Nestled in the winding green hills of West Virginia, there is a gilded palace unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
It’s not a theme park, exactly, although it attracts many visitors. It’s more than a religious wonder or spiritual destination; it’s cultural, architectural, historical and international in its significance.
Considered one of the 30 most beautiful places to see in the USA and one of the top 8 religious wonders in the U.S., this place is located just 2.5 hours from Columbus and you can spend an entire day or more there.
Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold is an ornate structure featuring more than 50 types of marble, countless stained glass windows and crystal chandeliers, and more than 8,000 square feet of gold leaf. The palace was built in the 1970s as a home and retreat for the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Although the religious leader died before the palace could be finished, his disciples continued their work and completed the magnificent structure in 1979. They also expanded the grounds into an entire community complex known as New Vrindaban, named after Vrindiban, India, where Prabhupada was from.
New Vrindaban is a peaceful and intentional spiritual community in the foothills of Appalachia. The community includes the palace, resident housing, a temple, a lodge, two vegetarian restaurants, rentable cabins, two gift shops, multiple lakes, an award-winning rose garden, a lotus pond with peacocks and swans, and even a cow sanctuary.
The New Vrindaban palace and community are a tourism draw and pilgrimage destination for thousands of Krishnas and Hindus each year, and I can see why – it’s truly a gorgeous, peaceful and meaningful place to visit and pay respects.
While admission to the inside of the Palace of Gold costs $12 and includes a short tour, you can walk around the entire grounds, the exterior of the palace and even visit the temple for free. There are festivals and special events throughout the year, so it makes sense to check the website before you plan a visit.
Also, don’t miss the gift shop near the temple: called Matchless Gifts, it offers goods, decor, clothing and other exotic souvenirs from India. My bestie said the prices cannot be beat anywhere in this country. We both left with little shopping bags full of treasures from our day in New Vrindaban! We also enjoyed a truly delicious vegetarian meal at Govinda’s Express, a cafe just outside the temple and gift shop.
I cannot wait to go back and I’d love to spend a night in one of the darling little cabins along the lakeside. We didn’t visit the cow sanctuary to pet and milk the cows, so that’s top on my list for my next visit as well. I just love that such a gorgeously ornate palace and robust spiritual community have grown up in the hills of Moundsville, WV – it’s as unusual and odd as it is magnificent and marvelous.
If you’re interested in learning more about other religions and cultures in beautiful, serene surroundings, then visiting the Palace of Gold should be on your summer bucket list.
