Similar to other reviews, my visit to Skogskyrkogården or the Woodland Cemetery in Southern Stockholm was surprisingly enjoyable. When I reached the T-Bana station I also surprised the pronunciation of this place similar to Ian Cade did, and when I arrived the main entrance, I really surprised again for the landscape design that totally different with other cemeteries. The entrance pathway dictates every eye sight to the big granite cross and the crematorium. And when my eye at the crematorium I saw smoke come up, a sign of cremation took place. Since I saw smoke, I decided to change my intention to the mediation grove which was located on the right hill of the whole landscape. As I visit in early springtime, all trees were leafless and quite spooky; however, the grove was really amazing. I was really admired the architect for this genius landscape design, simple but easily inspired for spiritual meditation. After the meditation grove I went to see some part of the real cemetery, all the grave sites were well organized in the pine forest.
Actually, I planned to visit the famous Woodland Chapel, but I saw some ceremony in the area, so I decided to walk back to the Crematorium to see the building, the lotus pond and the big cross. The building looked very modern and functional; the view was also stunning especially toward the meditation grove. Overall Skogskyrkogården was really a masterpiece of landscape design, and I hardly believed that this place was a cemetery, but a great public park that nice for picnic. Another highlight was the big cross, it was a very simple cross but really special that it made the landscape to be not to vast or empty. Skogskyrkogården, in my opinion, was the best World Heritage Site in Stockholm area; it was also a place to understand the contemporary Nordic landscape design which cannot be found in other World Heritage Sites of Scandinavia.