West Namsam: The Outdoor Museum

South of the city in Gyeongju National Park there is an area of small mountains and long valleys that is an outdoor museum. Buddhism was established as the state religion in the 7th-century AD. Pagodas and Buddha images dot the landscape.

We rode the bus to Samneung on the western side of Namsan (South Mountain) and followed the trail that takes you by the Buddhist monuments and the peak of Mt Namsan and down to Yongjang Village. All very easy to do as there are bus stops at the beginning and end of the trail, plus good signage on the trail.

Bus #500 bus dropped us off at the trailhead in Samneung and after getting a very good map from the information kiosk we headed up through the pines.




Headless Buddha.


We had to cross this dry stream bed to get to the first rock carving.




Then climb up to the seated Buddha, one of the highlights.






Most of the Buddha images face the West with great views.


There's a small hermitage/temple near the top.


Mount Namsam bulges with rock outcrops, most with a great view.


Near the summit is this Post Office where we sent a free postcard to my father in the US. Wonder if he gets it. ;-)


The usual warning.


This Buddha image carved into the rock face is officially closed but it's known as a place to pray for a male child thus you can see the couple, one wearing an orange jacket, bowing to the image.




Sun-Ling at the summit of Mt Namsam at 468 meters.


Next a steep downhill on a very easy-to-walk trail with jute rugs and repurposed tires to Yongjangsaji temple area. All that is left of the temple is a 3-layer granite pagoda and a seated headless Buddha. Some roof tiles are in the National Museum.








And on down the mountain following a dry stream bed to the bus stop in Yongjang village.




Back to our guesthouse.