This Buddhist temple includes in its grounds a standing Buddha figure carved into a vertical rock.

The area was declared scenic site number 5 by the Korean government in 1966, and it became an official National Park in 1972.

The remoteness of the area has played a role in protecting it from destruction in the past, specifically during the Japanese invasions of 1592-98, when much of the country was razed.

Since that time, legend says that the area around Gaya Mountains is free from the Three Disasters: fire, floods and wind.

[4] The most trafficked trail begins in Heinsa Temple and contains a guard station that provides park information for visitors.