New landscaping work now surrounds Holy Place with tranquil meadow

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — New landscaping work in the vicinity of the Mansion of Mazra‘ih has created quiet paths, orchards, and vistas that invite prayer and reflection, allowing visitors to experience the tranquil spirit long associated with this Holy Place.

The work extends the comprehensive and ongoing conservation project begun in 2020 and reveals the natural beauty that greeted Bahá’u’lláh when He first left the prison-city of ‘Akká in 1877.

“One of the approaches that was taken in designing the garden was investigating what it looked like when Bahá’u’lláh arrived at Mazra‘ih,” said Douglas Baker, a volunteer serving in the Gardens Department at the Bahá’í World Centre.

Mr. Baker explained that although original documentation was limited, the landscape design was conceived to be simple and contemplative and features plant species that would likely have been present during Bahá’u’lláh’s time.

The carefully planned elements contribute to a tranquil atmosphere. “The design has used trees and plants that are typical of this area, and in that way, visitors are able to feel at home in their environment, which contributes to their spiritual experience,” Mr. Baker noted.

While various native plant species were introduced to the site, such as evergreen trees and perennials accented with flowering and deciduous species, existing olive and mulberry trees were preserved.

Cypress and deciduous trees have now been planted along much of the perimeter of the property. Accessible pathways with hard surfacing ensure that all may experience the gardens, and thoughtfully placed benches provide spaces for prayer and rest.

The property is organized into distinct areas. To the west and east, formal gardens frame the approach to the Mansion; to the south and southeast, orange orchards connect the grounds to their agricultural heritage; and in areas surrounding the formal gardens, a landscaped meadow provides a large, open space for visitors to walk around and enjoy. Near the Mansion itself are a restored Ottoman period aqueduct, pool, and well.

The recent landscaping is only the beginning of the garden’s evolution, as many of the newly planted trees will take nearly twenty years to reach maturity. Yet the design ensures that its vistas and spaces will continually develop, fostering an ever-deepening sense of tranquility and spiritual renewal reminiscent of the countryside that Bahá’u’lláh beheld in 1877 after nine years of confinement within the walls of ‘Akká.

As the wider conservation program advances, the surroundings at Mazra‘ih will be ready for public use in due course, offering visitors a setting for quiet prayer amid nature’s calm.

“Mazra‘ih is remembered as a peaceful and tranquil place,” said Tjireya Tjitendero, a senior advisor to the Bahá’í International Community Secretariat. “Here one senses the simplicity of the countryside—the harmony of trees and light—that nourishes the soul.”