Bahai Temple Uganda
Bahai Temple Uganda is found on Kikaya Hill, 7 kilometres from Kampala city center has been hailed as one of the wonders of Africa. The Temple interests many visitors not only because of its rare and unique architectural design but also the beautiful natural environment in which it stands out majestically above other features. The Temple is usually part of the menu on a 1-day Kampala City Tour, that also has several other attractions in the city. A Kampala tour is among the different 1 day tours in Uganda that we offer.
Bahai Temple can be seen from any of Kampala’s prominent Hills. Bahai temple stands with over 130 feet high with a pointed tip at the very top. This house of worship exudes a regal magnificent presence that can be perceived as a naturally placed on the hill at the beginning of the universe. A walk to the rare and beautiful site makes one’s travel worth a tour.
The Bahai Temple’s guides are available to guide you on your maiden visit at the Bahá’í center, whether you have come as a tourist, for a family picnic, or a casual visit. Seeing as the Bahá’í temple is so exquisitely constructed, the urge to enter and discover what it is like inside is inevitable. The temple gardens are to the public but strict Bahai set principles like the use of loud music, picking of flowers, immoral behavior, drinking of alcoholic beverages and use of intoxicating drugs must be observed since Baha’ullah, the founder of Bahai faith, strongly wrote against them.
Baha’u’llah, in his writings says, heaven and hell are not places but states of being reached when someone does something good and bad. To the Bahai, heaven is the presence of spiritual qualities, while hell is the lack of these qualities, or imperfection.Visiting Uganda’s Bahai Temple is a self-designed pilgrimage that gives an insight of heavenly peace and comfort plus a feeling of God’s revelation. The multi-colored octagonal glass planes make up most of the over 100meter diameter of the gigantic building.
The Temple Design
The brownish blue and chocolate ceramics on the floor and the rest of the walls mix with the green roofing to create an image that looks natural in the green and multi-colored flowers that surround the Bahá’í Temple.Perched on the hill’s crest, Bahai Temple gives scenic view that manifests harmony and joy. Arranged in rows, the exuberant flowerbeds spread out to form columns of gardens that widen from top to the foothill. It is a constant reminder of the proclaimed Christian imagery of the narrow path to heaven’s gate. The peace and quite in the lush gardens beckons hundreds to always travel to Africa’s only Bahai Temple. Each continent has got only one Bahai Temple and the decision to locate it here, turned Uganda into Africa’s spiritual heart for the Bahai.
The architectural design of the Bahai Temple in Uganda is not merely a marvel to visitors and people who catch sight of it from a distance but also a spiritual vision. The nine doors that stand open during prayer and sessions of meditation speak of the all-embracing nature of God. All are to usher in people to meet and adore God under this dome that symbolizes His divine uniting force. Built in harmony with the Bahai principles, the 124 feet high and 44 feet diameter temple has because green conical dome shape.
Tourists in thousands on their holidays always go to this place for picnic, lounge and gracefully walk around the peaceful gardens hours, the tourists constantly return as if seeking spiritual refuge from this mystical world marred by inhuman antics like savagery, immorality, prejudice, hatred and jealousy. In the evenings, the delightful songs of the birds charm the lounging tourists and visitors in the garden. Like a choir of angels, they sweetly sing proclaiming the glorious destiny that awaits the human race
The Bahai Temple in Uganda, opened to the public on January 15, 1962 has nine big pillars and 27 smaller ones which support the temple up right. Different countries contributed various building materials as if to echo Baha’u’llah’s crusade for university. The green dome is made of tiny glazed mosaic tiles from Italy, while the lower roof tiles are from Belgium. The walls are of pre-cast stone quarried in Uganda. Steel and window frames and fittings are from Britain. The colored glass was brought from Germany. The timber used for making the doors and benches was got from within Uganda.
Where is Bahai Temple Located?
To reach where Bahai Temple is located, you move from Kampala City and take Gayaza Road. When you reach a place called Kanyanya, you turn on your right and drive like 1 kilometre to reach Kikaaya Hill. While in Kanyanya area, the temple is visibly seen directly since it is on a higher elevation.
Similar Tourist Site around Kampala
The Temple is usually visited by people on a Kampala City tour which entails going to various tourist sites in and around the capital city. These faith-based sites include Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine Namugongo, Bulange Mengo, the head offices of Buganda Kingdom and Gaddaffi National Mosque in Old Kampala area. Other are Kasubi Tombs, the burial ground for Buganda Kings, Namirembe Cathedral, Lubaga Church and Naggalabi Coronation Site in Buddo Wakiso district.