Mt. Toham

Mt. Toham is the second-highest peak in Gyeongju after Mt. Dan-seok, and one of the five sacred mountains revered by the people of Silla.

Being close to the sea, the mountain is frequently wrapped in fog, and it's said to have taken its name, "Toham" — roughly "drink and exhale" — from how it seems to breathe the mist in and back out.

Above all, this mountain is well known for cradling the magnificent heritage of Silla Buddhist art, including Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. It gives a real sense of why the people of Silla considered the mountain itself sacred, and chose its slopes as the site for their finest temple and grotto.

The terrain isn't steep, making it an easy climb, and the sunrise from the summit is considered spectacular. It's a great mountain to climb after visiting Bulguksa and Seokguram, reflecting on what this peak meant to the people of Silla.