Historical Places of South Korea

The historical places of South Korea encompass a wide variety of enchanting temples, National parks and ancient monuments. South Korea has a rich and eventful history which is captured in the various historic sites of the country. Several historical places of South Korea were ruined during Japanese Colonial Period and the Korean War, yet South Korea continues to be an interesting tourist destination. Some of the top historical places of South Korea are-

• Gyeongbokgung (Palace)
• Changdeokgung
• Seoraksan National Park
• The Bulguksa temple

Gyeongbokgung (Palace)

Gyeongbokgung Palace was set up in 1395, and is also known as "Northern Palace" owing to its location towards the north. The palace was ruined by a fire during the Japanese Invasion (1592-1598). It was later restored under the direction of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong.

The most representative edifices of the Joseon Dynasty were Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pond which are still found in the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung is among the five grand palaces constructed by the kings of the Joeson dynasty and is also one of the most thrilling historic places of South Korea. This magnificent palace was constructed between 1405 and 1412 and was the power center of Korea in the past. Currently, this historical site has also been registered in the UNESCO list of heritage sites in Korea.

Changdeokgung is a huge palace with lots of different sights but its main highlight is the beautiful Secret Garden.

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park had been designated a Biosphere Preservation District by UNESCO in 1982 and is one of the major historical places of South Korea.

This National park is an interesting and wonderful combination of rugged granite peaks, deep caves, waterfalls, dense forest and historic Buddhist temples. The Shinheungsa, known to be the oldest Buddhist temple in the world is also found in the Seoraksan National Park.

Over three million tourists visit the park every year and it is also a hiker's paradise. The Seoraksan National Park is often referred to as the "Alps of Asia".

The Bulguksa temple

The Bulguksa temple was constructed in 528, and offers an outstanding example of architecture from the Silla Dynasty. Bulguksa literally means "Buddha Land Temple" and the Silla kings who lived here believed themselves to be the Buddha land rulers.

This architectural splendor remained intact for over 1,000 years before it was destroyed by the Japanese in 1593. The Bulguksa temple was recognized by UNESCO as an international cultural property in 1995.

The other historical places of South Korea are Myeong-dong, Lotte World, Insa-dong, Namsangol Hanok Village, Deoksugung Palace, Cheong Wa Dae and Korea House among several others.

This site provides an overview of the historical places of South Korea. For more on South Korea, visit- 123independenceday.com