Hi guys, how are you today?
Spring is coming and it is also the best time to travel in my country. The weather in the whole country is quite nice, the sun is mild and the temperature is not too high. Besides, due to the impact of the pandemic, tourist attractions are also quite empty. I also just had a memorable trip to Da Lat, a famous tourist city in the highlands of Vietnam with many beautiful places. And today I would like to lead you to a breathtakingly beautiful Pongour waterfall.
Where is Pongour waterfall located?
Where is Pongour waterfall located?Pongour Waterfall is a waterfall on the Da Nhim River in the land of Phu Hoi Commune, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province. It is about 50km south of Da Lat city center.
This waterfall is also known as 7 Floor Waterfall. And in the last century, it was also named Nam Thien De Nhat Thac, which means the most beautiful waterfall in the South, by King Bao Dai when he visited here. The name Pongour is a French transliteration of the K'Ho indigenous language "Pon-gou", which means master of the white clay because the clay in this land contains a lot of kaolin and is white in color.
Pongour waterfall has a height of about 40 meters and a width of more than 100 meters, it flows through a 7-storey stone terrace system. It is surrounded by primeval forest with an area of about 2.5 hectares with diverse and rich vegetation.
The Legend of Pongour Falls
The Legend of Pongour FallsAccording to legend, in the past, the land of Phu Hoi - Tan Hoi - Tan Thanh was ruled by a beautiful female K'Ho chief named Kanai. She has a talent for conquering wild animals for the benefit of humans, in which she has tamed four unusually large rhinos. Together with Kanai, they created the terrain, cleared the fields, planted corn, sowed rice and fought against the enemy to protect the village. Thanks to that, the life of the people here has become more and more prosperous and peaceful.
Until one spring, Kanai took her last breath. Four rhinoceroses stayed with her day and night without eating or drinking to death... Then the place where she lay appeared a beautiful waterfall. Kanai's hair stream has turned into clear, cool, white water. And the horns of the rhinoceros have turned into big mossy green stones stacked from high to low to form the steps for the waterfall to fall - It is a symbolic image of the strength of unity and eternal attachment between man and vast nature.
My Experience at Pongour Falls
My Experience at Pongour FallsAmong many beautiful places in Da Lat city, Pongour waterfall is probably the one located farthest from the city. However, being a nature lover, I didn't mind riding a motorbike there. The road to get there is also very beautiful with pine hills along both sides of the road on Pren pass as well as flower gardens, strawberry gardens and cultural villages on both sides of the road. I departed from Da Lat city around 1 pm and reached the waterfall at 3 pm. I chose to go there in January, the time when Kanai, according to legend, passed away.
As I approached the waterfall, I was a little skeptical. On my previous trips to waterfalls, when I got close to the falls, I could see the waterfall from afar. But when I approached Pongour waterfall, the terrain was flat and I didn't see any waterfall. Then I found out that to get to the waterfall, I had to walk down a steep slope for about 15 minutes, it was nestled between the cliffs and surrounded by primeval forest.
When I arrived, I was truly overwhelmed by its grandeur. It is the widest waterfall I have ever seen. At the lower part of the waterfall is a large valley with primeval forests on both sides. I think before people built hydropower plants on the Da Nhim River, this waterfall was definitely a giant waterfall that could create such a large valley. Now this valley has become a place where people stand to be able to admire the majestic beauty of this waterfall directly. It is also a place where people can sit to rest and have a relaxing time under the shade of trees with their relatives and friends.
In addition to admiring the breathtaking beauty of Pongour waterfall, I was also excited to explore the beauty of the surrounding nature. True to legend, the nature here is truly majestic. On both sides of the waterfall, there are huge cliffs standing up. I really don't know how long it took this great waterfall to wear down the big rocks and create such a valley. The giant trees on both sides of the waterfall also prove the existence of the waterfall for a long time.
I was really satisfied with the trip to discover the stunning beauty of Pongour waterfall and the majestic nature around it. Although it is located quite far from the center of Da Lat city, it is really worth the effort and time that I spent. If you have the opportunity to travel to Da Lat, do not miss this great waterfall.
More photos of Pongour waterfall: