The “Taj Mahal Of America” Is In This Surprising Mountain State

India’s iconic Taj Mahal is not only the country’s single most famous image; it is also a globally-recognized architectural masterpiece, a permanent monument to like and devotion, and a preeminent UNESCO World Heritage Site. As famend as it’s, nevertheless, it isn’t fairly as standalone as it’s possible you’ll assume, given the press it will get. For instance, the Indian city of Agra has its own “mini Taj Mahal” via the Bibi Ka Maqbara mausoleum.

Much more surprisingly, you could find some really breathtaking Taj Mahal-like points of interest hiding in essentially the most surprising locations. Take, as an example, the wild and fantastic U.S. state of West Virginia. West Virginia, after all, is dwelling to loads of glorious points of interest, from one of America’s newest (and most dangerous) national parks to one of the best cities to retire to, thanks to low taxes, affordable housing, and healthcare.

Nevertheless, you most likely would not look forward to finding a powerful Indian temple in the midst of West Virginia’s rugged Appalachian Mountains. But in case you ever pay a go to to the unsung West Virginia city of Moundsville, and make a quick aspect quest to the nearby community of New Vrinbadan, that is precisely what you will discover!

New Vrindaban was based as a group and non secular middle for the Worldwide Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spiritual motion. Guests to New Vrindaban can discover an abundance of non secular actions, retreats, and superb meals, all whereas immersed in among the most lovely structure anyplace on the U.S. East Coast.

However for all New Vrindaban’s simple magnificence, the group has a darkish aspect as nicely — one which will very nicely complement the underrated West Virginia city sitting proper subsequent door.

A Masterpiece Of Indian Structure In The West Virginia Mountains

The New Vrindaban group in West Virginia was founded in 1968 by Kirtanananda Swami, an early American-born follower of the ISKCON, or Hare Krishna, motion. ISKCON had been formalized two years earlier by Indian non secular chief A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (generally recognized merely as Prabhupada), primarily based on his interpretations of Hinduism and particularly the Hindu deity Krishna.

Kirtanananda Swami, as an early American adherent, sought to create a brand new ISKCON group for the group’s followers, and probably even a house for Prabhupada himself. Swami named his new ISKCON group “New Vrindaban” after the town of Vrindaban in India, historically believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Although Prabhupada died in 1977, New Vrindaban quickly turned a thriving spiritual group for ISKCON followers. Because the group grew, New Vrindaban developed from two small temples, just a few farms, and a cow sanctuary, to a 2,500-acre property with properties, lodges, eating places, scenic hikes, gardens, and even reward retailers.

But New Vrindaban’s defining options are two of essentially the most putting buildings you are more likely to discover in West Virginia. First, the community’s main Krishna Temple is an intricate inventive masterpiece displaying among the greatest replications of historic Indian structure anyplace in the USA. With 24 sculpted pillars, beautiful stained-glass panels, and an excellent golden altar, New Vrindaban’s Krishna Temple takes you into a totally completely different world from the pure splendor of the West Virginia mountains simply on the opposite aspect of its partitions.

Nevertheless, the singular New Vrindaban function that conjures the obvious comparisons to the Taj Mahal is the breathtaking Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. Initially envisioned as a house for ISKCON chief Prabhupada when development started in 1973, the palace rapidly blossomed right into a spectacular show of architectural magic, each previous and new.

Derived from the paranormal opulence of historic Indian palaces, the Palace of Gold displays 31 scintillating stain-glass home windows (together with the palace’s 4 “royal peacock home windows,” every that includes greater than 1,500 particular person items of hand-crafted stained-glass panels), putting patterns of onyx and marble, and French-style chandeliers, all surrounding a 30-ton central dome adorned with 4,200 items of crystals!

New Vrindaban Has A Darkish Historical past

Between its hopeful founding and its present standing as a high non secular vacation spot, nevertheless, New Vrindaban additionally amassed a little bit of a darkish historical past. Sadly, whereas the group could have been based with one of the best of intentions, a string of crimes, violence, and disturbing allegations finally forged a shadow over the once-illustrious non secular middle.

