Kincardine residents enjoy peaceful spiritual retreat in Appalachian valleys of West Virginia

A temple is likely the last thing you would expect to find in the hills of Moundsville, West Virginia, the ‘Mountain State’ widely known for its forests and coal production. This makes what the New Vrindaban community has achieved in establishing one of the largest Krishna-inspired spiritual retreats in North America, all the more impressive.

We recently took a road trip with family and friends to this peaceful oasis and, among many things, experienced the natural beauty of the region complete with breathtaking views of the Appalachian valleys.

As you make your way through the narrow roads and climb higher toward the community, you are first met by the magnificent Palace of Gold. This beautiful structure, reminiscent of 16th Century Mughal architectural design, was built by unskilled volunteer devotees for their Guruji, Swami Prabhupad, and is truly a work of art.

We stayed in a log cabin perched on Swan Lake just past the palace and began our day with the 5 a.m. aarti (prayer) followed by a succession of devotional rituals including keertan, japa and Gau (cow) Poojan. Abhilasha and I also volunteered in the kitchen to help prepare the vegetarian lunch which is served in the courtyard of the temple immediately following the mid-morning service. Visitors have the option of staying on-site (lodge, tent or cabin) and are encouraged to attend the service and enjoy the complimentary meal (prasaad).
 

The community simulates the Town of Vrindaban in India and even mimics Govardhan Parvat, Kusum Sarovar and Radha and Shyam Kund (water ponds). Towering over the lake are a number of statues built to honor the Sanatan (eternal) faith: Sacred Cows, an Elephant, and a pair of 30-foot-tall Sri Sri Gaura Nitai statues. The Deities in Sri Sri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra’s temple are beautifully decorated and evoke a feeling of spiritual transference.

Personally, I find it very moving to see people so passionate about their beliefs, and especially respect the strong dedication toward their faith as is apparent by their lifestyle.

During our stay, we took advantage of our very own in-house yoga teacher, Varsha, who led an instructional yoga session followed by silent meditation on the bank of Kusum Sarover (pond). Other activities included an informative tour of New Vrindaban where we learned the history and significance of all the places of worship, and also had the opportunity to milk cows.

This was an interesting experience, especially for my children who had never done anything like this before. For me and my wife, it was a very nostalgic experience as it took us back to the small rural village in India where we grew up.
 

Residing devotees mentioned that His grace Guru Prabhupadji wanted New Vrindaban to be a pilgrimage destination, a cow sanctuary, a reminder to live simply, a resource for spiritual education, and above all, a place to express your love for Lord Sri Krishna. Having visited this place, I can say with confidence that Guruji would be proud of how his devotees have maintained the integrity of his vision.

Though our visit to New Vrindaban was brief, it was memorable and transformative – our children also enjoyed the natural beauty and learned more about their spiritual heritage. On the way home, we visited Pittsburgh, the beautiful city of the bridges, and the famous Sri Venkateswara Temple, which boasted a divine atmosphere matching that of the Tirupati Balaji Temple in India.