Gayasan National Park, National park in Hapcheon-gun, South Korea
Gayasan National Park is a protected natural area in Hapcheon-gun, South Korea, made up of forested valleys, granite ridges, and streams running between shaded slopes. The highest point, Sangwangbong Peak, rises above the tree line and offers wide views over the surrounding mountains.
The area around Gayasan has been a Buddhist center since the 9th century, when Haeinsa Temple was founded on its slopes. The park was officially designated as a national park in 1972, bringing formal protection to both its forests and its historic sites.
Haeinsa Temple, within the park, holds the Tripitaka Koreana, a vast set of Buddhist scriptures carved onto wooden blocks. Visitors can walk through the temple grounds and observe the simple wooden buildings, where monks still live and practice today.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to visit, with mild temperatures and the best trail conditions. Sturdy footwear and enough water are worth bringing, as some paths lead up along rocky ridges away from any facilities.
The Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa Temple consists of around 80,000 wooden blocks, carved in the 13th century in the hope of driving away a Mongol invasion through religious merit. The blocks are still stored in their original wooden storehouses, which were built to regulate airflow and keep the carvings intact over the centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
