Why this ride
From Ungsang it runs 392 km to Ungsang; allow about 5 h 46 of riding. The stops in between: Gaya Tumuli, Marisan Tumuli, Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli and Jisan-dong Tumuli. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Tongdosa Temple and Jisan-dong Tumuli
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 392 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 46
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Tongdosa Temple
Most Korean Buddhist temples have a statue of the Buddha in their main hall. Tongdosa does not. Instead, a window behind the altar looks out onto a stone stupa that is said to contain relics of the historical Buddha, brought back from China by the monk Jajang, who founded the temple in 646. That makes Tongdosa one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea, representing the Buddha himself, alongside Haeinsa, representing the teaching, and Songgwangsa, the community of monks. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea, inscribed in 2018.
Read the complete Tongdosa Temple write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tongdosa Temple is where the day begins. Next is Gaya Tumuli.
2. Gaya Tumuli
Right in the middle of Gimhae, a busy city just west of Busan, a low ridge of grassy mounds rises between apartment blocks and roads. These are the Daeseong-dong tumuli, the burial ground of the rulers of Geumgwan Gaya, one of the small kingdoms of the Gaya confederacy that flourished in the south of the Korean peninsula from the first centuries AD until it was absorbed by Silla in the sixth century. In 2023 a group of Gaya burial sites, including these, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Read the complete Gaya Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Gaya Tumuli comes up 46 km in. Next is Marisan Tumuli.
3. Marisan Tumuli
In Haman county, in the south of Korea, a long ridge rises above the town of Gaya, and along its crest lies a line of large burial mounds, grassy domes that seem to ripple across the hills. These are the Malisan, or Marisan, tumuli, the royal tombs of Ara Gaya, one of the states of the Gaya confederacy that flourished in the south of the Korean peninsula from roughly the first to the sixth century. In 2023, they were listed by UNESCO together with other Gaya tumuli across the region.
Read the complete Marisan Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
93 km in you reach Marisan Tumuli. Next is Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli.
4. Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli
The rounded grassy mounds rising behind Changnyeong look almost like natural hills until you notice how regular they are. These are the Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong tumuli, burial mounds of the rulers of Bihwa, one of the small kingdoms of the Gaya confederacy that flourished in the south of the Korean peninsula between roughly the first and sixth centuries before being absorbed by Silla. In 2023 they became part of a UNESCO listing that brings together seven Gaya tomb clusters, and they are among the most atmospheric of the group.
Read the complete Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli, about halfway. Next is Jisan-dong Tumuli.
5. Jisan-dong Tumuli
Above the small county town of Goryeong, in south-eastern Korea, a line of grassy burial mounds runs along the ridge of Jusan mountain like the knuckles of a giant hand. These are the Jisan-dong tumuli, tombs of the rulers and elite of Daegaya, the most powerful member of the Gaya confederacy, a group of small kingdoms that flourished in the south of the peninsula until they were absorbed by Silla in the sixth century. The largest mounds are huge, and excavations found not only rich grave goods, iron weapons, armour, gold crowns and pottery, but also evidence that attendants were buried with their lords. Together with other Gaya tomb groups, the site was added to the World Heritage list in 2023.
Read the complete Jisan-dong Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Jisan-dong Tumuli sits at 186 km, about halfway. Next is back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli.
6. back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli comes up 232 km in. Next is back through Marisan Tumuli.
7. back through Marisan Tumuli
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Marisan Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
278 km in you reach back through Marisan Tumuli. Next is back through Gaya Tumuli.
8. back through Gaya Tumuli
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Gaya Tumuli write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Gaya Tumuli, late in the day. Next is Tongdosa Temple.
9. Tongdosa Temple
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tongdosa Temple write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The route ends here after 392 km.
Leg by leg
Tongdosa Temple to Gaya Tumuli
Tongdosa Temple → Gaya Tumuli is 44 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Gaya Tumuli to Marisan Tumuli
Gaya Tumuli → Marisan Tumuli is 57 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Marisan Tumuli to Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli
Marisan Tumuli → Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli is 43 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli to Jisan-dong Tumuli
Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli → Jisan-dong Tumuli is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Jisan-dong Tumuli to back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli
Jisan-dong Tumuli → back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli to back through Marisan Tumuli
back through Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli → back through Marisan Tumuli is 43 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Marisan Tumuli to back through Gaya Tumuli
back through Marisan Tumuli → back through Gaya Tumuli is 57 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Gaya Tumuli to Tongdosa Temple
back through Gaya Tumuli → Tongdosa Temple is 44 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.