Huge tomb park in Gyeongju

Jsut across the raod from Daeleungwon is a huge park in southern Gyeongju.  It is simply a great place to spend a full day as it has lots of restuarants and coffee shops just to the north of it. To enter Daeleungwon you have to pay a nominal fee to park it its parking lot and another nominal fee to actually enter the tomb grounds.  But the open park across the raod with the giant observatory in it is free.  To get there from Ulsan, just take highway 7 until you go park Gyeongju National museum.  For free, non roadside parking, you can park in the Anapji parking lot just to the east of the park.  This parking lot is only a 5 minute walk from Daeleungwon.

Night view of the Observatory in the Tomb Park

Tomb of King Suro's wife.

About a 5 minute drive north of King Suro's tomb is his wife's tomb.  The tomb is right next to a Exhibition Hall and a Gallery Museum.  The Gallery Museum is well worth a visit as it has a lot of artifacts dating back to the Gaya Kingdom.  The Museum and Gallery, which are right next to each other also provides those who have a car with amble parking, so that is not an issue.  To walk to the Queen's tomb from the parking lot will take between 5 and 10 minutes.  The route is in forested area and is well shaded and as you go uphill you can get some nice views of Gimhae city.

King Suro's Tomb

Gimhae is a city west of Busan and has second largest airport in Korea. It also appears to be the capital of the forgotten Gaya Kingdom, the smallest of the kingdoms that made up Korea's territory after the fall of Old Josen. The others being Baekjae, Koguyeo and Silla.  The tomb is quite nice and it was dramatically upgraded during the Josen Dynasty with statues added to its surrounding area.  Getting to hear from the expressway is not an issue as the route is well signed, but parking can be a bit tricky.  Thankfully there appears to be ample street parking if you miss the entrance to the main parking lot.  The tomb is surrounding by a well maintained park with ample shaded area and bench to allow for a nice slow stroll though the grounds.  It is a great area for picnic with the family or a place to take in some of the history of Korea.

Silla Millennium Park

Silla Millennium Park is in Bomun Resort area of Eastern Gyeongju, about a 10 minute drive from down Gyeongju.  By Korean standards that park is a little expensive, about 18,000 won per adult, but it is a good day excursion for a family.  There are two daily performance held both in the morning and afternoon at the park and admission is included in the entry fee, remember to stay for both these performances, they make the park a worthwhile visit.  Silla Millennium Park also includes the set of a T.V. drama based on the life of Queen Seondeok, a famous queen of the Silla Kingdom and a couple of traditional folk craft villages.

Bulguksa Temple

The most famous temple in South Korea is Bulguksa, it is located about a 30 minute south east of Gyeongju city or a 40 minute drive north of Ulsan. This temple is quite large and is situated on the side of a mountain. This is a popular tourist spot so be prepared to see large crowds here, especially during the cherry blossom season.

King Heungdeok's Tomb

Far in the north of Gyeongju, west of Yangdong Village, you will find King Heungdeok's Tomb.  It is impossible to get her without a car and navigation will really help you to find this beautiful place.

Pyochung Temple

In the eastern part of Miryang you will find Pyochung Temple.  It is a fairly small temple, but allows for beautiful photographs to be taken of the surrounding area.  It is well worth an afternoon trip. To get their from Ulsan, just take highway 24 west and then take 1077 road south.  After that, just follow the signs.

Visiting Jeonju part 2

While in Jeonju, I learned about this place called Martyrs' Mountain.  Apparently in the late 19th Century a family of Korean Catholics were murdered in Jeonju, at this time Korea was overwhelmingly Buddhist,  by the townspeople on orders of the local government.  Not to long after their murder, the family was buried together in a single tomb.  Nowadays this place is a for Catholics pilgrims to visit in Korea.  One warning though, if cemeteries bother you, you might find it difficult to get to this place.