinh Tomb
After the rule of Dynasty in 1916, Emperor Khai Dinh has chose the slope of Chau Chu (Chau E) Mountain to make the construction. The location is 10km from Hue center in a perfect combination of many factors. As start the building, this tomb would be a “home in the other world” – according to Oriental belief. The Tomb was started to build in 1920 and till 11 years later the construction all done by his successor – Emperor Bao Dai.
Finishing Khai Dinh Tomb was a little bit complex in many factors. The authorities had to raise the national tax to 30% which cause many difficulties to people. Later, the sovereignty of Viet Nam was actually belongs to the French who has invaded and overruled the Nguyen Dynasty. As a result, the Western culture dominate in every single part of the country. Therefore, Khai Dinh tomb is the result of the intermingling of Oriental and Occidental, Roman and Gothic style, Hindu and Buddhist style.
steps to Khai Dinh Tomb
What to see in Khai Dinh Tomb
Another name of Khai Dinh Tomb is Ung Lang. Despite of the fact that Khai Dinh is the smallest sone of Hue Tombs, it is the most recent and costly amongst other Nguyen royal tombs. Khai Dinh chose to build his tomb by modern materials like concrete, slates and wrought iron, hence its appearance is quite gray and imposing.
Khai Dinh tomb is a kind of original mixture architecture. This is the unique structure that not follow any kind of available shape At here, visitors will see some of typical architectural schools: Hinduism, Buddhism, Gothique, and Roman. This special feature seems revealed the interesting character of Khai Dinh Tombs: always explore the new things.
At the beginning, allmain building were about to have a domination of Western culture. However, the land was choose to reflect the traditional perceptions. They are the harmony of main factors on Earth like wood, water, plants. Overall, the construction is a rectangular structure with 127 steps standing on the .mountain slope. The side walls which formed by the biggest sculptures of dragons in all over Vietnam. Amazing thing await when you left the steps behind is to see the epitaph. Also,the statues of msadarinesss court (including madarines, horses, soldiers…) are placed at the courtyard.
Thien Dinh palace
The most outstanding structure of Khai Dinh Tomb is Thien Dinh Palace. It contains bronze statues and steles of the King. They decorated the walls with elaborate glass and porcelain designs. The most highlighted feature of this room is the intricate painting on the ceiling, illustrating nine dragons amidst fleeting clouds. Inside the tomb, there are two statues modelled the King. The one on the throne sculptured in Paris in 1920 by Ducuing and Barbedienne.
How to get to Khai Dinh Tomb
An special feature of the royal construction in Hue is the most of tombs are located along the romantic Perfume River. Its not far from city center and the routes are convinient so that you can visit them easily. Khai DInh tomb is not exception, in fact, there are many ways to get there. With hue scooter rental, you can get a powerful motorbike to almost routes within Hue city and get to the tombs. You can do anything, anywhere with the freedom. We would love to support you for any troubles happen. More, Hue motorbike countryside tours is not a bad choice so that you can visit many famous destinations of Hue attractions.