Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden
Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
&promo_pic=/one-page/coolest.jpg)
Posts
Toronto actually has a free zoo!?
AriaAria
362
Our family visited Cham Shan Temple (Bayview) for many years and every time we visit, we donate money so that the same organizer can build this new Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, after 30+ years of donations, it's very nice to see this new property into fruition. Although there are still many buildings under construction, the main temple and the main area are now ready for visitors. It's very cool to see all demographcis and ethnicities came for visit, it's not just Chinese people but many other cultural people who shares similar Buddhist Religion, it feels good we all live in harmony and respecting each other religious beliefs. This property is huge, the entrance is wide and many concrete poles and you will see the laughing buddha. And there are many stations that house the golden statue. There are plenty of parking lots from P1/P2/P3/P4, during our visit, it's free parking but seeing there is a gated parking pole and a parking collection machine in the main temple, I could foresee being a paid parking in the near future. There are lots of walking and you will need to park, visit the laughing buddha and then grab your vehicle and then drive along the route to the main temple that has more parking spots. Just drive slowly and not rev your vehicles to respect the peace and quiet of this place. It's very peaceful with a nice lookout from the top of the main temple. There are a cafe that sells tea, snacks such as cake. There are portable potties as washroom for now as the main washrooms don't have running water to flush the toilet or wash your hands. Please be quiet and respectful of the monks doing their services. This is not a place to fool around or laugh so loud, please be mindful and be respectful. This Wutai Shan is definitely worth a visit and it's truly a sensational property with nature and for mental wellness. Whether you are buddhist or not, it's still fascinating of the architecture and history of Buddhism.
Vernon ChangVernon Chang
10
Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden is a serene expansive sanctuary spread across 500+ acres of land located in Bethany-Ontario. Though they started construction a decade back, still it is going on. It is inspired by the famous Mount Wutai in China, one of the most sacred Buddhist mountains. It is designed as a place for meditation, cultural exchange, and spiritual reflection. As on this day (22.09.2024) entry is free to public from 09.00 to 18.00 hours on all days except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. From Nov 15 to April 15 fully closed to public for the winter season. Now they charge CAD 20 per vehicle which you can pay convenienntly by scanning the QR code displayed in all the parking slots. As you enter the Garden from main road, you can see a huge Maitreya Budha statue and nearby parking facility available. From there you need to drive a small distance and climb upwards to the main Shrine. At the top a well maintained parking space is available. There are Golden coloured tall Manjusri Bodhisattva statues erected on high rise platforms at five places (North, South, East, West directions and Central. All these spots can be reached by a short drive, then park your vehicle and walk up to reach the statues. A lake area called Wisdom Lake is under development with more attractions are accessible to public where you can drive through. Porta Potties kept at various locations, and proper washrooms available inside temple near the coffee shop area. You could see lot of civil works going on all around, development of rose garden, etc and once it is fully completed this will be a place for a full day spending.
Bhaskaran RMBhaskaran RM
00
This place this place in Canada it has amazed me. It is one of the beautiful mesmerizing and still so peaceful to me in Canada. It is a wonder. Yes, this place has open recently properly the last week of April. It took 18 years to build this place. To see the Buddhist culture in Canada, which nobody can even expect is very peaceful. When I spoke to the gallery volunteer, he explained me that Canada government has helped 50% to build this temple and the additional 50 50% came from China and Japan. However later I got to know That by the temple - It should be noted that this temple was constructed through charitable donations from private organizations, with no funding provided by the Canadian government, China, or Japan. All expenses have been covered by charitable donations from the faithful. Furthermore, the current tea bar only offers tea and coffee, while the restaurant is located on the other side of the hall. You can walk to the east corridor to find the restaurant. Currently, the restaurant serves exquisite vegetarian dishes daily. I thoroughly enjoyed the place with my family and will definitely recommend to each and every individual the parking for now is free of cost. The temple is still under construction in certain areas, but the main temple is built and monks do chant mantras. I was very disappointed as there was no food in the cafeteria, which I guess they need to improve. They were only drinks like coffee and tea without milk. The statues are the mesmerizing view will take your breath away from the top please to visit and feel the different experience.
Chandan Kumar DograChandan Kumar Dogra
30
I recently visited the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden and was overall quite impressed with the experience. The garden is quite expansive, with a total of 8 attractions, each offering a unique glimpse into Buddhist culture and architecture. The grounds are serene and beautifully maintained, making it a wonderful place for reflection and relaxation. Construction has been ongoing since 2016, and while it’s clear that the garden is still a work in progress, it has come a long way. Some areas are still under construction, which can be a bit distracting, but it also gives a sense of anticipation for what’s to come. One aspect I found lacking was the availability of dining options. There’s a small tea shop that offers some refreshments, but I was hoping for a more substantial place to eat. A dedicated restaurant or cafe would greatly enhance the visitor experience, especially for those spending several hours there. I was also expecting a meditation experience, but it wasn’t available during my visit. If you’re planning to visit, be prepared to spend at least 2-3 hours to fully appreciate all the attractions. The garden is quite large, so wear comfortable shoes and be ready for some walking. On a positive note, the garden has started offering 7-day stay-in programs, which sound like a fantastic opportunity for a deeper immersion into Buddhist practices and teachings. I look forward to seeing how the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden continues to develop and hope to return in the future. Overall, it’s a peaceful and enriching place to visit, despite a few areas for improvement.
Vikassh Dalal (ThinkNext)Vikassh Dalal (ThinkNext)
50
The drive to this spot is absolutely beautiful. Upon entering the complex, you're greeted by grand and majestic statues. The temple itself exudes a serene atmosphere that's hard to believe exists so close to the GTA. You can easily spend a few hours here, and I highly recommend it. However, there are some areas that need improvement: 1. **Parking Fee Collection**: The parking fee is collected upon exiting, with no self-pay option available. This resulted in an excessively long exit line that took us 45 minutes to get through. The tranquility we felt in the temple quickly turned into frustration, especially as some unethical visitors tried to cut in line. This issue needs urgent attention and they should collect the fee at entrance when everyone will stop anyway for the ticket. 2. **Restaurant Service**: We visited the vegetarian restaurant under the temple. It took about 20 minutes to receive our food. Just as we started eating, a worker informed us that we needed to wrap up in 15 minutes so he could clean the tables, even though it was only 5 pm. Five minutes later, he returned to ask if we were done. We requested a few more minutes, but he came back after just three minutes and insisted we hand over our trays. We were not informed of this time constraint when we ordered, and he did not even allow us the full 15 minutes. We ended up having to take our unfinished food and eat in the car. The overall experience at the spot is wonderful. But the issues mentioned do detract from the experience.
Cimarron DriveCimarron Drive
10
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
708 Ski Hill Rd, Cavan-Monaghan, ON L0A 1A0, Canada
Map
Phone
+1 647-812-3878
Call
Website
thebuddhistgarden.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(540 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
attractions: , restaurants:
- Please manually select your location for better experience