Simply stunning: 33 incredible Korean temples

There are some 900 traditional Buddhist temples in Korea -- and around 20,000 in total. A visit to any of these local places of worship -- many of them centuries-old -– can be a humbling, calming or uplifting experience.

Many of them can be found nestled in the countless mountains throughout the country, usually in locations believed to have the best pung-su (feng shui) of the area.

But despite the endlessly beautiful and endlessly numerous temples, even the most serious pilgrim need not visit all 900. The 33 temples below -- 33 as in Buddha's 33 steps to enlightenment -- are simply breathtaking. 

1. Manggyeongsa (망경사)

The statue may be frozen, but the smile is still warm.

Manggyeongsa Temple is situated on Taebaek mountain, at an altitude of 1,460 meters.

Legend has it that a stone statue of the Bodhisattva of wisdom appeared at the Manggyeongsa Temple site. When Jajang, a monk from the Silla Dynasty (57 BC-935 AD), heard of it, he built the temple to enshrine the statue.

The "Dragon Spring" near the entrance of the temple is known as the highest spring in Korea.

Hyeol-dong, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 태백시 혈동); +82 33 553 1567 

2. Taeansa (태안사) 

Everything in this picture is perfectly in sync.

Taeansa Temple is especially beautiful in fall when the thick forest surrounding the temple turns red and yellow.

The 2.3 kilometers of driveway leading up to the temple, as well as the 1.8-kilometer-long valley where it is situated, make for beautiful drives in every season. 

Nearby attractions include Neungpa Tower, an exquisite traditional site near the Dongli mountain valley, Gok-song Haneulnari Village (a farming-themed village) five kilometers away and a sledding hill. 

622-215 Taean-ro, Jukgok-myeon, Goksung-gun, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 곡성군 죽곡면 태안로 622-215); +82 61 363 6622 

3. Naejangsa (내장사)

A potential 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

Although Naejangsa is said to have been first erected in the year 636, most of its current buildings were built after the Jeongyujeran (the Japanese invasion of 1597) and the Korean War.

The scenic beauty of its surroundings -- particularly the Naejang National Park -- is especially notable for its fall foliage. 

1253 Naejangsan-ro, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 정읍시 내장산로 1253); +82 63 538 7875; sunrise-sunset

4. Daejeonsa (대전사)

A sight that makes one want walk around in hanbok.

Daejeonsa is the largest temple in Cheongsong-gun and its magnificent view of Juwang mountain is one of the best views in the country. 

Daejeonsa’s most famous building, Bogwangjeon, is Korea's treasure no. 1570, while the woodblock of a handwritten letter from Lee Yeo-song, a general of the Ming Dynasty, to Samyeong Daisa is kept within the temple.

226 Gongwon-gil, Budong-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 청송군 부동면 공원길 226); +82 54 873 2908; open sunrise-sunset

5. Cheongpyeongsa (청평사)

May all these colorful wishes come true.

According to the legend surrounding this temple, a man loved a princess so much that he became a snake and wouldn't leave her alone. When she begged leave to get some rice from the temple, the snake let her go but then went looking for her, only to be struck by lightning and die. The princess then buried him at the temple. 

Visitors to the temple can also take a boat ride on Soyang lake and a walk along a beautiful valley and a waterfall, thus enjoying a perfect weekend getaway. 

674 Cheongpyeong 1 ri, Buksan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 춘천시 북산면 청평 1리 674); +82 33 244 1095

 6. Beopjusa (법주사)

No, these aren't Christmas lights.

With more than 60 buildings and 70 hermitages, Beopjusa was a large, glorious temple before it caught fire in the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. 

Currently the temple houses 30 buildings and many cultural properties, including the highest pagoda existing in Korea (a five-story wooden pagoda 22.7 meters high) -- which is also a national treasure.

405 Beopjusa-ro, Sokrisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (충청북도 보은군 속리산면 법주사로 405); +82 43 543 36615; open sunrise-sunset 

7. Gangcheonsa (강천사)

Gangcheonsa's beautiful fall palette.

1316 marked a big year for Gangcheonsa, when a five-story stone pagoda was added to the temple. It is said that 1,000 monks stayed here at one point.

In addition to the cultural assets at the temple, various attractions are nearby, such as the Geumseong mountain fortress, Yongso waterfall, Lake Gangcheon, Lake Damyang and Naejang National Park.

270 Gangcheonsan-gil, Paldeok-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 순창군 팔덕면 강천산길 270); +82 63 652 5420; sunrise-sunset 

8. Buseoksa (부석사)

The soft colors of Buseoksa will calm your mind.

Buseoksa counts five national treasures among its cultural assets and is one of the 10 largest temples in Korea.

Buseoksa’s Muryangsujeon (Korea’s national treasure number 18) is one of Korea’s oldest wooden buildings. 

"If you like flowers, spring is the best season, if you like thick green trees -- summer, fall foliage -- autumn, and sunsets are particularly beautiful in winter," says the temple's manager, who adds that it is very popular with a lot of Japanese and Chinese visitors. 

148 Bukji-ri, Busuk-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 영주시 부석면 북지리 148); +82 54 633 3464; www.pusoksa.org 

9. Cheoneunsa (천은사)

Serenity is one of the hallmarks of Korea's traditional temples.

One of the three largest temples in Jiri mountain, Cheoneunsa Temple has had its fair share of drama; it was first built in 828, burned down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, rebuilt in 1610, burned down again in 1676, rebuilt the next year, caught fire once again in 1773, and finally rebuilt in 1775.

Legend has it that when people were rebuilding the temple after 1592, they killed a big snake that kept appearing at a nearby spring. When the spring dried up and the temple kept catching fire, the villagers believed that the snake must have been the guardian of the spirit of the water. 

When Wongyo Lee Gwang-sa, one of the four most famous master calligraphers of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), heard the story, he wrote “Cheoneunsa” in a flowy style and hung it up at the temple -- and there hasn’t been a fire at Cheoneunsa since. 

209 Nogodan-ro, Gwangui-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 구례군 광의면 노고단로 209); +82 61 781 4800; 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

10. Geumsansa (금산사)

Geumsansa runs temple stay programs.

First built in the year 599, Geumsansa Temple contains several treasures, including stone pagodas, a stone lantern, and a lotus flower-shaped pedestal.

The admissions fee is ₩3,000 for individuals (adults) and ₩2,500 for groups.

Geumsan-ri, Geumsan-myeon, Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 김제시 금산면 금산리 39번지); +82 63 542 0048 

11. Golgulsa (골굴사)

On his way to nirvana.

A cave temple built on a limestone cliff in Hamwol mountain, Golgulsa Temple gained fame as a place where sunmudo, a Zen martial art and a training method that has been secretly handed down through generations, is practiced.

There are 12 large limestone caves in this temple and a rock cliff Buddha is carved in relief on the highest part of the rock face.

Anyone who wants to participate in the sunmudo training can check out the Golgulsa temple stay program -- but remember, you will have to get up at 4 a.m.

304-1 San Andong-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 양북면 안동리 산 304-1); +82 54 744 1689; www.golgulsa.com