Jirisan History Museum (지리산역사관)

14.1 Km 45200 2021-06-15

1438, Hwagae-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-880-2954

Jirisan History Museum is located within Jirisan National Park at the start of the hiking course to Byeoksoryeong Pass. Rather a small museum, it provides detailed information about the history of North Korean partisans and the routes that they took throughout the mountain during the Korean War. The museum also exhibits the war relics, lifestyle of the mountain villagers and local produce of Hadong.

Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival (함양 산삼축제)

14.2 Km 15559 2023-09-06

49, Pilbongsan-gil, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-964-3353

Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival is held at Hamyang Sangnim Forest, a Natural Monument. The area of Hamyang stretches across Jirisan Mountain and Deogyusan Mountain and features high quality wild ginseng and herbs that bring many domestic and overseas visitors to the area. This healthy well-being festival helps to promote and distribute wild ginseng and herbs produced in Hamyang.

Sangnim Park (상림공원)

14.2 Km 39916 2021-11-24

49, Pilbongsan-gil, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-960-5756

Hamyang is well known for its beautiful mountains and clean waters. Sangnim Park, located in Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, has beautiful sceneries throughout the year as well as various attractions including pavilions, memorial plaques, walking trails and more. The park was formed during the Unified Silla period, providing deep history as well as a place to relax.

Nogane (노가네)

14.9 Km 0 2024-01-08

283 Noegye-gil, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Nogane's specialties include samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and ori baeksuk (whole duck soup), Korea’s representative nutrient-rich foods that warm up the body and boost stamina. They are even more special because of shingled hedgehogs (with a unique scent, taste, and chewy texture, cultivated in broad-leaved forests) and precious wild ginsengs that are hard to acquire. The representative menu, neungi samgyetang (shingled hedgehog and ginseng chicken soup), has a soft texture from fully cooked large chicken and a rich soup full of mushrooms and chives. Thanks to the taste of the soup, rich with a lot of medicinal ingredients, this restaurant has a constant stream of visitors. Side dishes such as kimchi and pickles that boost the appetite are also neatly served.

Tomb of King Guhyeong, Sancheong (산청 전 구형왕릉)

15.2 Km 18145 2020-06-30

Guhyeongwangneung-ro, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-970-6411

This stone grave is known to be the tomb of King Guhyeong, the 10th King of the Gaya Kingdom. He is also known as King Guhae or King Yang, and is the grandfather of Kim Yoo Shin. Since becoming the King of Gaya in 521 AD, he reigned for 11 years until he handed over his country to King Beopheung of the Silla Kingdom in 532 AD.

There are two different scholarly opinions about this tomb. One is that it should be classified as a stone pagoda and the other, a royal tomb. The reason why this was regarded as a pagoda is that there are similarly shaped stone pagodas in the Andong and Uiseong regions. The basis for it being called Wangreung, or royal tomb, is that there is a record in Dongguk Yeoji Seongram (an ancient history book published during the rule of King Seongjong in the Joseon dynasty) and in Saneum-hyeon Sancheonjo (a record of events in the region) of it being a tomb. The notes state that "there is a structure with steps on the four faces, in the form of nine dragons piled up of stones at a distance of about 16 km (40 ri in traditional Korean scale) from the village, so people believe it must be a royal tomb".

The record describing the name of the king buried in this tomb can be extracted from a record of travels called Wangsan Shimreunggi written by Hong Ui Young, a Joseon dynasty scholar. In addition, there’s also an entry in Wangsansagi, a book on the history of Wangsansa Temple (a temple located west of the tomb) that the person buried in the tomb is King Guhyeong.

Unlike ordinary graves, the tomb is built at the middle part of the hill's slope. The tomb has a unique appearance made up of steps and layers, with the highest point being 7.15 meters high. There are seven layers at the front and no steps at the back due to it being built on an inclined surface. The overall shape of this tomb is different from the pyramids built on level ground. The top of the tomb is oval in shape. At the center, there is a stone tablet with the words "Royal Tomb of King Yang of the Garak Nation". In front of the tomb, there are several stone pieces that have been added to the original tomb.

During the 17th Year of King Jeongjo of the Joseon dynasty (1793), a wooden box that was passed down from generation to generation in Wangsansa Temple was discovered. The box contained portraits of King Guhyeong and his queen, their clothes, an archery bow, and other objects. To preserve these, a royal building called Deogyangjeon Hall was constructed. To this date, a memorial service is held here in spring and autumn of every year.

