DAY
Gyeongju / 8 hours
Tour Highlights
- Seokguram Grotto
- Bulguksa Temple
- Gyeongju National Museum
- Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
- Tumuli Park
- Poseokjeong Bower
Gyeongju (- - -)
Spend the day getting acquainted with the ancient capital of Gyeongju, the seat of the Silla Dynasty for nearly 1000 years.
Begin with a visit to Seokguram Grotto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an extraordinary Buddhist cave temple. The grotto is home to a serene stone Buddha from the eighth century. Inside, a magnificent white stone statue of the Buddha sits in a sublime state of enlightenment. Surrounding the Buddha are 37 carved relief figures representing Bodhisattvas, disciples, devas, and guardian kings. This masterpiece reflects the perfect harmony of Buddhist religion, science, and art, symbolizing the Pure Land where Buddha resides.
Visit Bulguksa Temple, another UNESCO-inscribed site, which is the center of Korea’s Buddhist culture. Admire the wooden buildings positioned atop stone terraces. Among its most iconic features are the two historic stone pagodas standing in the main courtyard: the simple and graceful Seokgatap, and the richly decorated Dabotap. Despite their contrasting styles, both pagodas blend beautifully with the surrounding architecture.
The temple’s design is considered a masterpiece not only of Korean Buddhist architecture, but also of secular architecture.
Then tour the Gyeongju National Museum for an insight into the culture and history of the Silla Dynasty. The museum houses a remarkable collection of precious archaeological artifacts and many other historical treasures.
One of the first highlights you will encounter is the famous Bell of King Seongdeok from the 8th century, the largest surviving bell in Korea. You will stand in awe before this masterpiece because of its extraordinary artistic design.
Continue your historic discovery by exploring Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, a beautiful palace complex and pleasure garden built to commemorate victories of the Silla Dynasty.
The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art. These include sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of temples and palaces that flourished particularly between the 7th and 10th centuries, representing a unique period of artistic and cultural expression in the ancient capital of Gyeongju under the Silla Dynasty.
Tour Tumuli Park, part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas, and home to nearly two dozen royal tumuli, or burial mounds. Stop in a fifth-century tomb called Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse) Tomb, after a leather ceremonial saddle found during the tomb’s excavation, and see many of the artifacts that were found inside.
Tour also includes Poseokjeong.You will see a summer pavilion where the later kings of Silla often forgot their loyal duties and spent most of their time banqueting. All that can be seen now is the abalone-shaped stone channel through which at one time a cool stream of water was directed into the palace. The elm, in large trunk and gnarled with age that may have witnessed the final day of Silla.
