Baháʼí gardens

Baháʼí gardens can be found at Baháʼí Holy Places in Israel and elsewhere, and at Baháʼí Houses of Worship. Many Baháʼí holy places in Haifa and around Acre, Israel were inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2008.[1][2] Below a description of the most important gardens is given.

Gardens near the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh in Acre, Israel

In Haifa, Israel

Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb
The Terraces from above
Cactus garden near the Shrine of the Báb
The Arc gardens, behind the Shrine of the Báb
Main article: Terraces (Baháʼí)

The Terraces of the Baháʼí Faith, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. They are one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Israel. The architect is Fariborz Sahba from Iran, the structural engineers are Karban and Co. from Haifa.

Fariborz Sahba began work in 1987 designing the gardens and oversaw construction. The terraces were opened to the public in June 2001.[3] Beginning at its base, the gardens extend almost a kilometre up the side of Mount Carmel, covering some 200,000 square metres of land. The gardens are linked by a set of stairs flanked by twin streams of running water cascading down the mountainside through the steps and terrace bridges.[4]

The gardens have elements of the Persian gardens of Shiraz, Iran, the Nishat Bagh gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, India and English gardens,[5] isolating the site from the noise of the surroundings and connecting the different Baháʼí buildings on Mount Carmel together.[6]

In 2013, 917,031 tourists and 8,000 Baháʼí pilgrims visited the gardens.[7]

Arc and Monument Gardens

The Monument Gardens, set within the Arc gardens at the Baháʼí World Centre on Mount Carmel, are a set of gardens which hold the graves of some of the members of the Baháʼí holy family.

Near Acre, In Israel

Gardens of Bahjí
Main articles: Bahjí and Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh
Baháʼí gardens at Bahjí

The Mansion of Bahjí (Arabic: delight) is a summer house near Acre, Israel, where Baháʼu'lláh, founder of the Baháʼí Faith died in 1892. His shrine is located next to this house. The whole area was called Al-Bahjá (Place of Delight). The site has since been beautified with paradise gardens, which are called Haram-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Precincts or Sanctuary) and are intersected by a circular path which serves to circumambulate the shrine. The Mansion, shrine, and surrounding gardens are among the most sacred spots on earth for Baháʼís and are Baháʼí pilgrimage sites.[8][9]

Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh with tree-filled indoor garden

The Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh is composed of a central area that contains a small, tree-filled garden surrounded by paths covered with Persian rugs.[10][11] A glass roof was constructed by Qulám-ʻAlíy-i-Najjár after the death of Baháʼu'lláh.[12] At the northwest corner of the central area there is a small room where Baháʼu'lláh's remains are laid to rest.[13][14]

Garden of Ridván
Garden of Ridván, Akká

The Garden of Ridván (lit. garden of paradise) is a Baháʼí holy place situated just outside Acre. Originally known as the 'garden of Naʻmayn', it was rented by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (Baháʼu'lláh's son) for Baháʼu'lláh where he enjoyed spending the later part of his life, after years in a desolate prison cell. Although it shares the same name it does not have the same significance of the Garden of Ridván in Baghdad and no connection to the festival of Ridván.

During the 1930s and 1940s the island setting of the garden disappeared, as a result of a draining project against malaria. In 2010 a three-year restoration and conservation project of the garden and the original water canals surrounding it was completed, after which the Ridvan Garden, referred to by Baháʼu'lláh as 'Our Verdant Isle', became an island once again.[15]

Near Baghdad, Iraq

Garden of Ridván
Garden of Ridván, Baghdad
Main article: Garden of Ridván, Baghdad

The Garden of Ridván or Najibiyyih Garden[16] was a wooded garden in what is now Baghdad's Rusafa District, on the banks of the Tigris river. It is notable as the location where Baháʼu'lláh stayed for twelve days from April 21 to May 2, 1863, after the Ottoman Empire exiled him from Baghdad and before commencing his journey to Constantinople. During his stay in this garden, Baháʼu'lláh announced to his followers that he was the messianic figure whose coming had been foretold by the Báb. These events are celebrated annually during the Festival of Ridván.[16]

At Baháʼí Houses of Worship
Main article: Baháʼí House of Worship

Baháʼí House of Worship, sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of Mas͟hriqu'l-Ad͟hkár ("Dawning-place of the remembrance of God"),[17] is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Baháʼí Faith. All Baháʼí temples are surrounded by gardens.

References
  1. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2008-07-08). "Three new sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List". Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  2. World Heritage Committee (2007-07-02). "Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage" (PDF). p. 34. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. Momen, Moojan (2009). "Baháʼí World Center". Baháʼí Encyclopedia Project. Evanston, IL: National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States.
  4. Gardens of Worship: Recreating Eden (season 3, episode 30, 2006) Archived 2012-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Design Features of the Terraced Gardens on Mount Carmel
  6. Yael Hammerman: Distinctive Design of the Baháʼí Gardens
  7. Kreiner, Noga Collins; Shmueli, Deborah F.; Gal, Michal Ben. "Understanding conflicts at religious-tourism sites: The Baha'i World Center, Israel". Tourism Management Perspectives. 16: 230. ISSN 2211-9736.
  8. Smith 2000, pp. 87–89
  9. Balyuzi 2000, p. 362
  10. National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (January 1966). "Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh". Baháʼí News (418): 4. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
  11. Viswanathan, G. M. (1994-07-24). "Baháʼí Aesthetics of the Sacred". bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
  12. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1915). Memorials of the Faithful. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust (published 1997). p. 144. ISBN 0-87743-242-2.
  13. Manvell, Christ (November 1996). "Visits to the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh and Meeting with the members of the Universal House of Justice". bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
  14. For pictures of the central room and the inner shrine, see The Baháʼí World, Vol III, p. 5 and 11.
  15. BWNS: Holy place restoration sheds light on region's heritage 29 October 2010.
  16. Walbridge, John (2005). "Ridvan". Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-406-9.
  17. Smith, Peter (2000). "Mashriqu'l-Adhkhár". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 235. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
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