Kauthara

Author: Laxman Burdak IFS (R)

The territory of Champa circa 1000–1100, depicted in green, lay along the coast of present-day southern Vietnam. To the north (in yellow) lay Đại Việt; to the west (in blue), Angkor

Kauthara was one of five principalities that consisted of the historical Champa in Vietnam.

Location

Kauthara was located in the area of modern Nha Trang in Khánh Hòa Province in Vietnam. Its religious and cultural centre was the temple of Po Nagar, several towers of which still stand at Nha Trang.

History

Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute. The Hon Mun marine protected area is one of four first marine protected areas in the world admitted by the IUCN.

Kauthara is first mentioned in a AD 784 inscription at Po Nagar.