Golgulsa, Buddhist temple in Gyeongju, South Korea

Golgulsa is a grotto temple on Mount Hamwolsan, the oldest of its kind in Korea, built after the model of Indian cave temples. Its main Buddha, a seated figure carved in the 9th century into a volcanic tuff cliff, faces the underwater tomb of King Munmu. Around it are grotto halls such as Gwanum, Jijang, Yaksa and Nahan, and a wooden antechapel with a tiled roof stands before the caves.

The temple was founded around 1,500 years ago by Master Gwangyu, who arrived from India and established the site. A carved seated Buddha statue from the 9th century Silla Dynasty remains one of the temple's most important artworks.

The temple maintains Sunmudo, a Korean Buddhist martial art that blends meditation, physical movement, and breathing techniques. Visitors can watch monks practicing this discipline daily throughout the grounds.

The temple offers year-round accommodation through Temple Stay programs where visitors can participate in meditation, archery, chanting, and Buddhist ceremonies. Activities happen at set times and require advance registration.

The main Buddha, a seated figure carved into volcanic tuff in the 9th century, faces the underwater tomb of King Munmu, about 10 km away. The temple also keeps traces of folk religion: rocks carved as phalluses and vulvas stand among the grotto halls.