斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)山風(feng)景區位(wei)于大別山南(nan)麓,浠英羅三(san)縣交界處(chu),亦(yi)稱斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)禪(chan)(chan)林,建(jian)(jian)在斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)山上,最初(chu)由后唐同光元年(nian)(923)無著禪(chan)(chan)師(shi)(shi)建(jian)(jian)造,北(bei)宋時佛印禪(chan)(chan)師(shi)(shi)駐錫傳經,元遭兵毀(hui)。明洪武重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),規模宏(hong)大,僧(seng)弟(di)(di)子數(shu)百人云集山上,盛極一時。建(jian)(jian)國初(chu),寺(si)廟僅存上斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)三(san)重(zhong)殿(dian)(dian)堂,上殿(dian)(dian)梁、柱皆石(shi)結構,石(shi)柱八(ba)根,高4.6米(mi),柱圍2.2米(mi),建(jian)(jian)筑牢固,造型(xing)壯(zhuang)觀,工程巨大。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)有(you)月臺(tai)式場(chang)地(di)(di),場(chang)前(qian)有(you)石(shi)質臺(tai)階。中(zhong)殿(dian)(dian)和(he)下殿(dian)(dian)為青磚結構,亦(yi)有(you)石(shi)柱八(ba)根,殿(dian)(dian)內有(you)石(shi)質佛龕。近(jin)年(nian)來,香港(gang)印靜法師(shi)(shi)會(hui)同香港(gang)佛門(men)弟(di)(di)子捐資千萬元修復斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si),中(zhong)國佛教協會(hui)咨議(yi)委員會(hui)副(fu)主(zhu)席、當今禪(chan)(chan)宗大德(de)高僧(seng)本煥大法師(shi)(shi)任斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si)方(fang)丈。重(zhong)修后的(de)斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si)于1998年(nian)11月16日正式對游人開放(fang)。斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)山多石(shi)洞怪石(shi),相傳八(ba)卦洞右側的(de)石(shi)樓,是(shi)乾隆進士范思皇(huang)讀書和(he)倡"三(san)教"(道、佛、儒)之所。斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)山是(shi)佛教圣地(di)(di),也是(shi)觀光游覽的(de)好去處(chu)。
斗(dou)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)因山(shan)(shan)(shan)形斗(dou)方(fang)而得名,不(bu)僅是(shi)一座歷(li)史悠(you)久的(de)佛教名山(shan)(shan)(shan)且諸峰羅列,氣勢(shi)雄(xiong)偉,山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)四千畝林(lin)(lin)木(mu)郁(yu)郁(yu)蔥蔥,花草斗(dou)艷,四季春色,風光(guang)秀麗,氣候宜人。山(shan)(shan)(shan)南側,奇(qi)(qi)(qi)石(shi)(shi)林(lin)(lin)立(li),千姿(zi)百(bai)態(tai),因形狀物, 如生,更有(you)洞府遍布,歷(li)來為游人所神往。山(shan)(shan)(shan)東側的(de)“舍利(li)寶塔”建于北宋(song)時期,紅沙石(shi)(shi)質,單件各幅(fu),行如立(li)鼓,小巧玲瓏,被(bei)載入《中(zhong)國寶塔名勝(sheng)大(da)辭典(dian)》。斗(dou)方(fang)寺(si)古(gu)殿(dian)為一色的(de)花崗石(shi)(shi)建筑,石(shi)(shi)梁、石(shi)(shi)竹、石(shi)(shi)墩、石(shi)(shi)架(jia)、石(shi)(shi)墻貫斗(dou),上刻蟠龍花紋,工(gong)精形肖,勢(shi)態(tai)宏偉壯觀,富有(you)濃厚的(de)傳奇(qi)(qi)(qi)色彩,是(shi)省級重點保護單位。山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)還有(you)摹(mo)巖刻字十多處,歷(li)代文(wen)(wen)人騷客留(liu)下的(de)詩文(wen)(wen)上百(bai)篇(pian),傳奇(qi)(qi)(qi)故事數百(bai)個,潛在著豐富的(de)旅游資源。