Drala Mountain Center, formerly the Shambhala Mountain Center, is a 600-acre retreat in the Colorado Rockies offering programs in meditation, mindfulness, and the contemplative arts. It is home to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya.
Drala Mountain Center is located at 8,000 feet in the mountains above Fort Collins, Colorado (about two hours northwest of Denver near Red Feather Lakes).
Set amid a tranquil, wooded landscape, it is one of Colorado’s most popular retreat destinations, offering a serene environment that fosters deep relaxation and spiritual renewal.
The center was founded in 1971 by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who brought Shambhala teachings to the West.
Shambhala Training is a meditation discipline that helps to develop fearlessness, confidence, openness, and gentleness. At Drala, the training path begins with a series of Heart of Warriorship weekends that help to establish a personal meditation practice. Each program includes meditation instruction, Shambhala teachings, group discussions, and individual interviews.
In addition to Shambhala Training, the center offers a wide variety of meditation, yoga, and mindfulness programs and retreats. Seekers of all faiths are welcomed as either day guests or for overnight retreats.
The Great Stupa
At the heart of Drala Mountain Center is the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a striking spiritual landmark that stands 108 feet tall. As one of the most significant examples of sacred Buddhist architecture in North America, it was built to honor Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Construction began in 1988 and continues to this day, though the primary construction phase occurred over a 13-year period, with work done primarily by volunteer laborers and craftspeople.
My husband Bob and I toured Drala Mountain Center as day visitors. When we asked about seeing its magnificent stupa, we were told that while we could drive to the shrine, it was much better to approach it on foot. The recommendation was a good one, for walking the mile-and-a-half, winding trail marked with prayer flags turned our visit into a mini-pilgrimage.
The stupa itself is a remarkable piece of architecture. Nestled in a mountain valley and surrounded by pine forests, it is formed from concrete that is built to last for a thousand years. Its exterior and interior are filled with exquisite paintings, decorations, and symbolic features.
In Buddhism, stupas are landmarks designed to promote harmony and confer blessings. Traditionally, pilgrims walk the perimeter of a stupa in a clockwise fashion, an action said to confer merit. The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya is unusual in that it is open to all pilgrims (at least its lowest floor—the two upper levels are reserved for authorized students).
The stupa itself conveys a symbolic message, for its shape represents the Buddha seated in meditation. His crown is the top spire; his head the square at the spire’s base, his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.
To me the most stunning part of the stupa was the large, golden statue of the Buddha that sits in its main room, a figure surrounded by smaller altars containing relics and sacred objects. The overall effect is one of truly sacred space, hushed and filled with layer upon layer of symbolic meaning.
Such an amazing thing to find such a place in the middle of the Colorado mountains! This migration of religious traditions to places far from their original homeland can be a very good thing. It was wonderful to see how the seeds of the Tibetan diaspora bear fruit in unexpected and marvelous ways.
IF YOU GO: Overnight guests can choose from a range of accommodations, including dormitory-style rooms, single rooms with private baths, and tents during the summer months. Meals are included in the price of lodging.
The property includes meditation spaces, walking trails, and spaces for quiet reflection.
The center is open year-round, though accessibility may vary depending upon weather conditions. Day visitors are welcome between 9 am and sundown.
For more information see Drala Mountain Center.
Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of the Near the Exit: Travels With the Not-So-Grim Reaper and Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.
Share This!
