Palace of Gold
A tour of the ornate palace, made by devotees with no formal training.
New Vrindaban and the Palace of Gold
A Hare Krishna community in the hills of West Virginia, home to the ornate Palace of Gold and its rose gardens, built by hand by devotees in the 1970s.
New Vrindaban is a Hare Krishna community in the green hills of West Virginia's northern panhandle, founded in 1968. Its best-known building is the Palace of Gold, built by hand by devotees in the 1970s as a memorial to the movement's founder, with gold leaf, marble and stained glass.
Around it are rose gardens and lotus ponds, and down the road the community's temple, where visitors are welcome to watch worship and share a vegetarian meal.
- Best Time
- May–October, when the rose garden blooms
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Most days in the warmer months; check newvrindaban.com for hours
- Getting There
- Near Moundsville, West Virginia, about 90 minutes southwest of Pittsburgh by car.
What to See
2 of 3 are freeRose Garden
Terraced gardens with hundreds of varieties of roses around the palace.
Radha Vrindaban Chandra Temple
The community's temple, with its morning and evening worship.
Know Before You Go
- Remove your shoes in the temple and dress modestly.
- Hours are shorter in winter; call ahead outside summer.
Where to Stay
Visit from Pittsburgh, or stay in the community's lodge.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Mid-Atlantic list.