KOREA
- Land of the Morning Calm -
- Palgongsan Provincial Park -
featuring
- Tonghwasa Temple -
To my humble opinion, Palgongsan Provincial Park is not one of the most stunning nature scenarios you can find in Korea.
Furthermore its scenery somewhat "spoiled" by a cable car with its support masts and even worse, - a big area is pockmarked by a golf course, that does not fit in at all.
However, - this should of course not scare people from coming there because Korea is beautiful everywhere - - -
I have been exploring this park two times, - first time in 1999 and then again in 2002 -, and it is truly wonderful and highly enjoyable to hike around the mountain and to climb some of the peaks, - and in the late afternoon, the light is stunning - - -
But like other Korean parks, - where Mother Nature has not really been in the most creative mood -, it scores quite high when it comes to Buddhist temple sites.
Here the old Tongwhasa temple stands out between many other temple complexes and hermitages scattered over the mountain.
But for now,- please enjoy my impressions from Palgongsan - - -
2002-11-027 - Palgongsan - view from the valley to the Kwan-bong ridge - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-092 -
Palgongsan - a frozen lake, - and view to Tong-bong, - the highest peak -, some 1155 meters high -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-07-092 - Palgongsan - like giant ocean waves, - climbing Tong-bong, - the East Peak -,in morning light - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-083 - Palgongsan - strange rocks, - halfway up Tong-bong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen.)
1999-08-008 - Palgongsan View from Tong-bong to the valley below - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-08-013 - Palgongsan - view from Tong-bong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-08-016 - Palgongsan - view from Tong-bong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
19999-08-19 - Palgongsan From the top of Tong-bong, - the East Peak - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-018 - Palgongsan - view along the Kwan-bong ridge near Katbawi on a cold December day - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-022 - Palgongsan - exploring the Kwan-bong ridge - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-028 - algongsan - detail from the Kwan-bong ridge - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-029 -Palgongsan - hikers enjoying Kwan-bong - (Photography by Karsten petersen)
1999-09-042 - Palgongsan - view to the valley below the Kwan-bong ridge - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-042 - Palgongsan - from the Kwan-bong ridge - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-08-058 - Palgongsan - late evening light on the slopes of Tong-bong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-08-075 - Palgongsan - sunset seen from the slopes of Tong-bong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-068 - Tonghwasa - the entrance hall of the Tonghwasa Temple, - and mountain Tong-bong in the background - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
The big Tonghwasa Temple has a history of more that 1000 years, but nearby a huge new temple complex with a giant stone Buddha now draws a lot of attention, since the big Buddha for Unification Desire is supposed to be the biggest Buddha statue in Korea.
1999-07-072 - Palgongsan - the Great Stone Buddha for Unification Desire , - and the Palgongsan ridge behind - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-070 - Palgongsan - through the pines, - the new Great Hall at the big Buddha statue - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-039 - Tonghwasa Temple The interior of new great hall at the Buddha for Unification Desire - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-088
Tonghwasa - view over the old Tonghwasa temple roofs with the Kwan-bong ridge behind - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-093 - Tonghwasa - one of the four guardians at the entrance of the Tonghwasa temple - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-068 - Tonghwasa - the main hall of the Tonghwasa temple - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-072 - Tonghwasa - a look inside to the great Buddha - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-11-070 - Tonghwasa - a building of great beauty and perfect harmony - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1999-09-057 - Yangjin-am - on the Palgongsan hill sides there are several hermitages, - here the Yangjin-am - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
I will end this page about the Palgongsan Provinsial Park with a picture if the Katbawi stone Buddha -
1999-08-087 - Katbawi Buddha - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
On the ridge of Kwan-bong, - about 850 meters above sea level -, you can find this masterpiece of a more than 1000 years old Buddha statue, showing the Medicine Buddha.
It is well worth it to take a hike up and have a look.