Your email address will not be published. Nestled on the the wooded slopes of Mt. While I have never tried to learn to meditate before, I don’t think guide-lady was doing a very good job teaching us. Reservation status will be informed through an e-mail. 27 are two guilt-bronze Buddha statues. We did exactly as the “how to get here” directions stated and took the #10 bus to the temple. She then explained that we weren’t actually staying on the temple grounds. All Rrights Resreved. bulguksa@templestay.com 불국사 대한불교 조계종 제11교구 본사 불국사는 한국불교를 대표하는 사찰이자, 유네스코가 지정한 세계문화유산입니다. She seemed quite happy about getting to stay away from the temple for a night – she explained she doesn’t get cable TV in her temple room and was happy to watch her shows. Bulguksa … After being pointed and laughed at by vendors and other tourists with no luggage and large umbrellas, finally, the guard at one of the top entrances coordinated with the lady who was supposed to be meeting us. *Guide-lady pointed out more times than I cared to count how troubled Korea’s past was as a direct result of the Japanese and how terrible they were. The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and is classified as National Treasure No. Email: support@templestay.com AllaPonomareva November 24, 2015 7:41 am November 24, 2015. In addition to the revered National Treasures, the temple grounds themselves are quite beautiful. To start with, the weather was seriously against us – it was freezing and raining and we did not have suitable clothing. Wasn’t the entire point of a temple stay to stay in the temple… or at least on the temple grounds? Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple can be accessed directly from Gyeongju bus station.Bus service 10 and 11 go to Bulguksa temple and the journey lasts around 40 minutes and costs in the region of 1,700 won (1,42 USD).. To reach Seokguram Grotto from the temple… Maybe my expectations were way out of line and I should have just enjoyed having the privilege to walk around a temple after hours at all. 4F Templestay Center, 56, Ujeongguk-ro, If you want to find things to do in the area, you may want to check out Blue One Water Park and Bomun Lake. 1,271 Reviews #2 of 100 things to do in Gyeongju. Bulguksa is located on the slopes of Mt Toham and the temple is classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. This impressive temple … We practiced both, the former sitting on the freezing cold floor trying to wiggle our toes to keep them from falling off and the latter walking around the Meditation Hall for all of two minutes. There are so many reasons to book your Bulguksa Temple … The temple was constructed under King Gyeongdeok in 751 and was completed in 774 by the Silla royal court.  Like many of the other sites we visited in Korea, Bulguksa was burned to the ground during the Imjin wars, later reconstructed and expanded multiple times. The temple is classified as Historic … Bulguksa Temple 불국사 is arguably the most popular attraction in Gyeongju along with Anapji Pond 안압지 which is extremely picturesque at night. Stay nearby and capture it morning, noon and night. Luckily, guide-lady explained we could use the temples credit card machine at the gates. Walking back to the parking lot, guide-lady called one of the monks asking if anyone was available to chat with us but when she hung up she explained to us that we would spend the evening with her instead. Finally, we walked down to her place and pounded on the door – she had slept in. The two famous stone pagodas, Dabotap and Seokgatap, which reside in the main courtyard of the Bulguksa Temple complex. Where is Bulguksa Temple? However, there was another room slightly further down with all the lights off that appeared much nicer and looked to be where the monks ate if/when they were here. The directions mentioned nothing further and we assumed it would be obvious where to go. Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. And imagine assuming that you were not going to tun up according to your prearranged obligation! Tohamsan, the … At this point, the only remaining thing we had left to do was visit Seokguram Grotto. If it wasn’t for the freezing and wet conditions I could have spent hours wandering aimlessly through them. She instructed us to rest for a bit and then come down and join her in making meditation beads. 26 and No. 1 by the South Korean government. The grounds of Bulguksa are divided into three areas – Birojeon (the Vairocana Buddha Hall), Daeungjeon (the Hall of Great Enlightenment… The online program stated we would do the temple tour before opening hours the following morning which would have been ideal…so much for that. We've got 21 hotels to choose from within a mile of Bulguksa Temple. Instead, she gave us no information on our “new” itinerary, we were left in the dark the entire time. Dan and I put on our ridiculously large temple-stay outfits which guide-lady told us we had to wear at all times. Thus, Dan and I were left trekking uphill dragging two luggage’s, each with a backpack and small umbrella helplessly trying to stay dry. The final irony being that the temple stay program was actually taking away from me enjoying this amazing temple at this point. It appeared as though there may usually be quite a few monks living on site. When you stay at Bulguksa Family Hotel in Gyeongju, you'll be next to a golf course, just steps from Seokguram Grotto and 13 minutes by foot from Bulguksa Temple. Agoda.com has secured the lowest rates at hotels near many other Historical Buildings. Fax : 82-2-732-9928 I found it really strange too because earlier when I was taking photos, attempting to crop out as many people as possible from the frame, guide-lady said to wait until later when the temple was empty. We skipped the morning ceremony (at 3:30 AM) as she said it was exactly the same as the evening ceremony and barely any monks would attend. The templestay at Bulguksa Temple is an opportunity to learn about Buddhism and the dignified Silla culture. Will be visiting Bulguksa temple tomorrow. I’m sorry the weather was so inclement and the arrangements so unsatisfactory. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The templestay residence is located just outside the main temple.INFO : +82-54-746-0983 / +82-10-7773-0983(office cell phone) / www.bulguksa.or.kr / bulguksabella@gmail.comLOCATION : Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province■ Bulguksa Templestay Participation Guide ○ A scent of Millennium - One day program - 1~4hr/ over 10 people (minimum) - Temple tour, Tea time with a monk, Lotus flower lantern making, Prayer beads making, etc. The head temple complex of Jogye Korean Buddhism, Bulguksa Temple features two exquisite stone pagodas and a gilded bronze statue of Buddha, which earned it World Heritage Site status. You seem to have weathered it together iin your strange attire! The scenery inside Bulguksa Temple … The temple is also where the famed Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas are located. The next thing she said sent Dan and I flying into awful moods. Both statues are estimated to be from the late 8th or early part of the 9th century and share stylistic features. 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