Jirisan National Park (Sancheong) (지리산국립공원(산청))

15.9 Km 74998 2024-02-27

320-2 Jirisan-daero, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-970-1000

Jirisan National Park is the first national park established in South Korea, featuring peaks like Cheonwangbong Peak (1,915m), Banyabong Peak, and Nogodan Peak, which rank as the next highest after Halla Mountain. It's a popular destination for mountain enthusiasts, offering beautiful natural landscapes such as Naewonsagyegok Valley. The park also provides convenient facilities like Jirisan Recreational Forest, Naewonsa Temple, mountain lodges, campgrounds, and pensions.

Gurye Sansuyu Village (구례 산수유마을)

16.1 Km 23411 2020-04-25

6-12, Wianwolgye-gil, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-783-9114

Sandong-myeon in the Gurye-gun region is widely known as the home of sansuyu (cornus fruit) and is responsible for 70% of Korea’s sansuyu fruit production. The Sansuyu Village, located at the foot of the southwest side of Manbokdae Mountain (1,433 meters), is considered the region’s most representative village of sansuyu. The village has a beautiful natural landscape with the snow-covered Jirisan Mountain range to its back and a small valley to its right.

Visitors to the village can wind down at the hot spring complex nearby, which is famous for its germanium content and said to have numerous health benefits. The sansuyu flowers of Sansuyu Village typically are at full bloom between March 20 and March 31, drawing throngs of visitors.

* Please note that blossom dates are not exact and change slightly from year to year.

Jirisan Cheonwangbong Peak (지리산 천왕봉)

16.2 Km 20945 2021-05-14

Jirisan-daero, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-972-7771

Along with Geumgangsan Mountain and Hallasan Mountain, Jirisan Mountain is known to be one of the most sacred mountains in Korea. It was named ‘Jiri’ because it was believed to be a place that turns the innocent into the wise. On December 29, 1967 Jirisan National Park was declared the nation’s first and biggest national park. Its 440.517 square kilometer area covers Hadong, Sancheon and Hamyang in Gyeongsangnam-do; Gurye in Jeollanam-do ; and Namwon in Jeollabuk-do region. The total area is seven times that of Gyeryongsan National Park and 52 times that of all of Yeouido Island in Seoul.

At 1,915.4 meters high, Cheonwangbong Peak is the second highest peak in Jirisan National Park. Countless valleys and waterfalls surround the peak, as well as trails connecting to other peaks within the park.

Sancheong Daewonsa Temple (대원사(산청))

16.7 Km 18168 2021-08-13

453, Pyeongchonyupyeong-ro, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-972-8068

Located at the eastern foot of Jirisan Mountain, Daewonsa Temple was first built in 548 during the Silla dynasty, but it remained closed for over thousand years until it was renovated and made bigger with the name Daewon. Unfortunately, the entire premises were lost to a big fire during the night of January 12, 1914, and all the halls and pavilions, including Yosachae, totaling 184 rooms in 12 buildings, were rebuilt in 1917. However, they were damaged once again during the Korean War and were abandoned until the war ended where the temple was rejuvenated and made even bigger. Located nearby are Geoyeonjeong and Gunjajeong Halls that are believed to have been the studying venue of scholars.

* Daewonsa Valley
The two-kilometer-long valley that stretches from the parking lot at the entrance to Daewon Temple to the temple itself is surrounded by high hills and curious-looking rocks. The clean water that oozes out through craters between the rocks generates unusual scenery. Associated with Yongso Pond is the legend that a dragon lived in it for hundreds of years before it finally flew away. Somakgol Valley is known to be the place where the last king of Garak Kingdom came to feed his cows and horses.

Daewonsagyegok Valley (대원사계곡)

17.0 Km 46018 2021-02-24

Samjang-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-970-7201

Daewonsagyegok Valley is a place where one can be appreciate nature's musical harmony of stream water, wind brushing against the leaves, and the chirping of birds. The nearly 12-kilometer-long Daewonsagyegok Valley's stream water originates from the highest peak of Jirisan Mountain called Cheonwangbong Peak, and flows through Jungbong and Habong Peaks, as well as Ssukbatjae Pass, Saejae Pass, Wangdeungjae Pass, Bammeorijae Pass, and Ungseokbong Peak. Before reaching the valley, the water joins the currents from Sinbatgol, Jogaegol, and Bambatgol Valleys. The volume of water increases as it passes Saejae and Oegok Village and reaches Yupyeong-ri where Daewonsa Temple is located. The incessant sound of running water fills the silence of the forest as if Buddhist nuns were chanting blessings.

Jirisan History Museum (지리산역사관) - Area information - Korea travel information