A Montana Hidden Gem: The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is a spiritual site that lies just north of Missoula, Montana. We stumbled across this hidden gem during a road trip last year, and it was such a memorable stop! Truly off the beaten path, it was unlike anything we’d seen before.
People of all faiths are welcome to stop by and learn about the Buddhist ideals of wisdom, joy, and compassion. Visitors can join a guided tour or explore on their own. We spent about 45 minutes here, walking the grounds and reading about the practices and principles of Buddhism.
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What is the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas?
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is also known as the Ewan Buddha Garden. This unique and sacred site displays 1,000 hand-casted Buddhas arranged around the central figure of Yum Chenmom, a Tibetan deity known as the Great Mother of Wisdom.
The garden was created with a mission to instill peace and compassion in the people who visit. It was dedicated as an International Peace Center in the year 2000, and after years of work, all 1,000 Buddhas were finally completed in 2016.
A place of peace and beauty, the site is surrounded by mountains and some of the most stunning scenery in Montana. The garden is also a center for Tibetan Buddhist studies, retreats, and traditional gatherings, and it plays an important role in preserving the ancient culture of Tibet.
Can anyone visit the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas?
Anyone can visit the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas! Visitors of all faiths are encouraged to stop by. Visiting hours are year-round from 8:00 am to dusk in the summer and 9:00 am to dusk in the winter. Pets are not allowed on the grounds.
Visitors do not need to be familiar with Buddhism to enjoy the garden. There are many signs and pointers throughout the garden that explain the symbolism and significance of the site. One important rule to remember is to walk around the garden in a clockwise direction. Walking clockwise around sacred objects is a sign of respect in the Buddhist faith. This act is called circumambulation.
How to get to the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas?
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is located in the Flathead Valley of western Montana. The address of the property is 34574 White Coyote Rd, Arlee, MT 59821.
Take Highway US 93 until you reach White Coyote Rd. Turn down White Coyote Rd and drive about half a mile until you see a long dirt road to your left, marked by a white mailbox and a string of colorful flags. Although hard to spot, there is also a tiny sign pointing you in the right direction at the turn.
Once you turn left, you will see a large parking lot on your immediate right, but we suggest continuing down the dirt road until you see a smaller parking area on your right-hand sign. It’s a much shorter walk to the Buddhas from this smaller parking area, and it’s hardly ever full.
This stop would be an easy add-on to any itinerary if you’re visiting the Missoula or Polson areas. It would also make a great day trip from Bozeman or Glacier National Park.
Where to stay when visiting the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas?
Visiting the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is easiest if you’re staying near Polson or Missoula. We stayed in both towns and preferred Polson over Missoula.
OUR TOP HOTEL PICK IN POLSON MONTANA
📍 Red Lion Ridgewater Inn & Suites Polson
Polson is a small (but stunning) town with very few accommodation options. There’s really only one hotel in town that is worth staying at, in our opinion. Red Lion Ridgewater Inn & Suites is clean, comfortable, and conveniently located. The onsite restaurant is also delicious!
OUR TOP HOTEL PICK IN MISSOULA MONTANA
📍 Staybridge Suites Missoula, an IHG Hotel
Unlike Polson, Missoula has plenty of hotels to choose from. We chose the Staybridge Suites because we wanted something simple, reliable, and convenient. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a chain hotel if you know you can count on it being clean and comfortable!
Why is the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Montana?
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas was created by the founder of the Ewan International Centers, Gochen Tulku Sang-Ngag Rinpoche. Ewam is an educational non-profit organization focused on preserving the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and cultivating spiritual awareness throughout the world.
Gochen Tulku Sang-Ngag Rinpoche chose the location for the garden as soon as he saw it, claiming it matched a vision in a dream he had as a child. Construction of the garden began in 2000 and was finally completed in 2016.
Is the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas free?
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is completely free to visit! Visitors who would like to make a donation can place their contribution in the box near the entrance, but it is not a requirement.
Donations go towards maintaining the grounds and helping the Ewam centers extend their teachings by reaching communities through events, retreats, and pilgrimages. Donations also go to the Ewam Buddhist Institute, which was inaugurated in 2016. The institute teaches its students all aspects of Buddhism, in both practice and theory.
Volunteers are also welcome! Volunteers are needed for weeding, gardening, and landscape work. You can sign up for just a few hours or a whole day. For more information about volunteering, you can email admin@ewam.org.
What is the symbolism of the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas?
The statuary is built in the shape of a Dharma Wheel, visually representing the Noble Eightfold Path, which is one of the primary teachings of Buddhism. A 24-foot statue sits in the center of a circle with eight spokes that form a wheel. Each of the eight spokes is lined with 125 hand-casted buddhas, and the perimeter is enclosed by a circular wall adorned with 1,000 hand-casted stupas, which represent the enlightened mind.
Although most visitors choose to explore on their own, Ewam does offer tours of the grounds from April to October each year. Tours are arranged by emailing admin@ewam.org. You can also check out their visitor brochure by clicking here.
What is the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas Peace Festival?
The Ewam Institute hosts an annual Peace Festival each September. Although the festival is only a one-day event, it’s packed to the brim with Tibetan flare (and it’s free!).
The festival kicks off with the Walk-A-Mile for Peace walk around the garden. The walk is meant to be a contemplative walk, as the participants are encouraged to think of love, joy, and compassion as they walk. Walkers can ask for pledges from their loved ones in the hope of raising funds for the institute and garden.
After the walk, the festival continues with live speakers, musical performances, Tibetan-style dances, and various vendors. The latest festival even brought in live yaks from a local ranch. The speakers and performers are all of different cultures, religions, and faiths. It’s truly an all-inclusive experience. Everyone is welcome.
To stay up to date with the garden’s events and festivals, follow them on Facebook by clicking here.
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