In 1909 Bahaullah's eldest son built the Shrine of the Bab, just opposite Bahji on Haifa Bay. The 19 terraces rise to an altitude of more than 700 feet above sea level, at angles of up to 60 degrees, and a width spanning more than 1,300 feet. Manicured strips of grass, stone steps and fountains merge gradually into a landscape of aromatic Mediterranean plants like lavender and rosemary, and finally to forest and wildlife corridors. Coinciding with the gardens, new administrative offices and archives of the Baha'i World Center also were developed. But the structures were built into the hillsides, and even underground, in an ingenious effort to minimize the visual impact of the construction on the terraces.
Visitors sit on Persian rugs in silent prayer and meditation.
A study commissioned by the municipality estimated that some 1.2 million tourists may visit the project in its first year. It was financed by the many sacrificial contributions of Baha'i followers from around the world, people from the deep jungles of Malaysia and from the islands of Papua New Guinea. Some people went to prison, or into exile, because they dared to contribute a donation. Albert Lincoln, secretary general of the Baha'i International Community, said the real message of the gardens isn't tourism, landscapes or even religion. This is a story about the way the human spirit is expressed through concrete realizations.