Bulguksa Temple - Gyeongju

Our afternoon was spent exploring this centuries old temple saying back to 751. As a world heritage site the scale of the temple buildings is huge and the grounds are kept in pristine condition. The temple is much larger than any we saw in Japan and the stunning Autumn leaves were simply captivating.

To our surprise the areas surrounding Busan have been a lot greener with fruit, flowing cherry trees and many more in abundance even in city areas. A large percentage of the streets are fully tree lined and make the tourist sites something special.

The construction of the temple itself began in 751 but was burned by invaders in 1593 because it was used as a volunteer militia base. It was abandoned until 1969 when the initial 4 year restoration began. The site has 11 smaller sites within the same compound and is set on stunning grounds with a small water feature and beautiful gardens upon entry. The afternoon visit was truly worthwhile.Read more