Overview
The visitor center provides information about Lake Shrine and are there to answer any questions. There are rushing waterfalls, fountains, colorful flower beds, inspirational statues, white swans gliding across the lake, lacy fern grottos, lily ponds, and even a picturesque, old Dutch windmill which is used as a chapel. To the left of the entrance is a small Court of Religions, honoring five principal religions of the world, that displays the symbols of these religions: a cross for Christianity, a Star of David for Judaism, a Wheel of Law for Buddhism, a crescent moon & star for Islam, and the Aum symbol for Hinduism. Yogananda believed in an underlying harmony of all faiths that unites us all. Along with a few statues of Krishna and other Hindu deities, there is also a life-size statue of Jesus Christ, above the large waterfall, as well as Saint Francis of Assisi and the Madonna and Child.
One noticeable landmark here is the huge golden lotus archway, a towering, sleek, white arch trimmed with blue tile, and topped with enormous gold lotus blossoms, which is visible from all parts of the grounds. The archway frames the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, an outdoor shrine where an authentic 1,000 year-old Chinese stone sarcophagus holds a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi himself.
The gardens are filled with numerous little brick paths and short stairways which lead from the main trail to hidden alcoves where meditation or simply sitting and taking in the view is possible. There is a gift shop featuring arts and crafts from India which is adjacent to a museum focusing on Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of Lake Shrine. There is a quaint Dutch windmill converted into a chapel, a houseboat, a bookstore and a newly built temple sitting on a hilltop overlooking the lake.
Read more about this topic: Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine