Bahá’i Holy Places

The World Heritage inscription of the Baha’i Holy Places emphasizes their deep spiritual value and the tradition of pilgrimage in the Baha’i faith. I am not convinced that it counts as Outstanding Universal Value, but the two main compounds mentioned on the inscription, one in the center of Haifa and one on the outskirts of Acre, also happen to be fine examples of formal gardening, which makes at least the one in Haifa a nearly must-see on any itinerary in Israel. I stopped by both in November 2019.

My expectations for a visit to the Haifa’s Baha’i Gardens included the key assumption that I would be able to enjoy walking in the gardens on my own – and although I had sufficient number of warnings from the interwebs and from my Israeli relatives that that was not the case, it came as a huge disappointment when I finally realized that I could not do that.

Baha’i Gardens in Haifa sit on a steep side of a mountain. The central part surrounding Shrine of Bab is open to visitors from 9am to 12noon daily, and there you can experience some of the gardens first-hand. You can access the shrine’s interior as long as you do not photograph anything therein (somewhat uniquely, the guard at the entrance demanded that I physically cover the lenses of my camera with a cap before coming in). It should be said that there is nothing of specific note to photograph inside the shrine anyway; …

I will add nothing new with my review: This place is shiny and monumental, but it is only a sterile tourist trap. I did half a day trip to Haifa from Tel Aviv 3 years ago, and was very disappointed. Not only by the temple but also by the city of Haifa. Only positive thing I would like to stress was the magnificent view from the site towards the bay of Haifa, and a delicate atmosphere inside the shrine (at the entrance to the shrine, which si the most important place of this religion, a guide - handsome guy - told me the basic data about the religion and other useful information). Nevertheless, I would rather stay in Tel Aviv anyway. Only reason for me to visit Haifa again in the future would be the stay at the world-famous Technion Institute located furher uphill...

WHS#53

I visited Haifa on the way to the Galilee in April 2018, and obviously, I had to check out the Bahai Gardens the city is best known for. With a private driver-guide, I was able to see the gardens and the Shrine of Bab both from above and from below. Needless to say, it's a stunning sight to see, and there isn't really any place like this in the world. The gardens show some influence from Persia, where the religion was actually founded, but without the Islamic elements. The Shrine of Bahaullah in Acre seems to also have the same style. Part of the reason it looks so great and shining and pristine, however, is the reason why it might not be a very worthy WHS. The Shrine of Bab was completed in 1953, 55 years before it was inscribed, and the gardens only in 2001, 7 years before inscription. It is clearly a modern site, and although it has huge religious significance, doesn't actually have historic value. Sure, the many serial sites that trace the journey of the Bahai religion's proponents do have a history as an itinerary, but I'd think the sites in Iran and elsewhere should hold the same significance. The sites here in the Galilee are simply pilgrimage sites due to significant figures of the religion being buried here, but they aren't any different from the countless pilgrimage sites in Europe and the Holy Land. The shrine and its gardens make great tourist attractions, …

I have visited the Baha'i Holy Places twice now, and both times I've had limited access to the gardens in Haifa. Really just bad luck. 

The gardens are beautiful and are one of the top attractions for tourists visiting Haifa. At the top of the gardens, you get a great view of the entire city and the harbor. 

The view from the bottom of the gardens at night is spectacular and it is a great place to eat in the evening as well. 

Make sure to check before you arrive as to the operating hours of the garden and if there are any holy days or other special events going on. On my first trip I could only take photos through the gate. On my second trip, I could only visit a limited part of the garden. 

I visited the gardens and shrine in Haifa and I agree with the reviews below: There is a great view over the Haifa bay and the place itself looks spectacular, but I cannot see any OUV there.

In summary: it is a tourist trap, I can see reason of inscription only to attract the tourist for visiting of Haifa, that is perfectly located but do not offer anything that can be called as a world class site.

We had intended trying to fit in several of the 11 locations at Haifa and Akko within this inscription but, in the end, time constraints limited us to the North Slope of Mt Carmel and its structures - or such as non-believers are allowed to see/enter!! So this means the Terrace Gardens and external views of the Shrine of the Bab together with the “Arc” of administrative buildings which are situated next to the terraces (The Seat of the Universal House of Justice, Seat of the International Teaching Centre, the International Archives and the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts).

The Terraces were built as recently as 1990-2001 whilst the Arc buildings date to the 1950s through to the 1980s. The shrine itself dates back to an original “simple” building from 1899-1909 but was given its current grandiose appearance with gold dome and Corinthian columns between 1948/53. There is no doubt that the terraces are “impressive” for their grandiosity, climbing some 225 metres in 1 km, particularly when seen from the bottom (at top end of Ben Guirion St, Haifa’s - main restaurant area). Having seen them from the bottom in the evening (visitors are allowed to ascend just to the first “balcony”) we went to the top the next day and planned to take the noon English tour down through the gardens. There you can again freely descend to the first “balcony” without taking a “tour”. The view from the top over Haifa is fine but …

I had bad luck with my visit to Baha'i gardens and the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa. Gardens are closed if it's rainy day (because the stairs are really slippery when they're wet) and it was raining every morning of my stay so the gardens stayed closed. The shrine was also under construction so the site wasn't that impressing looking.

In my visit to Akko I took the local bus to Bahje house and the Baha'i gardens around it. The house, which was the home of Baha'ullah, is open only in the morning (for Baha'is it's always open) so it was closed when I visited it in the afternoon. You get the see the gardens outside which were very clean and straight like the ones in Haifa. Doorman at the gate gives you an information leaflet in your own language (he said they have it in every language, I doubt it). The Bahje house looks like any other Mediterranean mansion built in the 1800s. More interesting was to watch the pilgrims going to see the holiest place of their religion. I think that if you like gardens this place is worth of visit, by bus it was only 10 minutes from Akko.

I only visited the most famous part of this complex: the Shrine of the Bab and the Persian gardens which surround it (in Haifa). It is a peacefully, pretty place. The gardens are terraced, which makes them look neat from both above and below. A profusion of purple a green colours greet the visitor. The gardens are great, and make good use of the path in the artistic beauty, something not seen everywhere. The view from the gardens over Haifa, and the plains and mountains of Israel is one of the best views you will ever find in Israel.

On to the Shrine, which pales in comparison to the gardens. It is a nice, elegant building: but not spectacular, it would not top anyones list of most amazing buildings. However it is situated in the best possible spot in relation to the gardens. This makes a complete picture of loveliness. This site deserves its inscription on the World Heritage List mostly on its importance to the Baha'i Faith, not its architectural merit (although I think the garden could hold up to the best in the world).

This site however is quite easy to visit while one is in Israel. Israel is a small country, and Haifa is only 1 hour from Jerusalem, and less from Tel-Aviv. Israel is a wonderful country and I highly recommend a visit!!!!

The only Bahai site in Israel I've been to is the Bahai Temple in Haifa. It's situated atop the Carmel and overlooks the harbour and the German Colony. The gardens follow the "falling" type, meaning they literally cover the entire sloap of the mountain. You need to reserve a guided tour in which you get to hear about the Bahai faith. This is the only way to visit the site but these visits cost nothing. Disappointingly, you are only allowed to step downhill as stepping uphill is reserved for Bahai pilgrims.