Gyeongju was once the capital of Korea, this was during the Silla Dynasty. It is from this period were the enormous archaeological sites found in the area belongs.
Of the nine sites in Korea which are inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, two (2) can be found in Gyeongju, namely Bulguksa together with the Seokguram and the Gyeongju Historic Sites. Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto have the distinction of being the very first Korean sites to be included in the list, they were inscribed in 1995.
Bulguksa Temple is regarded as a masterpiece in Buddhist Art. Built in 535, this is one of the best known temples in Korea.
On the other hand, Seokguram Grotto, an artificial grotto made of granite contains a dome-like room with a large stone Buddha seating at the center. The grotto is carved on the side of the mountain.
Other places of interest which you should not miss when visiting Gyeongju are:
Yangdong Folk Village; Gyerim; Tumuli Park; Namsan Mountain; Wolseong Park where the Cheomeseongde Observatory is located; Anapji Pond; Gyeongju Folk Craft Village and the Gyeongju National Museum.
Yangdong Folk Village
Comprising of about 150 houses, this village demonstrates the fundamental Korean architecture principle which is to harmonize with nature. This village is a perfect example of a banchon, a community where yangban (aristocrastic class in early Korea) scholars gathered.
Gyerim
Located within the Gyeongju National Park, this “rooster forest”, as its literal meaning, contains petrified trees. You might want to ask the locals how it got its name.
Tumuli Park
The park contains earthen and mound-shaped tombs of varying sizes from the Silla period. The tombs are said to be where the kings and court officials were buried. The tombs are open for viewing to give the visitors a chance to see how the tombs are constructed and how things are arranged inside it.
Namsan Mountain
This historically important mountain was worshipped as one of the five sacred mountains before Buddhism was introduced in Korea in the early Silla Dynasty. Covering an area of 2650 hectares, the area is home to numerous Buddhist monuments such as temples, stone statues, pagodas and store lanterns.
Wolseong Park
Home to the Cheomeseongde Observatory, this 7th century structure is the oldest of its kind in Asia. The park is also a favorite strolling site of the locals.
Anapji Pond
Located just a few minutes walk from the Cheomseongdae, this is rest and recreation place of the royal family of the Silla era.
Gyeoungju Folk Craft Village
A craft and exhibition village composed of about 45 traditional houses, where they produce filigree, wooden and stone pottery, handicraft items, embroidered items and jewelry. Visitors can actually see an actual demonstration of how they make their products and at the same time purchase items for souvenirs.
Gyeongju National Museum
Much of the Silla treasures are kept in this museum. Also housed in the museum is the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok the Great, or what is more commonly known as the Emille Bell, one of the largest and most resonant bells in Asia, the bell measures 11 feet high and weighs 19 tons.
People who’ve been to Korea say that your visit to the country is never complete if you don’t visit Gyeongju. So, for everyone planning to go visit Korea, mark your planners to make sure that Gyeongju is part of your itinerary.
3 comments:
from reading your blog, i can see that there are a lot of interesting sites in korea and should not be missed by anyone visiting the country.
interesting blog entries, offers a lot of info
thank you, i hope you can pick up a thing or two about korea from my blog
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