February 2000

SANCTUARY

Mauritius' Spiritual Park

On an island jewel sequestered 500 miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, an outdoor sanctuary of rare beauty and remarkable, massive granite icons opens to visitors

In the northeastern coast of the multicultural island-country of Mauritius, a remarkable Hindu pilgrimage destination has arisen. It is the "Spiritual Park--Where River Meets the Sea," and it was officially opened to pilgrims and the public on September 14, 1999. Nestled into the exquisitely landscaped property are painstakingly crafted open-air buildings for worship, meditation, music and religious education. The rare treasures of the Park, however, are the awesome eight-foot-tall stone murtis, icons of Hindu Deities, that were hand-carved in Mahabalipuram, India.