�� This rich, beautiful book takes readers from the mountains of Kashmir to a repurposed castle in the west of Ireland, as it tours the most magnificent sacred gardens in the world.
Elements from religious gardens - from labyrinths and grottos to monastic herb gardens and geometrical patterns - have long been familiar in garden design, as has the tradition of seeking spiritual enlightenment through nature. But this book takes the reader straight to the source, showcasing�� the best gardens designed and informed directly by religious and spiritual teachings.
These include functional gardens created by monks for sanctuary, medicine and food; the sacred bathing pools of Tirta Gangga in Bali; and thekare-sansui garden at Ryōan-ji, informed by Zen Buddhism. Many are ancient sites full of myth, others have been lovingly restored from ruin, and some have been�� newly created in recent years in a bid to get closer to the Divine, through traditional religion or the worship of nature itself.

Earthly Utopias visits cathedrals, monasteries, and ruined abbeys; temples, mausoleums, and shrines; forests, islands, and deserts, in search of these sacred gardens. And each one serves as a prime example of how�� religion, philosophy, and spirituality can inform and inspire beautiful garden design.