New Vrindaban: Appalachia's Surprising History With Hare Krishna

Among West Virginia’s many iconic landmarks, ranging from the State’s Capitol to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, one stands out quite distinctly from the rest. Located in Marshall County, West Virginia, the small community of New Vrindaban is situated near the quaint city of Moundsville. There, the grandiose Palace of Gold lies, its golden arches gleaming in the light of the hills. The unique history of the structure is unlike any other in all of Appalachia, and in a state where less than one percent of the population is of Asian descent, it has managed to cement itself as a staple of the state's many tourist attractions.

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban, West Virginia [Source: Mountaineer Media]

In 1966, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON) was founded by Srila Prabhupada, a 70-year-old monk from Calcutta, India. ISKCON served as an extension of the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement, which was centered around Krishna, one of the most beloved and revered deities in Hinduism. Prabhupada’s specific mission was to spread knowledge of Krishna throughout the West, beginning in America. With just 40 Indian rupees and his incredibly deep devotion, he began his missionary work in New York City’s Tompkins Square Park. The movement resonated with many in the United States due to its removal of a materialistic society, which many people, especially those within the booming “hippie” scene of the 1960s, had become disillusioned with. Hare Krishna began to grow quickly, reaching thousands of youths from coast to coast. Its rapid rise in popularity was evident by its slew of high-profile supporters, including George Harrison of The Beatles and American writer Allen Ginsberg.

West Virginia’s connection to the Hare Krishna movement was during its early days. In 1968, two devotees, Kirtanananda Swami and Hayagriva Das, collaborated with Srila Prabhupada to establish the first ISKCON community on a 133-acre plot in Marshall County, West Virginia. Named after the sacred Indian city of Vrindavan, New Vrindaban quickly grew into a thriving commune that preached the ideals of ISKCON. Over the next 15 years, it grew over 2,000 acres and developed numerous facilities, including the Varnashram College and Govinda’s Restaurant. Most well-known perhaps was the Palace of Gold in 1979, originally intended to be a guesthouse for Prabhupada. Though the community had no formal construction education, devotees learned necessary skills through experience, creating the stunning Palace admired for its dazzling interior and exterior. After Prabhupada’s passing, the Palace was converted into a temple complex, drawing visitors from all over the globe. By the 1980s, New Vrindaban was officially recognized by the state of West Virginia as an unincorporated town and continued to flourish until the latter half of the decade.

Srila Prabhupada visits New Vrindaban in 1969 [Source: Godhead]

By the late 1980s, the town faced significant challenges, mostly stemming from major authorities deviating from the core teachings of Hare Krishna. These internal issues led to New Vrindaban’s removal from ISKCON, causing the exodus of hundreds of devotees. Despite its fragmented state, a dedicated group of followers remained committed to rebuilding. With support from organizations like ECO-Vrindaban and the Rupanuga Vedic College, a part of the Kansas City Hare Krishna community, revitalization began shortly after during the early 1990s. In 1998, ISKCON officially accepted New Vrindaban back into its society, where it has continued its legacy as one of the most impactful ISKCON communities in the movement’s short history. Now, it stands as one of the most prominent South Asian landmarks in not just Appalachia, but the world as a whole.

The story of New Vrindaban doesn’t end there though. Since creating the Palace Restoration Committee in 2010, there is an ongoing effort in the Moundsville region to bring the Palace of Gold back to what it once was. Let’s do our duty, and ensure South Asian culture is seen in the broader narratives of Appalachia by bringing awareness to this beautiful site.

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Prabhupada's Palace of Gold

Vic Chen