Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, Daegu iare well known tourist attractions in the region. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, Daegu lie at the Mountain Tohamson, lying at the eastern part of the Gyeongju City. The Bulgaska Temple is located at the bottom of the mountain and the Seokguram Grotto constitutes a ridge of the mountain. These are the two eminent historical sites referred as the cultural assets of South Korea. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
The Bulguksa Temple
The Bulguksa Temple has been also designated by the Government of South Korea as the No. 1 Historic and Scenic Site. The temple is also considered as a masterpiece of the Golden Age Buddhist Art during the rule of the Silla Dynasty. It is at present, the chief temple in the 11th district of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
The Bulguksa Temple is located in the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea. It houses the seven most important national treasures of South Korea, the most notable ones being the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, The Cheongiungyo ( Blue Cloud Bridge) and the two statues made of bronze-gilt.
The entrance of the temple is known as Sokgyemun. It features a staircase having 33 steps and leads to the compound of the temple. It is said that the 33 steps leads to Enlightenment. The lower portion is known as the Blue Cloud Bridge (Cheongungyo), and consists of 17 steps, while the upper level is known as the White Cloud Bridge (Baegungyo), and has 16 steps. The compound is known as Mauve Mist Gate (Jahamun).
There are two pagodas in the temple, which is quiet unusual. The hall of the temple is known as Daeungjeon, the Hall of great Enlightenment. Behind it, lies the Hall of No Words, based on the belief that Buddhist teachings cannot be taught by mere words.
The Seokguram Grotto
The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and the part of the Balguska Temple. It is about four kilometers east of the temple andis located at an elevation of 750 meters above sea level. It is the 24th National treasure of South Korea. This grotto is said to be built by Gim Daeseong of the Silla dynasty.
The Seokguram Grotto is actually an artificial stone cave. There is a monumental statue of Lord Buddha overlooking the Sea of Japan in the 'Bhumisparsha mudra' posture. It is a round dome shaped chamber with an arched entrance. There are narrow corridors with an array of bas relief leading to the center of the sanctuary where the statue of Lord Buddha lies. Here he sits on the lotus throne with crossed legs. He is surrounded with fifteen panels of Bodhisattvas. Some of the best Buddhist sculptures can be found here.
The mountainous trails around the grotto are great place for taking walking tours. The sunrise over the sea viewed from this location is perhaps one of the popular things to do in Daegu. It is one of the best cultural spots to be included in the schedule of Sightseeing in Daegu during your Daegu Tour.
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