Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, South Korea

Seokguram Grotto was constructed during the Silla Kingdom.  The cave was designed harmoniously with the seated Buddha facing the East Sea.  Bulguksa Temple is a representative relic of Buddhist culture from the Silla kingdom. The temple was built during the 15th year of King Beopheung’s reign (514-540) to wish for peace and prosperity for all.

Seokguram Grotto: 873-243, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Bulguksa Temple: 385, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

The door gate to the Seokguram Grotto and the sitting Buddha

Arrived finally

The top building is the entrance to the grotto (cave) and where the sitting Buddha is located.

This shows the cave and the sitting Buddha

Start to climb

This is it, but photo taking is not allowed inside.  So no pictures of the cave or the Buddha.

Walking down

Looking back

Looking down

Came down

One last look

Walking back to the exit

The place is located high up on the mountain.

Bulguksa Temple is located a short bus ride from the Seokguram.  The entrance to the temple.

Entrance to the temple complex

The guardians of the temple.

Entrance to the largest building of the temple complex, but it is not being used to preserve the stairs.  I had to go around.

View of left and right

From the side

View of the front from the entrance.

The view once again

Climbing side road to reach inside the gate.

Reached inside the gate.  This is the building that houses the largest Buddha

From the gate, looking down at the stairs and what is in front

These two pagodas are considered national treasures.

Walk to the adjacent structure behind (north of) the main building.

Looking down at the structure on the left, and walk down.

Walk behind this structure (north of) comes to this lot

On the right side are stairs up to the right side structure.  Walk up the stairs to the right side.

Came back to where I was from, the north of the main building.  I circled the place.

Looking at the left side, where I was just walked up from.

Walking north, climb the stairs.

Reached this area

Walking up the stairs on the right

and look back

Up the stairs is this place.  It seems that the places look similar to each other.

Climb the long stairs to the south to return to the main building.

Instead of going through the same way, I went sideways from the main building to exit the place.

One last look

Exiting