Baha'i Gardens

With every tree trimmed to perfection and every blade of grass seemingly cut to the exact same height, the 18 terraces of the Baha'i Gardens are truly a sight to behold.

The gardens are one of the two great holy places for members of the Baha'i faith, an independent movement that originated in Persia in the middle of the 19th century. The Baha'i are based in the area because the faith's founder, Baha'ullah spent 25 years imprisoned in nearby Akko.

The Baha'i faith is one of the world's youngest religions, established only in the middle of the 19th century. Its central belief is in equality and unity, and it clings to the notion that many prophets have appeared throughout history, including the likes of Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Jesus and Shakyamuni Buddha.

The origins of the faith can be traced back to one Ali-Muhammad (1819-50), a native of Shiraz, Iran. In 1844 Ali declared that he was the 'Promised One', manifestation of the God and 'the Bab' (Gate) through which prophecies would be told. The charismatic Ali gathered up followers (called Babis) but was later arrested for heretical teachings and executed by firing squad in Tabriz.

One prophecy of the Bab included the coming of 'one whom God would make manifest.' In 1866, a Babi named Mizra Hussein Ali proclaimed that he was this Messianic figure and assumed the title of Baha'ullah, having received divine inspiration while imprisoned in Tehran's infamous Black Pit.

As with the Bab, Baha'ullah's declarations were unwelcome in Persia and he was expelled first to Baghdad, and then Constantinople, Adrianople and finally the penal colony of Akko. Sitting in his cell in Akko he dedicated himself to laying down the tenets of a new faith, the Baha'i, which comes from the Arabic word baha (glory).

Among his writings, Baha'ullah stated that one could not be born a Baha'i; at the age of 15, a person chooses whether or not they want to be Baha'i. He also spoke of gender equality, the oneness of mankind, world peace, the need for universal compulsory education and harmony between religion and the sciences.

Baha'i now claim an estimated six million followers in more than 75 countries. Only a handful permanently resides in Israel as the Baha'ullah declared such an act to be sacrilegious. There are around 700 volunteers who come from abroad to serve in the World Centre (the Baha'i governing seat). Tradition dictates that once in their life a Baha'i must make a pilgrimage to Haifa to walk up the 1400 steps of the Baha'i Gardens.

Baha'ullah visited Mt Carmel four times and announced to his son that this would be the final resting place for the remains of the Bab (Gate), his spiritual predecessor who died in Persia 1850.

The remains were brought to Haifa in 1909 and interred into the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab (09:00-noon), which combines the style and proportions of European architecture with designs inspired by the Orient. Truly an international building, it was designed by a Canadian architect and built with Italian stone and Dutch tiles.

The tomb, completed in 1953, is considered one of the two most sacred sites for the world's six million Baha'is (the other is the tomb of Mizra Hussein Ali outside nearby Akko). Visitors to the shrine must remove their shoes and be modestly dressed (no shorts or bare shoulders).

Higher up the hill, behind the shrine, stands the Universal House of Justice, an impressive, classically styled pseudo-temple that also belongs to the Baha'i but is closed to the public.

While the lower gardens were built in the 1960s, the construction of the upper gardens was made between 1987 and 2001, at a price tag of US$250 million. Pilgrims solemnly tread uphill, soothed by the sounds of the lapping water as it flows past the steps. The 18 terraces have a distinctly European feel, with wrought iron gates opening up to stone balustrades, sculptures, fountains and impossibly steep walls of grass. One hundred full-time gardeners are on hand to maintain the site.

The Baha'i Gardens are accessible to the general public only on guided tours, which must be prebooked well in advance. Meet at the appointed time at Ye'fe Nof St at the top of the garden (and a little down to the left, look for the sign). Baha'i pilgrims, however, can organise individual entry.