The troubles started shortly after the death of Prabhupada in 1977. As a result of the ISKCON founder died earlier than naming an official successor to New Vrindaban’s management, Kirtanananda Swami unilaterally assumed the function within the subsequent energy vacuum. What adopted was a darkish and tragic descent into paranoia, criminality, and outright violence, which tarnished the group’s repute for a number of years.

Shortly after Kirtanananda took over, many New Vrindaban followers turned more and more suspicious of the skin world, finally accumulating firearms in what was meant to be a peaceable non secular haven. In 1987, the rising discord throughout the group lastly got here to a head when a mentally disturbed follower attacked Kirtanananda with a metallic tamping software. Although Kirtanananda survived (following a ten-day coma), the incident solely hastened the group’s descent right into a violent and corrupt cult.

Allegations of sexual abuse, theft, and violence started to come up, and lots of once-hopeful New Vrindaban members started to depart in droves. The allegations grew so alarming that, in 1987, the ISKCON governing physique voted to expel Kirtanananda and all the New Vrindaban group.

This, unsurprisingly, didn’t make issues higher. Through the group’s interval of decline, Kirtanananda was linked to 2 separate murders, one in all a New Vrindaban commune member and one in all a author who could have been engaged on an exposé on the group’s rising corruption and criminality. In 1990, Kirtanananda was indicted on federal charges of racketeering, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit homicide.

Although a few of these prices have been later overturned on enchantment, the specter of felony convictions lastly took its toll, and Kirtanananda and his few remaining followers lastly left New Vrindaban for good. The departure of the disgraced chief ultimately lifted the darkish clouds that had troubled the group for many years. In 1998, New Vrindaban was formally restored to the worldwide ISKCON group, and residents started the duty of restoring New Vrindaban to the gorgeous non secular retreat it was envisioned as.

Right now, the specter of crime, corruption, and violence is difficult to seek out amid the group’s gorgeous temples and heavenly Appalachian backdrop. Nevertheless, in case you’re a fan of true crime or “darkish tourism,” the group complicated historical past could add a wholly new purpose to go to.

New Vrindaban Is A Central Characteristic Of An Superb West Virginia City

In the event you are enthusiastic about visiting New Vrindaban for non secular enlightenment, or simply to admire America’s “Taj Mahal,” the group immediately presents fairly a variety of memorable and introspective actions. As soon as you’ve got explored the Krishna Temple and Palace of Gold, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a soul-satisfying out of doors stroll on one of many group’s many scenic hikes and award-winning rose gardens. (There’s even a path the place you’ll be able to walk among the community’s many resident peacocks!)

In the event you get hungry, you’ll be able to cease at New Vrindaban’s vegetarian and vegan restaurants, or go to one in all its excellent organic gardens. Relying in your preferences, you can even expertise the group’s Yoga hall, buy groceries at one in all its boutique gift shops, and even cease by the New Vrindaban cow sanctuary!

A go to to New Vrindaban is actually worthwhile by itself, however you can even complement your non secular quest with a go to to the neighboring West Virginia community of Moundsville. Whereas Moundsville might not be fairly as unique as New Vrindaban, it is nonetheless a really particular slice of West Virginia’s small-town appeal, full with among the state’s most memorable points of interest.

Most notably, Moundsville is dwelling to the macabre West Virginia Penitentiary, a former state jail that now operates as a vacationer attraction and museum. The penitentiary’s somber historical past and foreboding Gothic structure make it one in all the eeriest former penitentiaries in the United States that you can visit, and an ideal aspect journey for anybody who visits New Vrindaban for its “darkish tourism” draw.

On a lighter be aware, Moundsville’s prime spot in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle additionally makes it a high cease for anybody who needs to experience West Virginia’s famed outdoor recreational opportunities. But whether or not you are chasing darkish thrills or stress-free within the blissful West Virginia mountains, a go to to the architectural extravagance and non secular environment of New Vrindaban can present you a aspect of West Virginia you by no means knew existed!