Page 291 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

DURBAN  289

A strict dress code is enforced,
and shoes must be removed
before entering the building.
Y Durban Botanic Gardens
John Zikhale Rd. Tel 031 322
4021. Open 7:30am–5:15pm
Apr–Sep; 7:30am–5:45pm Sep–
Apr. 7 - ∑ durbanbotanic
gardens.org.za
Located near the Greyville
Racecourse, these attractive
gardens were established
in 1849 as an experimental
station for tropical crops. The Hare Krishna Temple of Understanding in Chatsworth
The spectacular cycad and
palm collection on the 15-ha Other attractions include a face encounter with some
(38-acre) property is one of the sensory garden, a Victorian of the 700 birds. Among the
largest of its kind in the world. sunken garden, an orchid 180 resident species are rare
It includes several rare species, house and an ornamental lake exotic parrots, toucans, cranes,
such as a male Encepha lartos with ducks. Music by the Lake macaws and hornbills.
woodii from the Ngoye forest, (www.musicatthelake.co.za) is Entertaining bird shows are
which was successfully a series of Sunday afternoon held every day (except
transplanted in 1916. Among the concerts (May–Aug), when Mondays) at 11am and 2pm.
garden’s 480 tree species are the Durbanites relax on the lawns
oldest jacaran das in South Africa, with a picnic. Hare Krishna Temple of
brought here from Argentina. Understanding
O Umgeni River Bird Park Bhaktiveedante Swami Rd,
490 Riverside Rd, 16 km (10 miles) Chatsworth. Tel 031 403-3328.
north of Durban off the M4. Open 10am–1pm, 2–8pm daily.
Tel 031 579 4600. Open 9am–5pm 8 0
daily. Closed 25 Dec. & - 7 This large, ornate temple of
∑ urbp.co.za the International Society for
Bordered on three sides by Krishna Consciousness was
steep cliffs, and overlooking designed by the Austrian
the north bank of the Umgeni architect Hannes Raudner.
River, 2 km (1 mile) from its It is encircled by a moat and
mouth, the Umgeni River Bird a garden laid out in the shape
Park enjoys a superb location. of a lotus flower.
Four waterfalls cascade down The daily guided tours take
the cliffs into ponds fringed by in the awe-inspiring marble
palms and lush vegetation. temple room and the inner
Durban’s Botanic Gardens are the perfect The four large walk-through sanctuary, and there is also a
setting for a picnic aviaries allow visitors a face-to- good vegetarian restaurant.
The Hindu Population of Durban
When the first sugar was produced from sugar cane in
1851, the Natal Colony experienced a major economic boom.
Cheap labour was required to work in the planta tions, and
the colony entered into negotiations with the colonial
government in India. Between 1860 and 1911, a total of 152,000
indentured labourers were shipped to Durban from Madras
and Calcutta. Tamil and Hindi were the main languages
spoken. At the end of their five-year contracts, the workers
were offered a free passage back to India. More than half of them
opted to remain in South Africa, and became active as retailers
and vegetable farmers; in later years many entered commerce,
industry and politics. Of the current population of 900,000
(the largest Indian community outside Asia), an estimated
50 per cent are Hindu. Diwali is their most important festival,
and begins with the lighting of a lamp for the Goddess of Statue of Bhaktivedanta Swami
Light, symbolizing the conquest of good over evil. Prabhupada, a respected religious teacher

288-289_EW_South_Africa.indd 289 25/05/17 12:00 pm