Gatbawi is very easy for us Daegu-ites to visit. It's also well worth the trip. I have been known to go to Gatbawi both Saturday and Sunday, and it is close enough that it is possible to go hike in the morning, and return to Daegu for an afternoon downtown with friends.GKatbawi is a location at Palgoengsan, though less visited than Donghwasa (perhaps you know Donghwasa as the Big Buddha Temple). 

When you get off the bus you are in a land of nice restaurants, many serving a lot of vegetarian food, since good Buddhists won't eat meat before going to pray. These same restaurants also have quite a selection of booze and delicious anju (drinking food). Many people visit. Gatbawi with eating and drinking on the mind, and never even go for a hike! 

If you head up hill, following the fat wool socks, you will come to a small but pretty temple. At the temple you need to make a choice, if you go left you will be ascending stairs to the peak. Right has you on a more natural trail, though there as well it can get steep enough to warrant stairs in places. Normally I hike up the stairs and down the trail. That way you can see all the sights. Gatbawi is well known for the large Buddha statue carved at the top of the peak. This statue is nearly a thousand years old, and it is unusual in that it wears a hat! The Buddha itself is known for its recuperative powers and many people will travel across Korea to pray for the health of loved ones at this location. On a normal day you will find a monk chanting in front of the Buddha, so you may want to bring a camera. The view from the praying platform in front of this Buddha is spectacular as well. If you continue across the platform and down the other side, just continue to follow the trail (take forks to the right when you see a choice)you will go through one temple and pass the turn off for another, eventually arriving back at the bus parking lot. 

I recommend that you stop at one of the two shacks, one on the stair route and one on the path to buy some yakcha, or medicinal tea. This strong brew is made from herbs obtained on the mountain, and though you may need a liberal amount of sugar to enjoy it, trust me, it's good for your health. The bus you want to catch is number 104. It can be caught by Susung Lake, in front of Jaeil Movie Theater, or across the street from Fatima Hospital. >From Fatima Hospital, I usually allow about forty five minutes each way for the bus, though it seldom takes that long, and the hike to the top of Gatbawi should not take you more than an hour, depending on how easily you get winded. As the azaleas and cherry trees start to bloom, and for the fall color, you will find this a marvelous retreat from Daegu. If you are coming from out of town, leave Dongdaegu station, cross the street and turn right, go straight down the road until it hits a tee, turn left and the second bus stop you come to is the one you want. It's about a ten minute walk. 
 
 
 

Written By Cedar Bough, Manager of Koreabridge Daegu and Host of Cedar Bough Photography