Exploring the Cultural Heritage of Gyeongju: Bulguksa and Seokguram
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
Finding a travel destination that satisfies both parents and children is not easy.
One of the first places that comes to mind is undoubtedly Gyeongju, a city rich in history and culture.
Among the sites, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, which many have encountered through books or television, are worth revisiting with family.
Bulguksa and Seokguram are located relatively close to each other, making them a great travel course in Gyeongju.
Gyeongju Bulguksa
Location: Bulguk-ro 385, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last entry at 5:00 PM)
Parking: 2,000 KRW at the parking lot in front of the temple
Entering the temple grounds, I was greeted by a fresh and well-kept green landscape.
The view of the pond harmonizing with the Haeatgyeo Bridge was particularly beautiful.
With lotus flowers blooming, the beauty of Bulguksa could be felt right from the entrance.
The Cheongun Bridge and Baegun Bridge, often seen in textbooks, are not just architectural structures but symbolize the connection between the ordinary world and the Buddhist realm.
In front of the Geungnakjeon Hall, where Amitabha Buddha is enshrined, there is a golden pig said to bring good fortune, making it a popular spot among visitors, especially on weekends.
There's also a trendy photography method circulating online, where you capture the Buddha's face framed between stone lanterns!
Exploring Bulguksa added a fun twist to the cultural heritage that once seemed daunting in textbooks, making it feel more approachable.
The Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas are also must-see attractions!
As representative stone pagodas of Korea, they are all designated as national treasures.
They felt much more majestic than I remembered from childhood, and I was amazed at how such elegant towers were constructed from stone.
Gyeongju Seokguram
Location: Seokgul-ro 238, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Operating Hours: Open year-round from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Parking Fee: 2,000 KRW
Next, we headed to Seokguram, about a 15-minute drive from Bulguksa.
Seokguram also had no entrance fee, but the parking fee was 2,000 KRW.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to Seokguram.
Breathing in the fresh air of Tohamsan while walking along the lush forest path felt like a light trek.
The slope of the path was generally gentle, making it easy for both adults and children to walk together.
Though I often visited Bulguksa, it had been a long time since I explored Seokguram.
Reflecting on childhood memories, it felt quite different from what I remembered.
Seokguram is an artificial grotto intricately assembled from granite.
To create the dome shape, stones were stacked according to precise designs.
Originally designed for good ventilation and humidity control, it is unfortunate that the concrete added during modern restoration processes has compromised its ventilation.
Currently, visitors can only view the interior through glass walls for preservation.
The main Buddha statue, carved from granite, is delicately expressed, from its benevolent and gentle expression to the folds of its robe, showcasing remarkable artistic quality.
Depending on the angle of view, the expression and atmosphere appeared subtly different.
Encountering the main Buddha statue as an adult was awe-inspiring.
Seokguram and Bulguksa were the first cultural heritage sites in Korea to be registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
On October 3rd or during the Hangul Day holiday, take your family to experience the cultural heritage of Bulguksa and Seokguram!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeongbuk_official/224427267118
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